Okayama Prefecture is a region of rich natural landscapes, where the production of fresh vegetables and fruit flourishes.
Soja City is blessed with rice paddies and fields, and is known as a popular city among families raising children, thanks to its mild climate.
Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm, established in Soja City in 2005, is a tourist farm beloved by local residents and widely known throughout Okayama Prefecture, not just in Soja City.
Many people visit Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm from outside the prefecture, too.
Here’s an introduction to the facilities and things to do there.
The information provided was accurate when this article was published in October 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What Is Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm?
Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm, located in Soja City, Okayama Prefecture, is one of the largest tourist farms in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions.
In December 2003, Agri Genki Okayama Co., Ltd. was established. After a year of preparations, Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm opened for a preview in November 2004, followed by its grand opening in March 2005.
It initially began with the production and sale of flowers, then opened a farm produce market in October 2005, followed by a strawberry-picking farm and a cafe at the end of the year. It continued adding facilities to the grounds, and in 2012 opened a sister location in Okayama City, Nomaru-san Direct Market Okayama.
In 2014, it became part of Rick Corporation (now Time Co., Ltd.), and in 2017 opened a sister location in Akaiwa City, Nomaru Engei Akaiwa Farm. It has grown into its current form by responding to the needs of a wide range of customers.
Facilities at Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm
Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm covers 45,400 square meters, an area roughly equivalent to one Tokyo Dome.
The grounds feature a variety of facilities where people of all ages can relax and enjoy themselves all day.
The facilities at Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm are as follows:
- Strawberry greenhouses……A facility for strawberry picking, among the largest in Okayama Prefecture (season: around January to May)
- Barbecue area……A facility where you can enjoy a barbecue on weekends and holidays
- Stone oven pizza workshop……A facility where you can enjoy making pizza on weekends and holidays
- Irodori Space……A flexible rental space often used for events and classes
- Hidamari Plaza……Hosts flower-arranging classes and lectures by guest speakers
- Flower Market……Sells a variety of products, including flower and fruit tree seedlings, houseplants, cut flowers, and gardening goods
- Farm Produce Market……Primarily sells fruit and vegetables grown by 600 producers in Okayama Prefecture
- Mini Zoo and Horseback Riding……Open on weekends and holidays. You can feed small animals and try horseback riding
- Kids’ Garden……A garden with play equipment and a sandbox
- Dog Run……A play area for dogs, with a washing station and drinking water
- Green Terrace……A rest area with around 100 seats where you can relax with items purchased on the grounds
- Icchi’s Bakery……Sells handmade bread baked on the premises
- Gardens Kitchen……Sells handmade boxed meals and prepared foods
- Gardens Cafe……Sells sweets such as soft-serve ice cream and gelato
- Cake Workshop……Sells cakes made with plenty of seasonal fruit and baked treats perfect for gifts
- Sweet Potato-Picking Farm……Seasonal sweet potato-picking experience in autumn
- RV Park……Parking spaces exclusively for overnight stays in vehicles; showers are also available
- Information Desk……Check-in for strawberry picking, the dog run, and other activities
A Guide to the Facilities at Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm
With so many facilities, it can be hard to decide where to start exploring.
Let’s take a look at some highlights to give you an idea of what the grounds are like.
Farm Produce Market
The writer visited in early September, right in the middle of the Okayama Grape Festival. The market was bustling with people buying grapes as gifts or for their own homes.
The Farm Produce Market holds seasonal fruit festivals. The most popular are the Okayama Peach Festival in July and the Okayama Grape Festival in September. The number and variety of products are impressive, but they sell quickly, keeping staff busy restocking the displays.
Along with fresh fruit and vegetables, the Farm Produce Market also offers a variety of products such as meat and eggs.
The sake section, which carries local beer and wine, and the section packed with unusual products sourced from across Japan also seem to capture visitors’ interest.
The well-stocked dagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) and souvenir sections cater to families with children and tourists alike.
Flower Market
The Flower Market at Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm covers 6,500 square meters, with a sales floor so spacious it feels like a flower field.
You can enjoy the colorful flowers that change with the seasons, take in their fragrance, and choose and buy flowers to suit your taste.
Events are held almost every month, and the market is popular as a place where visitors can easily consult with instructors and staff about workshops and flower-arranging classes.
There is also a wide selection of seasonal decorations and gardening supplies, with something to satisfy everyone from beginners to experienced gardeners.
Cake Workshop
The “Cake Workshop” is a charming wood-style container house that opened next to Gardens Cafe in 2017.
In addition to cakes, it offers puddings, cream puffs, baked goods, and other products perfect for gifts and souvenirs.
Especially popular is the roll cake with fruit that changes with the seasons.
In September 2024, it sold a grape roll cake for a limited time.
