After strolling about Mt. Kuno, I felt thirsty and a bit hungry. Lunch time ? Yes, but maybe I should make the most of this opportunity to be in Kuno, right ? ＾＾
Around Mt. Kuno, along the Kuno Coastline, you see hundreds of plastic greenhouses where you can enjoy strawberry picking, as much as you can eat for a limited time. I roamed around for a while and stepped into one of the strawberry farms, “Ichigo Land Masami” ( Ichigo means strawberries in English ). It stands along route 150, what we call “Kuno-Kaido” or “Strawberry Road”, and is very close from the foot of Mt. Kuno.

Despite mid-winter, it was very warm in the plastic greenhouse. Smells of sweet-sour strawberries made my stomach more growling. Can’t wait for it any more !＞＜

By the way, you know what ? Strawberry Picking in Kuno is very characteristic. Can you recognize what it is from the picture ? Actually, for me, this IS the strawberry picking, but not for other people outside Shizuoka. Some grow strawberries in the field, others do on something like a platform as in the left picture. But here in Kuno, they make the most of its site conditions. Mountains facing the Suruga Bay. Sunny foothills. They made tilted stonewalls, with holes to plant strawberries in, to let them catch utmost blessing from the sun. The stonewall angle shall be 60 degrees, I heard. This is called “Ishigaki Ichigo”, strawberries on the stonewall that is the most distinctive feature in Kuno Strawberries. No heating appliances are used even in the winter time.

What is more, this farm, “Ichigo Land Masami” cultures 2 species of strawberry in a greenhouse. Strawberries are basically lined in 3 rows. The upper is for “Beni-hoppe” ( ruddy cheek ) and the middle and lower lines are for “Aki-hime”. Beni hoppe tastes sweet with a slight sourness and Aki hime tastes just sweet as honey ! ＾＾
As you can see from the picture, strawberries are reaching its best from now ! Just please be advised to make a booking beforehand because strawberry picking is very popular this season and they have too many visitors every weekend. I think it proves the fact good enough that they can’t open their greenhouses on weekdays for the lack of strawberries.

Now, I’m full and a little bit sweaty for walking and the warm greenhouse. So what do you want next ? Actually I’m on my way to Onsen hot spring facilities.

Next time, I’ll introduce “Sumpu Yume-Hiroba”.

Bye for now !＾＾

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

Gotemba Kogen Hotel B,U

After having a lovely time in Gotemba Premium Outlets, I took several shuttle buses to Gotemba Kogen “Toki no Sumika”.
Toki-no-Sumika is a complex facility with hotels, cottages, onsen hot spas, tennis courts, soccer grounds, a skating rink, a church, and shops and restaurants. But there is something more in this season ! Yes, illuminations of the largest in Shizuoka Prefectrue ! !

Gotemba Kogen Beer

Telling the truth, it was my third visit there. The first time, I remember I had lunch in “Gotemba Kogen Beer” with their home-brew beer. The second was when flowers were in full bloom around. And this time, Illuminations I had been waiting for.
I got off the bus in the evening, in front of Gotemba Kogen Hotel B,U and strolled around to wait for the illuminations lit up. Along the main street was decorated “Tunnel of Lights” just as one covered with snow. I wondered how it would be lit up. I was getting more and more excited.
On the small hill is “Bell of Love”. I walked toward it to see the sunset and Mt. Fuji from there, and found it the very place for the Illumination Show. “The image of The Palace of Versailles” it said. I couldn’t miss it !

I passed through the gate and found The Bell of Love of my memories and Mt, Fuji in evening lights. The sunset told me how fast the time goes by. In a few moments, “The Little Prince” was lit, followed by outburst of spontaneous exclamation in the silent evening.
At 17:00, with the signal of lights-out, it started with a brisk music. First came on the laser technology on the water screen, and the fountain show illuminated in a variety of colors, followed by projected images on the water screen. You can see these pictures from here. I don’t know what the show in the Palace of Versailles is like but it absolutely enchanted us into a dreamy world.

