An apple a day keeps the doctor away: your best bets for apple picking in Japan

We all probably heard the saying when we were kids: an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Now, I don't know if there's literal truth to that, but a healthy diet certainly doesn't hurt proceedings - and Japan's apples are some of the best I've ever tasted. Crisp, juicy and flavorsome, they're one of the things I look forward to most during the autumn months when they're in season.

An apple store I visited by Aomori Station - a prefecture known for their apples!

If you also enjoy apples whether for health, taste, or a combo of both, here are some spots to check out where you can get your fix.

Apple picking close to Tokyo

If you're based in Tokyo and you'd like to apple pick but don't necessarily have an entire weekend (or longer) to plan a getaway further afield, don't fret. Plenty of options are available that are day-trip friendly, one of which is Nakagomi Orchard. They're located in Yamanashi Prefecture, accessible from Tokyo in about 90 minutes. Their apple picking season doesn't start until October, so you've still got time up your sleeve. Alongside their apples, the orchards here grow a bounty of other fruit throughout the year, including grapes, pears and persimmons among others.

You can find more details about what's available to pick year-round on their website here. Map details for the venue are below.

A place to pick in Japan's apple heartland

Aomori and apples just go together, and it's no surprise since the prefecture is the leading producer of apples across the country. Mori Kaju Orchards in Hirosaki (the region also known for their picturesque castle have 350 apple trees on their grounds, which include around 25 different apple varieties - something for everyone's tastes!

Their website does actually note the link between apples and health, stating that Hirosaki University actually did a study on the topic. So there you go - not just a saying, after all!

Map details for the orchards can be found below.

A mountainous apple fest

Another prime apple growing zone is Nagano Prefecture, and if you'd like to apple pick while surrounded by mountains try Crown Orchard. The area is particularly scenic during autumn when all the leaves start to change, turning the mountains in the area shades of red, yellow and orange. They offer five tips on picking the perfect Fuji apple on their website.

- The bottom of the apple should be yellow.

- It should feel slightly gritty and textured to the touch, rather than smooth.

- It should have good coloring, with vertical red stripes.

- The branches of the tree with apples on them should get a good amount of sun.

- The tree branches should be thick and solid.

Sounds like some good advice no matter where you go picking! Map details for Crown Orchards are below.

Any other spots you know of to fulfill any apple picking ambitions this autumn?