Blueberries from the Mashiko town blueberry picking farm "Blueberry to Satoyama to" and Mashiko sake brewery "Tonoike Sake Brewery" This project involves selling the blueberry liqueur "Mashiko Blueberry Night," which is manufactured by the company , primarily through the ROJI Nihonbashi ONLINE STORE and shops in the Mashiko area.
In addition to sales, we will be sharing the entire process, from blueberry cultivation to liqueur production, from the ROJI Nihonbashi ONLINE STORE ! The liqueur will be released on December 9th, 2025 (Tuesday)♪
⇒Purchase 'Mashiko Blueberry Night' here
~ The process from blueberry cultivation to liqueur production ~
"Blueberry and Satoyama" utilizes hydroponics. We will be sharing updates on the cultivation status of "Blueberry and Satoyama" from 2024 to 2025, as well as the liqueur production process at "Tonoike Brewery" !
[End of October 2024] Pruning, weeding, and watering seedlings (Updated November 12, 2024)
Pruning work
In the summer, after the fruit has finished bearing, we prune away unnecessary branches. This allows nutrients to reach the necessary branches, promoting thicker and larger growth of the tree for the following year. Thick, healthy branches tend to produce large, sweet fruit.
- Weeding and watering seedlings : Remove weeds growing in the pots and water the seedlings.
[Mid-November 2024] Removal of plastic sheeting from greenhouses and removal of bird netting (Updated November 27, 2024)
- Removing the plastic sheeting from greenhouses <br>Even blueberries, which have a wonderful flavor when fully ripe, have delicate varieties whose fruit splits open easily when rain touches the fruit.
At Blueberry & Satoyama, once the blueberries begin to ripen, we cover them with plastic sheeting to protect them from rain, and we carefully cultivate them by devising pruning methods and pot placements to create an environment where weather-sensitive varieties can thrive .
The vinyl roof not only protects the blueberries, but also has the advantage of allowing customers to comfortably pick them even on rainy days .
At Blueberry & Satoyama, you can enjoy picking blueberries of around 15 varieties throughout the season, and you can have fun regardless of the weather, even on rainy days.
Once the blueberry picking season is over, we remove all the plastic sheeting.
This is to prevent the plastic sheeting from being damaged by strong winds or snow .
I carefully fold and store them, and then cover them with plastic again next year when the blueberries start to ripen. 
- Removal of bird netting <br>The farm has a total area of approximately 10,000 square meters, but it is divided into two levels, upper and lower. Bird netting is installed on the ceiling of both the upper and lower levels where blueberries are grown.
It not only helps prevent damage from birds that quickly detect when the fruit is ripe , but above all, it is extremely useful in keeping the field environment clean .
Having bird netting prevents droppings from falling due to birds entering the property.
Like the plastic sheeting, this bird netting is also removed before winter to prevent damage from strong winds and snowfall .
A group of people removed a total of four bird netting panels, each measuring approximately 50m x 40m, which were installed on the upper and lower sections of the field.
We will choose a sunny and windless day to carry out the work. 
[December 2024] Seedling planting, system cleaning, field cleaning, slope mowing (Updated December 25, 2024)
In southeastern Tochigi Prefecture, where the farm is located, blueberry leaves gradually begin to change to autumn colors from around the latter half of November. While some varieties are strongly evergreen, they generally display a variety of colors, from deep red to vibrant vermilion. The farm at this time of year is enveloped in a beautiful gradient of rich colors, offering a different kind of spectacle than during the flowering or harvesting seasons.
・Seedling planting
We're transplanting these still-small two-year-old seedlings into slightly larger pots. In two years, we'll repot them into even larger pots. Right now, they're tiny, frail-looking seedlings with no leaves, but in two years, when they become four-year-old seedlings, they'll grow large enough to bear blueberries. We'll prune and maintain them at the right time to help the trunks thicken and the roots establish themselves firmly.
System cleaning
We will clean the more than 100 irrigation tubes that supply sap to the blueberry plants. To keep the inside of the irrigation tubes clean, we will use water pressure to clean the inside of each hose.
* Liquid fertilizer... This refers to liquid fertilizer in which fertilizer components are dissolved in water. Note (1) Because it is an aqueous solution, it is quickly absorbed by crops and its effects appear immediately. Note (2)
* Irrigation... The act of giving water to plants to create a suitable growing environment. Note (3)
Note (1) Citation: Seiko Ecology Column
Note (2) Source: Ajinomoto Group Amino Acid Fertilizer Online Sales
Note (3) Citation: Seiko Ecology Agricultural Terminology Dictionary
• Field cleaning
To maintain hygienic conditions in the fields, we regularly clean them even during the off-season. This also helps prevent the entry and proliferation of pests.
- Mowing grass on slopes
Because Mashiko Town has a rich natural environment, highly resilient weeds quickly sprout up all over the farms.
Because "Blueberry and Satoyama" has many steep slopes, weeding is extremely laborious and dangerous. However, using herbicides would kill the roots and cause the soil on the slopes to collapse, so we painstakingly mow the grass with a brush cutter .
