Autumn in Japan is not just a season for beautiful autumn leaves. It is also the best season for picking and tasting the bounty of nature with your own hands, a season of "fruit picking."

Picking fruit allows you to experience not only the finished ingredients lined up on supermarket shelves, but also the smell of the earth, the mountain air, and the excitement of freshly picked produce. This is sure to be a unique experience for foreign tourists, allowing them to come into deep contact with Japan's nature and culture.

In this article, we will focus on two particularly fascinating experiences you should definitely try in autumn in Japan: mushroom picking and persimmon picking, and introduce how to enjoy them as well as Japan's view of nature.

1. The appeal of fruit picking, a way to brighten up autumn in Japan

What makes Japanese fruit picking so special is that it is not just a leisure activity, but is based on gratitude for nature and a culture of enjoying the seasons.

Enjoy the season with all your senses

In Japanese cuisine, the time when ingredients are at their most delicious, or "season," is important, and tasting food is a way to make the most of this season.

• Freshly picked taste: Unlike what you can find in the market, vegetables and fruits that you have picked with your own hands have an exceptional flavor and aroma.

• Interacting with nature: Going into the mountains to search for mushrooms and pick ripe fruit allows you to experience firsthand the richness of Japan's nature.

Collaboration with family and friends

Fruit picking is also an opportunity to enjoy communication with family and friends. Working together to find delicious fruit and sharing the joy of the harvest is a great opportunity to experience Japan's "culture of sharing."

2. Fun like a treasure hunt! "Mushroom hunting" - a bounty of the autumn mountains

Among all the autumn delicacies to pick, mushroom hunting is one that particularly stirs up a sense of exploration and excitement.

The joy of mushroom hunting: "The joy of discovery"

Mushrooms grow quietly in hidden places, such as under fallen leaves or at the base of trees. The moment you wander through the mountains and shout, "I found it!" is just like a treasure hunt. This joy of discovery is the greatest thrill of mushroom hunting.

• Types of mushrooms in Japan: A huge variety of mushrooms grow wild in Japan. Typical mushrooms that are popular for tasting include the fragrant matsutake, and the crunchy shiitake and maitake.

• Caution: Many mushrooms are poisonous. For this reason, it is extremely dangerous for beginners to venture into the mountains on their own. Be sure to use a mushroom farm or mushroom-picking experience tour with an experienced guide. On the tour, you will learn how to safely identify mushrooms and the rules of the mountains.

How to enjoy freshly picked mushrooms

The best way to enjoy the mushrooms you've worked so hard to pick is to cook them on the spot.

• Barbecue (BBQ): Many mushroom farms have BBQ facilities where you can grill and eat freshly picked mushrooms on the spot. Shiitake mushrooms simply grilled over charcoal bring out their concentrated aroma and are surprisingly delicious.

• Mushroom soup: This warm miso soup, packed with mushrooms, will warm you from the inside out on a chilly autumn day in the mountains. The rich umami (dashi) flavor from the mushrooms gives the soup a rich flavor.

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3. Enjoy persimmon picking in a quintessentially Japanese setting

While mushroom hunting is an experience of exploring in the mountains, persimmon picking is an experience that allows you to spend a peaceful time while taking in the beauty of Japan's Satoyama.

Japanese autumn scenery created by persimmons

Persimmons are a fruit that has been loved by the Japanese since ancient times, and in autumn many farms are filled with the sight of ripe, orange persimmons.

• Auspicious tree: Persimmon trees are a symbol of longevity and fertility because they live a long time and bear a lot of fruit, and are often planted in Japanese home gardens. The scenery they create is somehow nostalgic and symbolizes the gentle autumn season in Japan.

• Persimmon picking rules: Generally, persimmon picking is done by paying a fee at the farm and eating as many as you like within a time limit. Even adults can get addicted to the task of carefully picking the fruit with scissors, being careful not to damage the branches.

Types of persimmons and various ways to eat them

There are two types of persimmons: sweet persimmons (amagaki) and astringent persimmons (shibugaki), each with its own unique charm.

• Sweet persimmons: The main focus of the picking experience is sweet persimmons, which can be eaten raw. Japanese sweet persimmons are characterized by their delicate, delicate sweetness and crispy texture.

• Astringent persimmons and "dried persimmons": Astringent persimmons cannot be eaten as they are, but they are processed into "dried persimmons" by peeling them, hanging them, and drying them in the sun and wind. A traditional Japanese preserved food, dried persimmons have a sticky texture and a concentrated, rich, natural sweetness, making them the very definition of a Japanese dried fruit. Picking astringent persimmons on a persimmon picking experience and then trying your hand at making dried persimmons at home is an interesting way to experience Japanese culture.

c. The Japanese wisdom of "Persimmon Leaf Sushi"

Not only are persimmons eaten, but the leaves are also used. "Kaki no ha sushi," a local dish of Nara and Wakayama prefectures, is a bite-sized piece of vinegared rice topped with salted mackerel or salmon fillets, wrapped in persimmon leaves, which have antibacterial properties.

The refreshing scent of the persimmon leaves permeates the sushi, giving it an elegant flavor. After picking, tasting the local cuisine of the region is also an important opportunity to learn about the depth of Japanese food culture.

4. Japan's natural environment and "sustainability"

The fruit-picking experience also helps you learn about Japanese agriculture and its relationship with nature.

Coexistence of Satoyama culture and nature

Many of the places where mushroom and persimmon picking takes place are "satoyama," areas where Japanese people have lived since ancient times. Satoyama refers to the natural environment that lies between the mountains and the villages and has been maintained by human care.

Farmers and foresters value the resources of the mountains and forests, and by caring for them properly, they strive to preserve their blessings for future generations. Through fruit picking, you will be able to experience the spirit of "living together" with Japan's nature, rather than just "using" it.

Fruit hunting as a place for food education

Taste-picking is also an important part of Japan's "food education" (education that fosters knowledge and the ability to make choices about food).

Children learn how unfamiliar ingredients are grown and harvested. Through the act of gathering them from the earth and plucking them from the trees, they realize the effort and life that goes into each and every piece of food, and gain a deeper understanding of the true meaning of the Japanese greeting at the end of a meal: "Itadakimasu (I will receive life)."

summary

Picking autumn delicacies in Japan, especially mushroom and persimmon picking, is more than just eating delicious food. It is an experiential journey that allows you to feel the breath of Japan's rich nature and come into contact with Japan's food culture and view of nature that has been nurtured over a long history.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, in the clear mountain air, the moment you taste the mushrooms and persimmons you picked with your own hands will surely bring you an unforgettable experience.

Why not embark on a journey that will allow you to immerse yourself deeply in Japanese nature and enjoy all the bounty of autumn?

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