Wakō: Strawberry Farms, Farmhouse History and Tradition

A trip can have many different focuses: picking your own strawberries, discovering historic farmhouse architecture, or spending time surrounded by greenery. The Niikura Furusato Minka-en combines a historic farmhouse with distinctive features across its grounds. Shirako Bayashi is a traditional performance, while Wako Jurin Park offers opportunities for sports and recreation.

Farmhouse History at Niikura Furusato Minka-en

The former Tomioka House at Niikura Furusato Minka-en is a historic farmhouse. It is estimated to be about 300 years old and is considered one of the oldest historic buildings in Saitama Prefecture.

In addition to the thatched-roof house, the grounds of Niikura Furusato Minka-en include a passage gate, a shed-like administrative building, and a storehouse-like pump house. The property also includes a field and a pond.

The grounds of Niikura Furusato Minka-en are generally open to the public. The grounds normally remain open even when the thatched roof is being repaired; check the conditions before your visit. The plantings on the grounds are designed to evoke a satoyama landscape. Irises grow on the ridge of the thatched roof, and medaka live in the pond. Another plant is Hiroha-amana, which once grew wild along the banks of the Yanaka River. Together, the house, garden, and pond reveal different aspects of the site without placing any single exhibit at the center.

Strawberries with Different Picking Conditions

You can pick strawberries at Ohana Strawberry Farm. The farm is a five-minute walk from Wako City Station, and participation is only possible with a confirmed reservation. The fruit is recognized as the Wako brand. If strawberry picking is part of your travel plans, take this mandatory reservation requirement into account and check the conditions before you arrive.

At Torikai-san’s strawberry farm, raised-bed cultivation allows you to pick strawberries while standing. Guests with strollers or wheelchairs can also take part, and reservations are available. The strawberries grow in a greenhouse, so picking is possible regardless of the weather. The two farms therefore differ in their stated participation requirements and in Torikai-san’s weather-independent offering. Check when the seasonal operation takes place before your trip.

Green Spaces and Exercise

Wako Jurin Park, also called Emi Park Wako Jurin, covers 20.2 hectares. The park opened in March 1989 on part of the former U.S. military site, Camp Asaka. It offers multipurpose areas for sports and recreation, as well as jogging trails.

Traditional Culture and Historic Landscape

The tradition of Shirako Bayashi dates back to its origins in the early Tenpō period and has been passed down ever since. Performances take place on July 26 during the Suwa Shrine festival and on the first Sunday in October during the Kumano Shrine festival. If you want to plan your trip around a performance, confirm the dates locally.

It is also recorded in the history of Shirako-juku that abundant spring water, said to have been brought from Kumano Shrine, may have been used in the middle and lower sections. This reported use remains a historical interpretation; together with the specific festival dates, it shows how cultural tradition and local history can offer different interests to bring together during a stay.

Choose a Vacation Rental to Suit Your Travel Interests

When looking for a vacation rental in Wakō, you might first consider what you want to focus on during your stay: the farmhouse history and plantings at Minka-en, strawberry picking and its respective conditions, or exercise at Wako Jurin Park. If you want to include cultural traditions, you can also take the performance dates mentioned above into account. This way, you can choose accommodation based on the experiences that matter to your trip, rather than on a general idea of what a stay should offer.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Ageo, Iruma, Ranzan, Furusato, Kumagaya, Saitama, Kawagoe, Chichibu.

For the main travel guide: Saitama Prefecture.