We mow the grass regularly throughout the year, but since the weeds that grew in the fall wither in the winter cold and the growth of new weeds slows down, we mow the grass all at once during the off-season .
Regular mowing prevents weeds from spreading and maintains the landscape of the tourist farm. It also helps to deter pests such as civets, raccoons, and wild boars, which cause damage year-round and are more common in spring and autumn . Maintaining an environment with good visibility prevents the farm from becoming a hiding place or passageway for these pests, creating an uncomfortable environment for them.
[January-March 2025] Pruning (Updated April 17, 2025)
・Pruning: In "Blueberries and Satoyama," blueberry pruning is performed twice a year, in summer and winter .
Winter pruning, in particular, is such an important task that it's no exaggeration to say it determines the taste of the crop for the following season.
While imagining the ideal tree shape we want it to become in the future, we prune to ensure that nutrients reach the fruit to the maximum extent, remove unnecessary branches, and guide the fruit to grow where we want it to , among other things. Because we carefully prune each blueberry bush one by one, it takes my wife and I three to four months to prune all 1,300 blueberry bushes . However, this pruning greatly affects the taste of the blueberries and the growth of the bushes, so although it takes time, it is a cultivation process that we value to the fullest extent. 
[March to early April 2025] Flower bud adjustment, wood chip application, and installation of bees for pollination (Updated April 17, 2025)
・Flower bud adjustment
By March, most varieties have finished developing flower buds, so we adjust the number of flower buds according to the tree's growth stage. We look at the entire tree, checking the number and location of flower buds, and making adjustments to ensure that nutrients reach the fruit as effectively as possible .
Wood chips
Spread wood chips over the surface of the soil in the pots where the blueberry bushes are planted. This is expected to help prevent the soil from drying out, suppress weeds, and prevent pest infestation . 
- Installation of honeybees for pollination
Most blueberries bear fruit through cross-pollination. Our farm has 40 varieties and 1,300 blueberry bushes, and their flowering period is from late March to early May . The flowering period varies depending on the variety, but each variety blooms for about one to two weeks . Honeybees are indispensable helpers during this period. Honeybees carry pollen from flower to flower, and if pollination is successful, the flower falls and the green fruit appears .
Because of the rich natural environment with its sprawling rural landscape, bees naturally come to the farm. However, to further increase the chances of fruit set, we borrow European honeybees from local beekeepers to facilitate pollination . In addition to European honeybees, various insects, including wild bumblebees, come from the nearby mountains to help with pollination, making the farm a lively and bustling place.
[Mid-April to May 2025] Installing bird netting , thinning flowers , expanding nest boxes, thinning fruit (Updated June 5, 2025)
*Blueberry blossoms *
Blueberry bushes produce bell-shaped white flowers from spring to early summer.
The flowering period varies depending on the variety and climate conditions, but flowering generally begins around mid-April.
Blueberry flowers are tubular in shape and are said to resemble lily-of-the-valley flowers . 
- Installing bird netting
The " Blueberry and Satoyama " farm covers approximately 10,000 square meters, but the blueberry picking area is divided into two sections. Every May, bird netting is installed on the roofs of both areas.
Bird netting not only helps prevent damage from birds that quickly detect when the fruit is ripe, but most importantly, it is extremely useful in keeping the field environment clean . The presence of bird netting prevents droppings from falling due to bird intrusion .
- Flower thinning work
Thinning is the process of removing flowers. After pollination, blueberry flowers naturally fall off due to the drying of their petals and exposure to rain and wind. However, flowers that do not fall off, or those that wither and remain without being pollinated, can cause disease if left as they are, so they are removed by hand . 
• Enlarge the beehive<br>By increasing the size of the beehive or the number of frames inside the hive, you can expand the range of activity for the bees and grow a larger colony. A larger colony allows more bees to participate in pollination work and pollinate more flowers . 
- Fruit thinning work
Fruit thinning is the process of removing some of the fruit . If too many fruits are allowed to grow, the nutrients will be dispersed, resulting in small, sour fruits. By thinning the fruit appropriately, each fruit will grow larger and sweeter . Also, too many fruits put a strain on the tree and can weaken it, so thinning contributes to maintaining the tree's health in the long term . 
[June-August 2025] Harvesting work (Updated July 22, 2025)
• Harvesting work
After a year of careful cultivation, receiving plenty of sun, wind, and our love, the blueberries finally reach harvest time each year, from June to August.
" Blueberry and Satoyama " has approximately 40 varieties and 1,300 blueberry bushes planted, allowing you to enjoy the "seasonal deliciousness" that can only be tasted at each time of year.
In June , the varieties that begin to ripen are those with large berries and plump flesh . When you bite into them, you hardly feel the presence of seeds, and the juice bursts forth —the perfect taste for a "first blueberry experience." With a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness , these varieties are popular with people of all ages, from children to adults.
In July , the world of blueberries becomes even more fascinating. Blueberries with mysterious and unique flavors emerge, sometimes hinting at plums, cherries, or even pears . It's a summer culinary adventure, like enjoying multiple fruits at once.
