We were driving through Fukushima Prefecture on our way to the Omagari Firework Festival in Akita Prefecture and had a little bit of time to spare. We knew that Fukushima was famous for its peaches and pears and were interested in trying some. After some consideration we decided on pears and checked to see if there were any pear picking places in Fukushima. There were a couple to choose from, but we ended up choosing Marusei Orchard for its close proximity to the ETC toll road and high average reviews on Google Maps. We also noticed that it was super close to Iizaka Onsen where we had visited during our Fukushima road trip.

Google Maps brought us directly to the orchards main parking lot. The lots design absolutely maximized the amount of spaces. The parking lot was a little challenging as there were a bunch of cones and arrows directing one way traffic.

After finding a parking spot we navigated our way over to this large map. The map was super cute and we learned that we needed to head over to the other side of the orchard. We also learned that they grow peaches, cherries, grapes, and apples in addition to pears.

After making our way to the other side of the orchard, we came upon this fruit stand. We talked to the receptionist and bought tickets for a 30 minute pear picking experience. We each got a cute little bucket and a sharp looking fruit knife.

Pear Picking in Fukushima

After about a five minute wait, a staff member led us on a five or so minute walk to the pear orchard. When we arrived at the orchard we were shocked with how many pears there were on the trees. The trees were spaced pretty far apart, however they were connected to and intertwined in a giant trellis. The trellis helped support the branches that would otherwise snap under the weight of the massive fruits. One of the first things that we noticed was how low the fruit hangs. I’m 171 cm and I had to bend over quite a bit to not hit my head on the pears. Even Amy who is 150 cm had to bend over a bit as well. This made pear picking easy for both adults and children alike. The name of the pear was “Kosui” which roughly translates to “happy water”.

The pear picking course was for 30 minutes and was all you could eat. The pears were absolutely amazing. The flesh was firm and had a satisfyingly crunchy texture. They were pleasantly sweet and not overpowering. Averaged out, we each ate about two whole pears. There was also an option to take home some pears for an additional cost per kg. We loaded up a bag with four giant pears and were surprised to find they were only 1.5 kg. The price was very reasonable from what we would see at the supermarket. Our only regret is that we didn’t get more.

Marusei Orchard Peaches

After returning to the reception area, we gave back our buckets and fruit cutting knives. We were pretty full, so we decided to get some of their tasty looking peaches to go. They sold pre selected and packaged peaches and pears at the stand.

As we were leaving we saw that the line for the fruit garden restaurant was even longer than before. We were curious as to why it was so popular. After looking at the photos on their Facebook page we began to see why. The photos of the fruit parfaits looked amazing. When we come back, this will be on the top of our to do list.

Final Thoughts

Our Pear Picking experience at Marusei Orchard in Fukushima was wonderful. Everything was easy to understand and the staff was super helpful. The fruit was amazing and much more affordable than purchasing them at a supermarket. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Fukushima Prefecture.

Note: Check their website to determine which fruits are in season.

More to Come…

Here is the link to the cafes Facebook page.

Here is the link for their website.