Welcome to Mizumoto Orange Garden

Hello everyone!
This is Maru, a writer for Sarukuma.

Today I’m taking you to Oama, Tensui-machi, Tamana City in Kumamoto Prefecture, home to
“Mizumoto Orange Garden.”

Our family has already broken out the kotatsu (heated table) for the season — how about you?
And what goes with a cozy kotatsu better than mikan (Japanese mandarin oranges)? Even in this modern age, that combo never gets old!
So today, I’m bringing you a mikan-picking adventure.

※The season runs until around mid-December, so don’t wait too long!

Mizumoto Orange Garden is home to about 2,500 mikan trees.
They harvest roughly 1 million pieces of fruit per season! One… million… mikan! (ﾟ∀ﾟ)

Since we visited on a weekend, the place was packed with families and the parking lot was nearly full!
Thankfully, there’s a second parking lot, so no need to worry.

The reception desk is at the top of these stairs.

The sign reads: “Japan’s longest staircase has 3,333 steps. This one has just 83. Are you out of shape?”
A cheeky bit of motivation that makes you want to start climbing! (^O^)

Here are the entry fees. The mikan are all-you-can-eat inside the orchard!

If you’d like to take some home, you’ll need to buy a mikan bag and fill it up.
Note that take-home mikan are sold separately!

And here’s the bonus — after picking, you can enjoy a BBQ on-site! 🥓🥩

Take-home mikan pricing.

On the day we visited, BBQ was available without a reservation!
This may vary by day, so please check ahead before going.

Two large BBQ areas were buzzing with activity.
This spot is right next to a playground, making it especially popular with families. 👦👧

Slides, sandbox, swings, and a horizontal bar — a full set of playground equipment!

Why Mizumoto Orange Garden Is a Must-Visit

Alright, let’s go mikan picking — LET’S GO!

The mikan groves stretch across a gentle mountainside, offering wide, peaceful views.

So relaxing! And the sunny weather made it absolutely perfect ☀️

A friendly staff member guided us to the day’s designated picking area.
Today’s variety was the famous Higo Wase mikan 🍊

Everyone got completely absorbed picking the perfect orange…

Snip easily with the provided scissors.
Lots of mikan grow on lower branches too, so even small children can pick on their own!

“The big ones are sweeter!” “No, the small ones are best!” — everyone had their own opinion (^O^)
I went with the deepest-colored, most appetizing-looking ones. Snip ✂️

So fresh!!! Just-picked mikan are on a different level ✨
The taste is in a whole different league from store-bought.

Thanks to the careful cultivation, the flavor is rich and incredibly sweet 🍊

No wonder the kids couldn’t stop eating…

And after picking, here’s another must-try!

A fresh-squeezed mikan juice you press yourself using two large mikan and a charming retro press machine!
The pulpy texture and gentle sweetness are wonderfully comforting ✨

The mikan soft-serve ice cream is also packed with real mikan flavor — refreshing and delicious!

There’s one restroom up on the mountain and two more next to the BBQ area.

Soak up the sunshine and stay healthy with sweet, sun-ripened mikan!
I highly recommend it as a fun day out for the whole family — definitely worth the trip!

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.