Then comes August . The blueberries, ripened slowly under the midsummer sun, are slightly smaller in size, but they have almost no acidity and are appealing for their rich sweetness . There are a few seeds, but that only adds to their depth and rich flavor, resulting in a product that will make you think, "Blueberries can be this sweet!" 
Even with the same blueberries, they can show completely different characteristics depending on the season, variety, and combination. That's the greatest charm of the blueberries at "Blueberries and Satoyama."
To give it a richer flavor, "Mashiko Blueberry Night" uses several varieties of blueberries. Please look forward to the finished product! 
[November 2025] Liqueur manufacturing work (Updated December 5, 2025)
(1) Mix the ingredients
Strain the blueberry puree to make blueberry juice, mix in the other ingredients, and your blueberry liqueur is complete! 
(2) Bottling: The finished blueberry liqueur is bottled using a machine. 
(3) Pasteurization in the bottle
To preserve the aroma and flavor of the blueberry liqueur, it is heat-sterilized in hot water while still sealed in the bottle. After heat sterilization, it is cooled in cold water and stored in the refrigerator. 
(5) Labeling
We will attach labels to products that have been stored in the refrigerator. 
(6) Boxed and shipped
Pack the finished products and ship them out!
[December 9, 2025] Blueberry liqueur "Mashiko Blueberry Night" goes on sale!!
▼What kind of place is Mashiko, the production area of Mashiko ware?
Mashiko Town in Tochigi Prefecture is located where the Yamizo Mountains, which stretch from the north, meet the Kanto Plain. In the rural areas and mountains that show different expressions in each of the four seasons, people live and work rooted in the local climate and culture, mainly through pottery, crafts, and agriculture .
It's a vibrant town with many events throughout the year, including pottery fairs in spring and autumn, the Gion Festival in summer, hand-held fireworks, and the three major flower festivals (sunflower, rapeseed, and cherry blossom).
≪Agriculture≫
Agriculture thrives throughout the year, with a wide variety of crops being grown, creating beautiful rural landscapes across the region. Fruit cultivation is also popular, including blueberries , strawberries, grapes, pears, and apples.
Pottery and crafts
Mashiko is a center of pottery production and a hub of the folk craft movement. Beyond pottery, various craftspeople have moved here, and a culture of craftsmanship forms the foundation of daily life.
▼About "Blueberry to Satoyama to," a blueberry picking farm in Mashiko Town, and "Tonoike Sake Brewery," a Mashiko sake brewery founded in 1937.
・Mashiko Town Blueberry Picking Farm "Blueberries and Satoyama"
"Blueberry to Satoyama to," a blueberry picking tourist farm, will have its grand opening in June 2024, just a 5-minute drive from Michi-no-Eki Mashiko.
"Blueberry and Satoyama" is based on the concept of "making your holidays more enjoyable," and has incorporated various features into the picking experience to allow customers to focus on the "here and now." (In addition to enjoying picking, there is a picking guide book, a giant canvas for drawing, a letter postbox for your future self, a water play area for children, etc.)
The farm currently has 1,300 blueberry bushes of 40 different varieties , and from June to August, there are always 10 to 15 different varieties available, allowing you to enjoy comparing the texture, aroma, and flavor of each variety.
[Farm Overview]
[Farm Name] Blueberries and Satoyama
[Address] 453-1 Honnuma, Masuko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture 321-4224 (next to Honnuma Parking)
[Reservations and Inquiries] Website: https://blueberry-mashiko.com/
[Operating Period] Open only from June to late August.
[Regular closing days] Thursday and Friday
[Business Hours] Weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays: 9:00-16:00 (Last Order: 15:30)
[URL] https://blueberry-mashiko.com/
- Tonoike Sake Brewery, founded in 1937 in Mashiko.
Sotoike Sake Brewery was founded in 1937 (Showa 12). Located in Mashiko Town, Tochigi Prefecture, it brews the sake brands "Sanran" and "Bo:". It also manufactures and sells a variety of other products, including the shochu "Mashiko no Honoo", doburoku (unrefined sake), strawberry liqueur, and the "Kuramoto Bijin" cosmetics series.
Furthermore, it was awarded 4th place in the " 2019 World Sake Brewery Ranking," which selects the most highly-rated sake breweries in domestic and international competitions. The brewery is also focusing on overseas exports, and as of 2023, it ships to 17 countries (Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Austria, France, Italy, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Spain, and Brazil).
Tens of thousands of people visit the brewery every year, and it contributes to the revitalization of Mashiko town, a popular tourist destination, as a tourist brewery . We strive to provide warm hospitality and share the joy of Japanese sake and the charm of Mashiko town with our customers.
【Company Profile】
[Company Name] Sotoike Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
[Head Office Contact Information]
333-1 Hanawa, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture 321-4216
Phone: 0285-72-0001 Fax: 0285-72-0003
Email info@tonoike.jp
[URL] https://tonoike.jp/
