夜間におけるいちご狩りの普及

Popularization of strawberry picking at night

Popularization of strawberry picking at night
従来、いちご狩りといえば冬から春にかけて日中に行われる定番のレジャーであったが、近年、日本国内ではその常識を覆す「夜のいちご狩り」が静かに広がりを見せている

Traditionally, strawberry picking was a standard leisure activity that took place during the day from winter to spring, but in recent years, ``strawberry picking at night'' has been quietly spreading in Japan, overturning that common sense.

Traditionally, strawberry picking was a standard leisure activity that took place during the day from winter to spring, but in recent years, ``strawberry picking at night'' has been quietly spreading in Japan, overturning that common sense.
温室内を幻想的な照明で彩る夜間のいちご狩りは、昼間とは異なる雰囲気を演出し、非日常的な体験を求める利用者から高い支持を得ているという

Nighttime strawberry picking, where the greenhouse is illuminated with fantastic lighting, creates a different atmosphere than during the day, and is said to be highly popular among users looking for an extraordinary experience.

Nighttime strawberry picking, where the greenhouse is illuminated with fantastic lighting, creates a different atmosphere than during the day, and is said to be highly popular among users looking for an extraordinary experience.
この新らな取り組みの背景には、農家が抱える経営上の課題がある

Behind this new initiative are the management issues faced by farmers.

Behind this new initiative are the management issues faced by farmers.
電気代や肥料代、人件費などの経費が年々上昇しているにもかかわらず、昼間だけの営業では十分な収益を確保しきれない農園が増加しているのが現状である

Despite the fact that expenses such as electricity costs, fertilizer costs, and labor costs are rising year by year, an increasing number of farms are unable to secure sufficient profits by operating only during the day.

Despite the fact that expenses such as electricity costs, fertilizer costs, and labor costs are rising year by year, an increasing number of farms are unable to secure sufficient profits by operating only during the day.
さらに、冬季にはいちごの生育を維持するため、夜間もハウス内の暖房や照明を稼働させざるを得ない

Furthermore, in order to maintain the growth of strawberries during the winter, heating and lighting inside the greenhouse must be operated at night.

Furthermore, in order to maintain the growth of strawberries during the winter, heating and lighting inside the greenhouse must be operated at night.
こうした状況を踏まえ、農家は「夜間も電力を消費するのであれば、その時間帯を活用して観光客を受け入れよう」と発想を転換したのである

Based on this situation, farmers changed their thinking and said, ``If electricity is consumed at night, let's take advantage of that time to welcome tourists.''

Based on this situation, farmers changed their thinking and said, ``If electricity is consumed at night, let's take advantage of that time to welcome tourists.''
追加のコストがほとんど発生しない上、収益向上も期待できることから、合理的な経営判断と言える

This can be said to be a rational business decision as there is almost no additional cost and it is expected to improve profits.

This can be said to be a rational business decision as there is almost no additional cost and it is expected to improve profits.
また、現代社会における人々のライフスタイルの変化も、夜間いちご狩りの普及を後押ししている

Also, changes in people's lifestyles in modern society are also supporting the spread of nighttime strawberry picking.

Also, changes in people's lifestyles in modern society are also supporting the spread of nighttime strawberry picking.
共働き世帯の増加や、平日・週末を問わず多忙な生活を送る人々が増えたことにより、日中にレジャーの時間を確保することが難しくなっている

Due to the increase in dual-income households and the increase in people leading busy lives both on weekdays and weekends, it has become difficult to find time for leisure during the day.

Due to the increase in dual-income households and the increase in people leading busy lives both on weekdays and weekends, it has become difficult to find time for leisure during the day.
そのため、仕事帰りや週末の夜に気軽に楽しめる「夜のいちご狩り」は、静かな雰囲気の中で過ごしたい層やデートを目的とする利用者にも好評を博している

For this reason, ``Night Strawberry Picking'', which can be enjoyed casually after work or on a weekend night, is popular with people who want to spend time in a quiet atmosphere and people who are going on a date.

For this reason, ``Night Strawberry Picking'', which can be enjoyed casually after work or on a weekend night, is popular with people who want to spend time in a quiet atmosphere and people who are going on a date.
このような動きは、従来の農業観光の枠を超えた新しいモデルの創出に繋がっている

Such movements are leading to the creation of new models that go beyond the traditional framework of agricultural tourism.

Such movements are leading to the creation of new models that go beyond the traditional framework of agricultural tourism.
観光客は夕食後の時間を有効に活用でき、農家側も既存設備を最大限に利用して収益性を高めることが可能となるため、まさに「一石二鳥」の取り組みであると言える

Tourists can make effective use of their time after dinner, and farmers can make maximum use of existing equipment to increase profitability, so it can truly be said to be an initiative to kill two birds with one stone.

Tourists can make effective use of their time after dinner, and farmers can make maximum use of existing equipment to increase profitability, so it can truly be said to be an initiative to kill two birds with one stone.
現在、この夜間営業の流れはいちごにとどまらず、将来的にはぶどうやみかんなど他の果物でも「夜の収穫体験」が導入される可能性が指摘されている

Currently, this trend of night-time operations is not limited to strawberries, and it has been pointed out that in the future, "night harvest experience" may be introduced for other fruits such as grapes and mandarin oranges.

Currently, this trend of night-time operations is not limited to strawberries, and it has been pointed out that in the future, "night harvest experience" may be introduced for other fruits such as grapes and mandarin oranges.
農業と観光が連携し、柔軟かつ創意工夫に富んだ新らなトレンドが今後も日本各地で拡大していくことが期待されている

Agriculture and tourism collaborate, and new trends that are flexible and full of ingenuity are expected to continue to expand throughout Japan.

Agriculture and tourism collaborate, and new trends that are flexible and full of ingenuity are expected to continue to expand throughout Japan.