[08] Minami Fukashimizu FF Club (Takashima City) / Farming Experience in an Orchard Village

Farming Experience in an Orchard Village

The Innovative Community of Minami Fukashimizu

Minami Fukashimizu FF Club (Takashima City)

Keywords: nature / kid’s fun / local food

Season: All year 

English Assistance: Minimum

Nearby Accommodation: Yes

Of all the familiar fruits grown and enjoyed in Japan, the persimmon stands out as an iconic symbol of autumn. As the season deepens, a walk through the countryside often reveals trees adorned with vibrant orange fruit beside rice fields or in rural home gardens—a nostalgic scene of the traditional Japanese landscape, evoking the vivid sense of autumn’s arrival for many Japanese people.　

Persimmons are believed to have originated in ancient Southeast Asia and later evolved in China before arriving in Japan around 1,400 years ago. Historical evidence suggests that this fruit has had a long presence in Japanese culture. For over a millennium, persimmons have been a part of Japanese life, valued as a great source of nutrition and celebrated in literature and folk tales—a testament to their deep cultural significance.

In northwestern Shiga Prefecture, spread across gentle slopes overlooking Lake Biwa, lies a charming orchard region. Renowned for exceptionally delicious fruits, especially persimmons, this area’s unique terrain and environment make it ideal for fruit cultivation, drawing visitors annually from cities like Kyoto, eager to savor the harvest at its peak. Although challenges such as an aging population have impacted harvests, the community is embracing new initiatives to revitalize the area’s potential through both fruit production and other farming ventures. Here, we’ll explore one of the unique programs offered by this vibrant community.

Takashima City in Shiga Prefecture spans nearly the entire northwest section of the prefecture, making it the largest city by area when Lake Biwa is included. With the lake to the east, the Hira mountain range to the west, and its close proximity to the Sea of Japan, the geography brings significant snowfall each winter. This climate creates an abundance of pristine water sources, providing natural hydration that nourishes the land and eventually flows down to the lake.

In the northern part of Takashima lies Fukashimizu, a particularly ideal region for fruit cultivation. As you approach the area, you’ll start to see signs for fruit stands along the roadside, offering a taste of the region’s fresh produce. This fan-shaped landscape, formed as slowing mountain streams deposit sediment on the plains, nurtures the thriving orchards. The land is particularly suited for growing delicious fruits like persimmons, with superior drainage, abundant sunlight, and significant temperature fluctuations.

True to its name, Fukashimizu, meaning “deep clear water,” is renowned for its pristine spring water, which visitors may witness in scenic views of the water descending from the mountains to the lake, with the sacred island of Chikubushima in the distant background, connecting orchards, satoyama villages, and rice paddies in a vast tapestry of nature.

Fukashimizu consists of two communities: Minami Fukashimizu (South Fukashimizu) and Kita Fukashimizu (North Fukashimizu). The experiences introduced here take place in Minami Fukashimizu, where a local group called Minami Fukashimizu FF Club offers immersive agricultural activities centered around farming. Since its founding in 2016, the group has been welcoming visitors—including students, corporate groups, and even international guests—to share in rural life and foster well-being through hands-on farming experiences. Visitors can join in seasonal activities year-round, with recent expansions into olive cultivation and other unique produce, broadening the range of offerings. During persimmon season, guests can also enjoy fruit-picking, a potential highlight for international visitors.

With a focus on promoting wellness tourism that nurtures both physical and mental well-being, the group plans to introduce even more programs and initiatives to enrich visitor experiences, including immersive activities like farm-to-table dining at the orchards, crafted to provide engaging experiences and lasting, enjoyable memories for guests.

Accessible by direct train from Kyoto, Fukashimizu is convenient for day trips, though those who wish to explore longer can enjoy various accommodations, including a new farmhouse inn opening in Minami Fukashimizu in late 2024. This renovated farmhouse includes family-friendly features and amenities, offering a peaceful retreat where families can unwind and enjoy time together. Watching the sunrise over Chikubushima provides the perfect conclusion to a rewarding stay. And although the surroundings offer picturesque beauty, it is the connections with local residents that create lasting memories of Fukashimizu.

