The perfect climate for growing strawberries

The climate of Hokota, found in Ibaraki Prefecture, an area also known as the land of agriculture, is characterized by a significant difference in daily temperatures with bright sunshine beating down during the day to bring on a sweat and rapidly falling temperatures as the sun sets, making it extremely ideal for the cultivation of agricultural crops. It is also the best area in the prefecture for the cultivation of tomatoes, carrots, Chinese radish, yam, parsley and spinach. Hokota is also the largest producer of rock melon, sweet potato, potherb mustard and burdock in Japan. Strawberries grown at Murata’s Family Farm in the Konaji region of Hokota are blessed with great soil and plenty of sunlight making them grow plump and juicy.

In the nature of the child-loving Japanese Buddhist Goddess “Benzaiten”

The Japanese Buddhist Goddess housed in the Itsukushima Shrine nestled in the woods near the farm is a deity of conception and safe delivery founded over 900 years ago. The sun that rises from the ocean of Konaji and sets between the twin peaks of Tsukuba, Mt. Nantai (male divinity) and Mt. Nyotai (female divinity) during the equinoctial period is a sacred feature of the local area.
The Japanese character for strawberry also means child.
Strawberries grown in this soil that has been handed down over generations through the Murata family are nurtured with love and care, just like our children.