Things I love about winter in Japan: strawberry picking

Something I've really grown to appreciate about life in Japan is that there is a seasonal element to so many things here, including what produce is available. In my home country, it's fairly typical to have most fruit and veg available year-round, but a lot of stuff is imported or kept in cold storage for long periods of time, so the quality isn't always great (e.g. mealy-textured apples). I've had to get used to the fact that certain things are only available at certain times of the year in Japan, but I honestly think it has taught me a few things—patience is one of them, and a realization that having season-specific produce means it tastes amazing and is ultra-fresh.

One thing we like doing as a family with certain produce is picking it ourselves, and we really look forward to the start of strawberry season in winter. Locally, one of the top strawberry varieties here is Echigohime, with various places opening up this month to start picking them. I love when they provide a little container of condensed milk to dip and enjoy right on the spot!

Have you ever been strawberry picking in Japan?