Midori Farm: A Place to Immerse Yourself in Nature and Savor Seasonal Delights

This season’s activities include grape picking and a barbecue. (It’s until around mid-October, or they sell out. Reservations are required.) You can pick two bunches of grapes per person, with one or two varieties depending on when you visit. That day, they had the purple Pione. We learned that the darker ones are tastier, and let’s start! Then, it was fun like a treasure hunt! Moreover, the grapes were even sweeter and richer than I expected!

After that, we had a fantastic BBQ! It was a really good time full of lively conversation. With the tasty mushroom rice, we had endless fun and delicious times! (The shiitake mushrooms in the BBQ and the rice are from this farm!) We were so happy we came that we couldn’t stop smiling. We had a blast in the friendly and chill vibe—it was a perfect way to recharge! I left feeling full and content.

This is a great spot for making memories with family and friends, or for a romantic date surrounded by nature. You can enjoy seasonal flavors, which is a fantastic way to experience the changing seasons with all your senses. Also, insects hummed a lullaby in the background, and it was so relaxing. At the stream, there was even a goldfish scooping event, which both adults and children really enjoyed! (This event is held only on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays. It is canceled if it’s rainy or chilly.) I loved everything I watched, heard, smelled, tasted, and touched. I was beaming with happiness all the way home!

By the way, we’ve also enjoyed other fall activities here before, such as Japanese mandarin orange picking and the shiitake mushroom hunting. Both were fantastic experiences, and everything we picked was delicious!

And here’s a little story from the true tea town. The tea plantations remaining in the forests of the Taga area are a component of Japan Heritage (“Japanese Tea: Eight Centuries of Tradition”)! While a lot of old tea plantations eventually returned to forest here, these ones survived because the forest environment itself has helped cultivate high-quality tea leaves. It’s interesting, isn’t it? Why not come visit Ide Town and immerse yourself in the rich history of tea cultivation for yourself? This is also a calm and peaceful place where the people are warm and welcoming!

Bonus tip: The ancient Taka-jinja Shrine is only about 10 min. on foot from Midori Farm. With the sacred shrine grove, it is enveloped in a tranquil atmosphere. (The shrine holds one of Japan’s earliest records related to sarugaku, a traditional form of Japanese theatre, which further enhances the shrine’s historical significance.) Also, the nearby area is beloved for its hiking trails, as well as cherry blossoms in spring and fireflies in early summer.