Experiencing agriculture firsthand at Hokkaido University’s Yoichi Orchard

September marks the beginning of apple harvest season in Hokkaido. As the trees begin to bear ripe fruit, Hokkaido University’s Yoichi Orchard welcomes students eager to experience agriculture beyond the classroom.

In September, the orchard welcomed two groups of students just days apart. On September 8, international students visited as part of the Faculty of Agriculture’s annual study tour, followed by students participating in a Summer Harvest Practical Training Session (夏季収穫実習) on September 11 under the guidance of Professor Yoichiro Hoshino of the Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere.

Located in Yoichi Town, approximately 60 kilometers from Sapporo, the five-hectare orchard was established in 1912 and has since served as a site for agricultural education and research.

Getting hands-on with the harvest

The Summer Harvest Practical Training program complements regular farm training by providing students with additional opportunities to participate in harvesting activities. During the September 11 session, students worked among fruit trees and grapevines, carefully harvesting apples, European pears, and grapes.

Yoichi Orchard’s staff explaining to students how to properly harvest apples

A single apple or European pear tree can produce around 100 kilograms of fruit, making harvesting a labor-intensive task. The students’ assistance was therefore particularly valuable to the orchard staff during the busy harvest season.

Students split into groups to harvest apples from different trees throughout the orchard

For some students, the experience also provided an opportunity to deepen their understanding of fruit cultivation. One second-year School of Agriculture student, who had previously experienced apple picking, harvested European pears for the first time. Handling the fruit allowed him to observe their distinctive shapes and textures firsthand. Students also discussed the diversity of fruit varieties cultivated at the orchard and its role in agricultural research and plant breeding.

At the end of the session, students also helped sort the harvest. Attention to detail was essential, as fruit from different trees had to be kept separate so orchard staff could record the yield of each individual tree.

Students sorting harvested fruit by weight and size

Students selecting fruit from their harvest to take home

The Work Behind the Harvest

Beyond picking fruit, students learned about the equipment and techniques used to maintain healthy fruit trees.

During a demonstration, orchard staff introduced a speed sprayer, a machine used to apply agricultural chemicals to fruit trees. The speed sprayer uses a powerful fan to carry the spray upward into the branches and foliage. The demonstration used water only, allowing students to observe the machine in action.

A student tries operating a speed sprayer during the practical training session

Students also learned what happens to fruit after harvesting. While some of the produce from the orchard is sold to Hokkaido University faculty and staff, damaged fruit may also be repurposed as feed for pigs at the University’s farm.

Orchard staff member Ikuta explained that harvesting is only one part of the orchard’s year-round work. His responsibilities change with the seasons, from pest management and mowing during the warmer months to pruning, snow removal, and protecting plants from Hokkaido’s heavy snowfall.

Orchard staff member Ikuta (left) explaining how to harvest grapes, alongside a fellow staff member

International students also discovered Hokkaido’s agriculture

Three days earlier, on September 8, Yoichi Orchard welcomed another group of students as part of the Faculty of Agriculture’s annual International Student Study Tour.

Organized by the Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School of Agriculture, and Research Faculty of Agriculture, the tour has been held for approximately 40 years to encourage interaction among international students and introduce them to Hokkaido’s diverse industries.

This year’s tour brought together nine international students, three Japanese student supporters, and four faculty and staff members.

International students with Japanese student supporters and faculty members at Yoichi Orchard (Courtesy of Faculty of Agriculture)

The group began their day at LUPICIA BREWERY in Niseko, where they learned about beer production and toured the facilities. In the afternoon, they traveled to Yoichi Orchard to learn about fruit cultivation and experience apple picking despite the rainy weather.

International students visiting LUPICIA BREWERY in Niseko (Courtesy of Faculty of Agriculture)

International students visiting Yoichi Orchard (Courtesy of Faculty of Agriculture)

The visit offered participants an opportunity to explore Hokkaido’s agricultural production firsthand while connecting with students from different countries and academic backgrounds.

Although the two groups visited Yoichi Orchard for different purposes, both experiences highlighted the value of learning directly from the field. From discovering unfamiliar fruits to understanding the work behind their cultivation, students gained perspectives on agriculture that extend beyond the classroom.

Photos by Miriam Ilsa Arfani
Public Relations & Communications Division