Kochia season and Apple picking

Adventure from Tokyo to Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki, Japan to see the vast fields of vivid flowers. Delight in seasonal fruit picking at a local farm. Have you heard of these cute pom pom plants called “Kochia”?? If you are seeking to see something a bit different from ordinary autumn leaves, this could be the perfect choice. The tremendous 350 ha field is filled with 32,000 Kochia balls making a spectacular scenery at the Miharashi Hill in Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture. Kochia balls are planted at the Miharashi Hill in June, and grow their size from 15 cm to 70–80 cm during summer. They gradually turn their colour from green to red from July to October. September to November is Autumn harvest time in Ibaraki, the perfect time to enjoy picking your own sweet and juicy apples straight from the tree at one of Ibaraki's many apple orchards. There are A LOT of apples in a tree and these are really heavy! They are huge, unlike those apples we have in abundance at our local supermarkets. The experience of choosing your own from the trees and picking them off is just different. You could either have them on the spot (knives and tables are provided) or take them home. 1kg of apples is ¥600 and this is actually quite reasonable! I’ve seen Japanese apples going at 2 for $9 in our local supermarket. #fallingseason