Visitors can enjoy hands-on agricultural experiences including seasonal vegetable harvesting, greenhouse tours showcasing hydroponic and climate-controlled farming systems, and packaging demonstrations. Popular activities include strawberry picking during winter months, leafy greens harvesting, and educational programs about modern Japanese farming techniques. The center also features a direct sales market where you can purchase fresh produce and an on-site restaurant serving dishes made with same-day harvested ingredients.
Take the JR Tokaido Line to Kusatsu Station, then transfer to a local bus or taxi to reach the center. By car, the facility is accessible via National Route 1 and is located approximately 15 kilometers south of Kyoto. Free parking is available for visitors. The center's proximity to Lake Biwa makes it easily reachable from major Kansai cities including Osaka and Kyoto within an hour's travel time.
Basic facility tours typically cost 300-500 yen for adults, while children often receive discounted rates. Hands-on experiences like strawberry picking range from 1,000-2,000 yen depending on the season and quantity allowed. Greenhouse tours and educational programs may have separate pricing. Direct sales purchases are at farm prices, generally lower than supermarket costs, while restaurant meals are moderately priced reflecting the fresh, local ingredients used.
Winter months (December-March) are ideal for strawberry picking, while spring and summer offer the widest variety of leafy greens and seasonal vegetables. The center's climate-controlled greenhouses enable year-round production, so fresh vegetables are available throughout all seasons. Peak harvest times vary by crop, with leafy greens like spinach and lettuce available almost continuously, while seasonal specialties like tomatoes and cucumbers are best during warmer months.
Yes, the center operates a direct sales market where visitors can purchase freshly harvested vegetables at farm prices. Products typically include seasonal vegetables, herbs, and value-added items like pickles or preserves made from center-grown produce. Most facilities accept cash payments, and some may accept major Japanese credit cards or electronic payment systems like PayPay. It's advisable to bring cash as smaller agricultural facilities may have limited electronic payment options.
Traveler reviews
Local Friendly Farmers Market ! Fresh ingredients from around the region being sold right here. Great place to source for picnic ingredients :)
Kusatsu Aobana-kan is a direct sales facility operated by JA Shiga, and it's one of my favorite shops. Not only does it have a wide variety of fresh local vegetables and rice, but it also has a section for local products from various regions, including souvenirs from Okinawa, making its wide selection a major draw. Furthermore, I appreciate that the shops are divided into sections for each producer and manufacturer, allowing you to feel the dedication and passion of each. It's a type of shop you don't often see elsewhere, and it's fun just to browse, so I always end up staying for a long time. I highly recommend it.
Kusatsu Aobana-kan
I had work in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture, and was curious about the current rice situation, so I visited Kusatsu Aobana-kan to buy fresh vegetables and rice.
They sell Shiga-grown Koshihikari and Kinuhikari rice at reasonable prices. While 5kg of brown rice will be about 10% less after milling, Koshihikari was 3500 yen and Kinuhikari was 3350 yen, which is relatively reasonable.
They also sell a wide variety of fresh vegetables, making it a very enjoyable JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives) store.
Although they only sell local products, it was quite crowded, and there was street parking in front of the store, which I wish they would regulate.
They sell seasonal vegetables and fruits. This time I bought watermelon, tomatoes, wood ear mushrooms, etc. The store is spacious and easy to browse. There are sunflowers planted outside, and it looks like they'll be in full bloom in about a week. I'd like to stop by again if I'm in the area.
Depending on the time of day you visit, the vegetables and other produce are pretty similar everywhere, but I bought some cut flowers because they were cheap.
I wanted to buy rice husks and charcoal for my home garden because they were very cheap, but they were only available in farmer-sized portions and were too big, so I gave up on buying them this time. Half-size portions would be great.
Also, the sunflowers in the adjacent fields were still in full bloom and beautiful; it seems they're blooming late this year everywhere.
(Visited November 15, 2024)
