Ukiha Fruit Seasons: When to Pick Strawberries, Peaches, Grapes, Pears and Persimmons
Track Ukiha’s strawberry, peach, grape, pear and persimmon seasons. Fruit being in season does not guarantee an orchard is open for picking.
Ukiha’s fruit calendar changes through the year: strawberries lead winter and spring, peaches arrive as summer begins, and grapes and pears take over later in the season. Persimmons follow in autumn. The useful detail is that a fruit being grown locally does not mean every orchard is open for picking it. Each farm sets its own dates, varieties and pricing, and weather or a quick harvest can shorten a season.
If you can choose your dates, August and September usually offer the broadest mix of pick-your-own options, especially grapes and pears. For any other month, check a specific orchard’s latest notice before travelling; the ranges below are seasonal guides, not confirmed opening dates.
Ukiha’s fruit calendar at a glance
| Fruit | Broad local season | A practical window for picking | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberries | November–May | Early January–early May at Yamandon | Farm and variety schedules differ; the farm also has a sweets café |
| Peaches | Late May–August | June–August, depending on the orchard | The roadside market is often easier for buying than arranging a picking visit |
| Blueberries | Summer | Around mid-July at Yamandon | A short season; confirm before making a special trip |
| Grapes | June–October | Most options tend to cluster in August and September | Varieties and harvest dates vary from farm to farm |
| Pears | July–November | Commonly August–November | Some orchards grow early, mid-season and late varieties |
| Figs | June–December | More often bought from shops and farm stands | Pick-your-own availability is less predictable |
| Apples | August–January | Limited orchard choice | Not the strongest reason to plan a trip on its own |
| Persimmons | September–March | Most useful for orchard visits in November and December | Local harvest periods can run longer than visitor-picking dates |
| Citrus | December–May | Depends on the farm | Check the orchard’s current offer |
These are broad growing periods drawn from the city’s fruit guide and local farm information. For example, grapes may be grown from June into October, while Yamandon’s own picking season is concentrated around August and September. Always check what is actually available on your date.
Winter and spring: strawberries, with time for a café stop
Ukiha’s strawberry crop generally runs from November into May. At Yamandon, visitor picking is usually listed from early January to early May. The farm has grown varieties including Sachinoka, Sagahonoka, Benihoppe and Koinomino, and there is a dessert café on site, so you do not need to rush straight to another orchard.
Admission is listed at ¥300 for adults and ¥200 for children aged four and older; fruit you take away is charged by weight. That is an entry fee, not an all-you-can-eat price. For a relaxed half-day, one orchard is plenty. Add lunch or a stop at a roadside market, then decide whether you have time for Chikugogawa Onsen.
Late spring to summer: peaches first, then blueberries
Peach shipments begin with early varieties around late May, while the city’s broad peach season is June through August. Different varieties ripen in succession, so the selection at a farm stand can change from one visit to the next. If you mainly want to buy peaches rather than pick them, Roadside Station Ukiha is a simpler fallback than building the day around a particular orchard’s picking schedule.
Blueberries are a narrower window. Yamandon lists its main period around mid-July, but ripeness differs by farm and year. Treat blueberry picking as the day’s main activity and confirm the orchard is open; don’t assume it will still be available in late summer.
August and September: the easiest time to find grapes and pears
This is usually the most flexible stretch for first-time visitors. Ukiha grows many grape varieties, with local harvests broadly spanning June to October, while visitor picking is most concentrated in August and September. Pears begin earlier and can continue into November at some farms.
Shunkoen offers grapes and pears in season, alongside other fruit at different times of year. Takiuchi Kyohōen is known for Kyoho grapes and a range of pears, including Kōsui, Hōsui, Nijisseiki, Akizuki, Niitaka, Niishiki, Kanta and Ōshū. Yamandon has a particularly clear seasonal guide, with grape picking around August–September and pears roughly August–November.
Choose one farm that has the fruit you want. A three-orchard circuit adds repeated check-ins, weighing and driving, and does not guarantee a better harvest. Leave the rest of the day for lunch, the roadside station or a bath; the separate Ukiha fruit-picking and onsen day-trip guide covers that route.
Autumn and early winter: late pears give way to persimmons
September is not the end of pear season. Yamandon lists pears into late November, and farms with several varieties may have later fruit after the early harvests finish. Persimmons then become the main autumn draw. The city’s broad season can extend from September into March, while orchard picking is most useful around November and December.
As the weather cools, a day built around a farm stand, a walk through Chikugo-Yoshii’s old streets and an onsen can be more comfortable than trying to fit in several orchards. Check whether a farm offers picking or only sells fruit before setting the route.
When an orchard is closed, go to the roadside station
Weather, ripeness and the day’s harvest can change what is available at short notice. If the orchard cannot offer the fruit you came for, Roadside Station Ukiha is a useful plan B for seasonal produce, sweets and a view over the Chikugo Plain. The nearby Ukihaco visitor centre lists bicycle rental from 10 am to 5 pm at ¥1,500 per day. Ukiha Inari Shrine is on a hillside, however, so do not treat the whole area as a flat cycling route.
For a farm-to-bath itinerary, see fruit picking and Chikugogawa Onsen in one day. For bath hours, prices and day-use rules without the orchard planning, use the Chikugogawa Onsen comparison.
Sources
- Ukiha City, main fruit varieties and seasons
- Ukiha Tourism, Yamandon orchard, Shunkoen and Takiuchi Kyohōen
- Ukiha Tourism, 2026 grape season feature
- Roadside Station Ukiha and Ukihaco
- Kiyonoya, Kuwanoya and Fukusenka
Checked: 2026-09-28. Orchard dates and available fruit should be confirmed directly before visiting.