Fukashimizu was once a landscape of mulberry fields, as the leaves provided essential food for silkworms, supporting the region’s traditional silk industry that thrived in colder areas of Japan. However, with post-war changes and the decline of silk production, local farmers began cultivating persimmons and other fruit trees about a century ago, bringing new life to the fields.

Yet, persimmon farming was no easy task. It required demanding labor, constant pruning and thinning—challenging work for the community’s aging farmers. With the population continuing to age and profits dwindling, many abandoned their orchards. But one individual with deep roots in the community was unwilling to watch the heritage fade, and decided to take action.

Takashi Katsurada, leader of the Minami Fukashimizu FF Club, grew up here in a family of persimmon farmers. After retiring from a career in banking, he deepened his involvement in local activities, only to find fields overtaken by weeds—a stark reminder of the area’s population decline. Determined to revitalize his hometown and pass down its legacy, he founded the Minami Fukashimizu FF Club in 2016 with other members of the community. The ”FF” stands for ”For the Future,” reflecting the group’s commitment to safeguarding the land for generations to come.

Faced with his community’s pressing realities, he and group members sought a path toward sustainable farming that would make the most of the area’s fertile soil. While remaining committed to their tradition of persimmon farming, they also explored new possibilities, expanding into olive cultivation. Inspired by successful olive farms in nearby regions, they found that the area’s environment was well-suited for olives, and that olives required only half the labor of persimmons—a welcome discovery. By 2024, they had planted 400 olive trees, beginning to yield harvests and setting the stage for future olive oil production—a rare and promising venture in Japan that they plan to expand over time.

Today, the team has grown to 22 members, including local residents and newcomers alike. The community has attracted people from various backgrounds, such as the owner of the aforementioned inn, as well as a wine sommelier and an olive sommelier, all drawn to the unique allure of this region. In collaboration with universities, the group is also working with students to develop innovative products that showcase the health benefits of both persimmons and olives.

The community’s efforts have extended beyond farming to gradually welcome school groups and visitors from outside the region to join agricultural experiences, educational programs, and events like the annual persimmon festival, fostering connections and engaging younger generations. Katsurada-san recalls a memorable comment from a student who observed, “There may be fewer people here, but for other living creatures, this is like a bustling city.” The group hopes that visitors will connect deeply with the land to nourish both their minds and bodies by touching the soil, breathing its fragrances, noticing the sounds of nature, taking in the scenery, and savoring its offerings.

Through Katsurada-san’s dedication and vision, meaningful connections between newcomers and longtime residents have taken shape, blending tradition with fresh ideas to build a legacy that will carry Minami Fukashimizu forward. By interacting with people like him, visitors are able to understand the unique values and vibrant spirit that define this community—a chance to experience the strength of rural life and the warmth of those working to sustain it.

Please book directly through the provider

Name of Provider
Minami Fukashimizu FF Club

Contact
https://mfffc.com (JA)

Inquiry Form
https://forms.gle/7yCAks14ykT7jTCo6

Activities & Pricing
Hands-on Farming Experience
●From 1,500 yen per adult
●Type of experience differs by season (vegetable farming, fruit cultivation, persimmon picking, etc.)

*Ask for details, group size, etc.

Accommodation in Minami Fukashimizu
●Biwako to Kurasu Ie ? Adomaru (LINK)

Reservation
Please inquire via the contact form

Business Hours & Holidays
Throughout the year but recommended through April to December
Open between 10 am to 4 pm

Location
973-3 Katsura Imazucho, Takashima, Shiga 520-1602 (Office)

Payment Method
Cash payment

Age Requirements
None

Support for Foreign Visitors
●Foreign language speakers: No
●Communication is via translation devices or apps
Insurance Not provided (individual coverage is recommended)

Wi-Fi Access
N/A

Disabled Accessibility
May be accommodated depending on the workshop type. Please ask for more details.

Access
●From Kyoto Station:
*take the JR Kosei Line to Omi-Nakasho Station (approx. 60 mins), then walk about 20 mins. Alternatively, get off at Omi-Imazu Station (approx. 50 mins) and take a taxi for about 10 mins.
*By car: approx. 90 mins.

●From Tsuruga Station:
*Take the JR Hokuriku Line to the JR Kosei Line, then get off at either Omi-Nakasho Station or Omi-Imazu Station.
* By car: approximately 40 minutes.

Ride Service
N/A