Strawberry picking is a popular winter activity in Japan, but how about doing it after dark, in a beautifully illuminated greenhouse, with a freshly made dessert waiting at the end? That's the idea behind a new experience being introduced at Risonare Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture.
The resort's Night Strawberry Tour will run on selected evenings between January 6 and March 30, 2027, giving guests the chance to visit a privately reserved greenhouse and pick award-winning Beni Hoppe strawberries. The greenhouse, operated by local grower Izu Hollies, will be decorated with twinkling lights and even feature a red carpet, making the experience feel a little more special than your usual fruit-picking outing.
But the strawberries are only the beginning. After filling their baskets, participants can use their freshly picked fruit to prepare their own crepe Suzette, combining warm crepes and a specially made sauce with a scoop of chilled milk sorbet. It's all enjoyed inside the illuminated greenhouse.
Back at the hotel, the evening finishes with an original strawberry cocktail, created exclusively for the experience in collaboration with a craft liqueur producer in Shimoda. Non-alcoholic alternatives are worth checking directly with the resort.
The experience costs 12,000 JPY per adult and 8,000 JPY for guests under 20, with a maximum of six participants per evening. It's available exclusively to hotel guests, and advance reservations are required at least three days beforehand.