The Little Prince was lit again after 20 minute entertainment to tell us the end of the show but we stayed there in the afterglow of the illuminations.
Now, finally, I was on my way to the archway ! Trees along the pathway had already been decorated with thousands of illuminations. I found some cute snowmen and reindeers on its way.＾＾
And here I was ! The breathtakingly illuminated archway ! I strolled through the 370m long tunnel just as slowly as possible not wanting to reach the end of it. Many couples and families seemed the same just as I felt. They stopped in the middle of the tunnel to have a talk or to take a look around.

Passing through the tunnel, I found many people flocking around “Gotemba Kogen Beer”. Some stepped in it to have their maybe gorgeous dinner and others went in food-products shop for their souvenirs. I liked people just lingering on the bench because I could tell how much they had loved it.＾＾
I stood in front of the Hotel B,U to take a shuttle bus. Available for Gotemba Sta. and Mishima Sta. I would strongly recommend you to use these shuttle buses because cars will be stuck in a bad traffic jam during this season.

Thank you and have a good day !

Gotemba Kogen “Toki no Sumika”
Access ： 20 minutes by free shuttle bus from Gotemba Sta., or 50 minutes from Mishima Sta.
Admission ： Free
Illumination ： Nov 12 – Jan 5 (16:30 – 22:00)／Jan 6 – Mar 6 (17:00 – 21:30)
“Illumination of Versailles” Show
Admission ： ¥1,000 for adults／¥200 for children ※Free for the hotel guests
Show time ： every 30 minutes from 17:00

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

So, I was in the East Area in Hamamatsu Fruit Park. Actually, this is not a “Park”, but rather a comprehensive facility of orchards.
Stepping out of the escalator, you will find a Rest House with the observation deck, that is �F on the map. If you’ve got exhausted for walking in West Area, go ahead and take a sufficient rest for the coming pick-up exercise !
Now, you will see the vast field of mandarin oranges in the first place, followed by trees of apples and persimmons. In front of the entrance into each orchard stands a staff for customers. Pick up any good-looking fruits as many as you want and pay for them to go for your family. You know, it tastes exceptionally good right after picked off. I introduce what you can pick through the year below.

Passing through the walkway between apples and persimmons, you will see some strawberry greenhouses. This is the only one you can eat in as many as you can for 30 minutes (strawberry picking fee required). You know, in Japan, there exist more than 50 kinds of strawberries and they grow Akihime Strawberry that was born in Shizuoka. It tastes very sweet with a little bit of sourness. It would be very nice for me to inform you that the season of strawberries begins from mid-Dec until May. Yes, it’s coming just around the corner !
I kept strolling along the walkway, actually very long way to go, maybe I should have taken the “Chu Chu Train” to go around.＾＾； But thanks to that, on my way, I found various fruit plants that had been all done, or ready to go.
I walked further, actually I don’t know how much I did, until finally I found a large bridge connecting hills. “Tokimeki-bashi Bridge” is its name. The view from there was splendid !
Now, here is a question from me. Among these three pictures below, which one is NOT the fruit in Autumn ? ＾＾ Now, have you decided which one to bet on ? Then, go on to the next passage.

�@　Kiwis

�A Akebias

�B Blueberries

You can pick Kiwis in Nov and Akebias in Oct. So what about blueberries ? It can be picked in mid-summer. So, the answer comes to �B ! Got it ? Please refer to the list of fruit picking seasons below.
Fruit Park is nine times as large as Tokyo Dome. I advise you to plan properly in comfortable shoes and wears to enjoy it best !

Bye for now !＾＾

※Fruit picking is to be arranged irregularly, depending on weather and other conditions. Accordingly, the fruits and picking time may vary from day to day. Please find the picking schedule in the official website beforehand, or inquire for it by e-mail. As for strawberry picking, they accept booking by phone. You’d better go for it in the early hours, if without booking, because it will be closed right after ready-to-pick strawberries are all gone.

Hamamatsu Fruit Park
Access ：
From Fruit Park Station on the Tenhama Line ： 10 minute walk
From JR Hamamatsu Station Bus Terminal ： 60 minutes by #46 bound for “Miyakoda-sen Fruit Park” from the #16 bus stop.
( Only 3 buses available at 8:05, 9:25, 10:25 every day, as of Nov, 2010 )
Admission ： ¥700 for adults and high school students, ¥350 for school children, Free for children under school age
Hours ： Oct – April 9:00 – 16:30／May – Sep 9:00 – 17:00
Basically open 7 days a week

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