Wakatake no Mori Wakayama Farm

The history of Wakayama Farm began with bamboo shoot and chestnut cultivation. For over 100 years across three generations — in the north of Utsunomiya City overlooking the Nikko mountains — with the words "agriculture lies in soil-making" in heart, the farm has continued natural circulation farming while facing bamboo and soil. Through initiatives considerate of the local environment — like returning bamboo chips to fields — fostering soil where bamboo shoots, chestnuts, and blueberries grow healthily.

Bamboo grows fast — becoming mature bamboo in just a few months from the shoot, then withering in around 10 years. To grow quality bamboo shoots, bamboo grove thinning and management must be continued every year without break. Wakayama Farm thoroughly manages about 21 hectares — about 100,000 stalks — of bamboo grove, and the thinning material produced in the process is also utilized without waste. As care continued like this, well-maintained bamboo grove scenery hard to see elsewhere was born — drawing attention as a filming location for movies and CMs.

From the wish to make the appeal of bamboo groves feel closer — currently the bamboo grove is publicly opened as a tourist site. Strolling the bamboo grove that changes expressions across the four seasons, enjoying matcha in bamboo vessels, participating in bamboo crafting workshops — visitors can each enjoy their own "time with bamboo." At night, bamboo light events and light-ups are held — encountering fantastical bamboo grove scenes completely different from day.

Meanwhile, Wakayama Farm — also having the face of a bamboo specialty nursery — works on variety improvement through seedling selection, supplying bamboo seedlings nationwide including the dwarf moso bamboo "Himeake-bono Moso." Proposing bamboo landscapes across Japan — airports, hotels, commercial facilities. Through location business, event and concert hosting, and photo contests — continuing to create new experiences set in bamboo groves.

Going forward, Wakayama Farm — centered on bamboo, bamboo shoot, and chestnut production and bamboo grove management — through utilizing bamboo materials and seedlings, tourism and event businesses, and SDGs initiatives — aims to pass rich natural resources not only to people living now but also to future generations.

Extraordinary scenery of about 24 hectares of fields and bamboo groves

Wakayama Farm spans bamboo groves and fields in the north of Utsunomiya City — with the Nikko mountains as backdrop. The seasonal scenery that changes its expression is the appeal. Promenades lined with green bamboo, night bamboo groves illuminated, and chestnut trees coloring in autumn — each visit offers different scenery.

Natural circulation farming centered on bamboo shoots, chestnuts, and blueberries

From the thought "agriculture lies in soil-making" — practicing natural circulation farming leveraging things like bamboo chip returns. Spring bamboo shoots, summer blueberries, autumn chestnuts — agricultural products committed to soil-making are delivered through Tokyo markets, restaurants, direct sales, and online stores.

Multi-faceted initiatives leveraging bamboo — bamboo seedlings, bamboo materials, location business

As one of Japan's leading bamboo specialty nurseries — performing bamboo variety improvement and seedling production — there are many achievements of bamboo planting in urban spaces like airports, hotels, and commercial facilities. Furthermore, providing bamboo chips and kadomatsu bamboo from thinning material, plus rental as filming locations for movies, dramas, and CMs, and as concert and event venues — developing diverse businesses centered on bamboo.

Healing and food time enjoyed at bamboo forest baths, bamboo lights, and café

During the day, bamboo forest walks wrapped in dappled sunlight and the sound of swaying bamboo leaves; at night, experiencing fantastical bamboo groves through light-up events like "Bamboo Winter Lights." At the attached café & restaurant, you can also enjoy sweets and lunch menus using farm chestnuts, plus matcha served in bamboo vessels.