The roll cake is topped with a generous helping of fresh grapes, piled so high they look ready to tumble off. There are also large grapes inside the cake, letting you fully enjoy both the fruit and the cake.
The most popular item is the “Ripe Strawberry Roll Cake,” made with strawberries grown at Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm. It’s definitely worth visiting during strawberry season to try one.
Gardens Cafe
“Gardens Cafe” is located in the same facility as Icchi’s Bakery and Gardens Kitchen.
Gardens Cafe serves a variety of sweets, including Daigo-zakura cherry blossom gelato and soft-serve ice cream that can be enjoyed year-round, as well as shaved ice available only in summer.
The mango soft-serve ice cream I had when I visited in summer.
It was so smooth and rich that it felt like eating a real mango, and it was a luxurious treat.
Icchi’s Bakery
“Icchi’s Bakery” opened inside the Nomaru Engei facility in July 2021.
The bread is baked on-site, so you can buy it freshly baked every day.
With so many varieties, it can be hard to decide what to buy. New products are added every month, so you can enjoy a range of flavors.
The most popular item is the anko and salted butter bread. Its affordable price is one of its appealing features. The Nomaru Dog is also said to be popular.
Stone Oven Pizza Workshop (weekends and holidays only)
At Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm, you can enjoy a “pizza-making experience” on weekends and holidays only. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (last order).
There are four types of pizza to choose from:
During the experience, you can roll out the dough with a pizza rolling pin, add toppings, and make an authentic pizza baked in a stone oven.
After you finish adding the toppings, a staff member bakes the pizza. Cut it with a pizza cutter, and it’s ready to eat.
The tomato sauce and cheese on the Margherita melt into the piping-hot crust, creating a deliciously gooey taste. The vegetable pizza is also topped with plenty of vegetables, making it very filling and satisfying.
When I tried it, the place was bustling with families with children. It’s fun, delicious, and great value.
Barbecue Area (weekends and holidays only)
Next to the pizza oven is a facility where you can enjoy a barbecue for up to 50 people from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends and holidays. There are two ways to barbecue:
Simply make a reservation and choose your preferred ingredients from the menu, and you can eat as soon as you arrive. There’s no need to prepare or clean up, so you can enjoy a barbecue with ease.
If there are seats available beyond those reserved, you can also sign up on the day—a welcome service. You can buy meat and vegetables yourself at the on-site farm shop and enjoy a barbecue right there. Even if you haven’t prepared in advance, knives, cutting boards, and other equipment are available to borrow, so you can enjoy a barbecue as soon as the idea strikes.
*Last check-in is 1 p.m. for both options.
The farm shop also sells cold beer, so it looks like a great place to spend a fun time with family and friends.
Mini Zoo and Horse-Riding Experience
Every weekend and holiday, Wakakoma Ranch from Okayama City brings a mini zoo and horse-riding experience.
The entrance is at the easternmost end of the Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm grounds.
You can feed them, too, and get up close with these adorable animals.
Just watching the animals is relaxing, but you can also try horseback riding, so why not give it a go?
Dog Run
At the back of the flower shop, there is a dog run exclusively for small and medium-sized dogs.
It is equipped with washing stations for paws and a drinking fountain, so your dogs can enjoy a comfortable stay.
- Hours: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (registration closes at 4:00 p.m.)
- Usage time: 60 minutes
- Admission: ¥440 per dog (tax included) *Member registration discounts available. For details, please check the Nohmaru Engei website.
However, it closes in rainy weather or when the ground conditions are poor.
Strawberry Picking
Strawberry picking, which attracts as many as 40,000 visitors a year, is one of the largest-scale experiences in Okayama Prefecture.
You can enjoy it from early January through around the end of May. The strawberries at Nohmaru Engei are grown on elevated benches, so you can eat them standing up, and the setup is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
There are four varieties of strawberries:
- Benihoppe
- Kaorino
- Akihime
- Hareichigo
Being able to compare the flavors is another special attraction of Nohmaru Engei. It is very popular, so we recommend making a reservation online or by phone before visiting.
There is so much more to see at Nohmaru Engei Kibiji Farm, with a wide variety of facilities throughout the grounds.
We spoke with deputy farm manager Ando Yukihiro about what makes Nohmaru Engei Kibiji Farm special.
Company Data: Agri Genki Okayama Co., Ltd. [Nohmaru Engei Kibiji Farm]
| Organization | Agri Genki Okayama Co., Ltd. [Nohmaru Engei Kibiji Farm] |
|---|---|
| Industry | Tourist farm |
| Representative | Wakimoto Naoaki |
| Established | December 12, 2003 |
| Address | 411-1 Seibu, Soja City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 0866-94-6755 |
| Website | Nohmaru Engei |
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*During strawberry season, this is replaced with strawberry pizza.