{"id":1258,"date":"2024-12-12T17:01:24","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T08:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/?p=1258"},"modified":"2024-12-12T17:01:24","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T08:01:24","slug":"unlimited-blueberry-picking-at-asoblue-a-blueberry-paradise-in-takamori-town-opening-july-13th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/archives\/unlimited-blueberry-picking-at-asoblue-a-blueberry-paradise-in-takamori-town-opening-july-13th.html","title":{"rendered":"Unlimited Blueberry Picking at &#8220;Asoblue&#8221; &#8211; A Blueberry Paradise in Takamori Town Opening July 13th!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hello there, blueberry lovers! In this article, I&#8217;m thrilled to introduce a massive new blueberry orchard that opened this summer in Takamori Town.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<strong>The Blueberry Farm Opened by a Gardener!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1259 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733989750-9e15ff8a6e494447599897d79279278c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the blue sign, I&#8217;m heading to the blueberry farm.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1260 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733989782-47a2a5e8f59cd69df68c208cfba9ed3c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you get there, wow\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>it&#8217;s absolutely massive!<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1261 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733989808-7bf6bbae68825d67108d3941bc2cd5b9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s <\/span><b>like a blueberry theme park!<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The property is as large as one Tokyo Dome, or about 9 football fields), and they are cultivating over 20 varietals spanning more than 2,500 blueberry bushes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Blueberry Picking<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After parking my car, I headed over to the caf\u00e9 to register.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1262 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733989875-565ba4a5212f40f6d84ad90d982957cd.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It costs 1,500 yen for adults, and on top of that, <\/span><b>up to two children (elementary school age or younger) per adult can enter for free<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making it a great deal for families. When you check in at the reception, you&#8217;ll get a wristband and a plastic punnet<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for picking blueberries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1263 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733989896-c542a609357b964c776df80f53838fb7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"376\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;re not only free to eat as much as you like on-site, but the blueberries you pack can also be taken home within the initial fee. \u00a0 If you&#8217;d like to take home more than that, each additional punnet costs 500 yen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1264 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733989917-b9d0c59f1e9fb11a3c9070fb6ea52ee2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sign in front of the caf\u00e9 indicates the &#8220;Picking Area of the Day&#8221; for easy reference.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1265 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733989952-15e9096454fe7a3f27055f90aee20367.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once checked in, visitors will receive wristbands as proof that you&#8217;re an official &#8220;Blueberry Hunter&#8221; and <\/span><b>head off to pick blueberries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1266 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733989983-63c116bebe5abb6338b270cbf7ab2e8e.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As soon as I stepped into the orchard,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>I was greeted by a vast amount of blueberries!<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1267 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733990006-89ce0819410be30d479c6817b2822acc.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ground is equipped with weed prevention tarp underneath and solar panels on top, <\/span><b>making it a comfortable place even on hot days or when it rains a little!<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Additionally, the panels are positioned so they don\u2019t interfere with the growth of the blueberries,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ensuring that they remain healthy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1268 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733990031-65b53261f206a76b98aa05463278e908.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;s even a rare blueberry variety called &#8220;TH605,&#8221; patented and exclusively handled by certain nurseries. It&#8217;s so rare that it&#8217;s almost nonexistent elsewhere in Kumamoto Prefecture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1269 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733990054-b373794183b11530c70a826457f89b07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These berries resemble grapes more than blueberries!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1270 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733990072-01a6bd31d30b20d8c6ef503af1f05a40.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CEO of the orchard told us that the berries at the very tips of each branch are the sweetest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><b>Wow! Incredibly sweet, fresh and juicy!<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These blueberries are truly delightful.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1271 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733990095-d1c13ab34810679b9b386db8e1f3ece0.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"374\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The berries are large and lustrous, tempting enough to eat endlessly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1272 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733990116-b0565118f3fb958fa30c63a0db4347b3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"374\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also take one packet home with you included in the entry price.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can fit quite a lot in.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u00a0Enjoy Drinks and Soft Serve at the Caf\u00e9<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cafe I first checked in offers a variety of blueberry drinks and soft-serve ice cream for guests to enjoy. All the syrups for the drinks and sauces for the ice cream are made by hand using fresh blueberries from the garden.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1273 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733990191-dad3fec98370ec2de3865b91287b51d4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"376\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indulge in the deliciousness of Blueberry Squash (500 yen) and savor the natural sweetness of blueberries!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1274 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733990211-ea7658f93c5c37ae26c02ea3d356f845.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"365\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1275 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733990228-7fdda5ece95ebdf0eb2e2fe1034a8297.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"281\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The latte with blueberry sauce, milk, and coffee (600 yen) was unexpectedly delicious with the combination of coffee and blueberries! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other blueberry treats include soft-serve ice cream and parfaits that are rich in fresh milk but have a light texture.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u00a0Enlivening Takamori<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are Mr. Goto, the sales manager of Oaso Zoen, who manages this large blueberry garden, and his wife, who especially runs this the caf\u00e9.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1276 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1733990309-ec2336db2e22ec93b57dbfc962166c33.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He is tackling new challenges while contemplating, &#8220;In what ways can I, as a gardener, contribute to the community and individuals?&#8221;<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Originally a rocky area prone to wild boars and deer, which led to its abandonment, they&#8217;ve transformed it into a thriving blueberry orchard. They aim not only to provide enjoyment to visitors but also to protect Aso&#8217;s precious regional resources and land, and to uplift the community of Takamori together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0When the weather is clear, you can admire the breathtaking Mt. Nekodake!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a new location where you can enjoy picking blueberries at an affordable price! If you get the chance, make sure to pay a visit!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">*To ensure the availability of blueberries, please call ahead to make a reservation before your visit.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hello there, blueberry lovers! In this article, I&#8217;m thrilled to introduce a massive new blueberry orchard that ope &#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,8,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-gourmet","category-sightseeing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1258"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1279,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258\/revisions\/1279"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/higojournal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}