Yatsugatake Agricultural College (Hara Village and Chino City, Nagano Prefecture; Chairman: Soichiro Minami) will hold "Yatsugatake Agricultural College Autumn Fest," an event built around the arrival of autumn on campus, during the Silver Week holiday period from September 19 (Saturday) to September 23 (Wednesday, holiday), 2026.
As autumn settles over the 1,300-meter-elevation Yatsugatake highlands, the fest will bring a new real Halloween pumpkin photo spot to the college's expansive flower field, craft booths from a cumulative 18 vendors, and a special food area serving "early-autumn gourmet" made with the college's own farm produce, all held across the lawn plaza and YATZ GARDEN on the college's 267-hectare campus, about 57 times the area of the Tokyo Dome. The farm stand will also continue selling highland vegetables harvested early each morning by students and staff.
Real Halloween Pumpkins in the Flower Field (From September 18)
Last year's Halloween pumpkin display
Within a row of the striped "Colors" section of the college's 10-hectare flower field, YATZ GARDEN, a variety of real Halloween pumpkins grown at the college will be specially arranged, including its own orange Halloween pumpkins, the charming yellow プッチーニ variety, and the pure-white プチホワイト variety. The college grows about 10,000 pumpkins for ornamental display. Set against the crisp autumn sky and flowers of Yatsugatake, the photo spot opens a day early, from September 18 (Friday).
About 10,000 Halloween pumpkins are grown at the college
Craft Artist Booths Fill the Lawn Plaza
In the college's expansive lawn plaza, shops run by craft artists will set up amid the cool autumn breeze, with a cumulative 18 vendors appearing over the course of the event and selling a variety of handmade goods and craft items.
Early-Autumn Gourmet at a Special Food Area
Housemade corn soup
In front of the farm stand, a special food area will serve "early-autumn gourmet" made generously with the college's own farm produce.
- Premium bacon skewers: the college's own bacon, smoked about ten times longer than usual for concentrated flavor.
- Sweet corn soup: made with this year's harvest of sweet corn grown at the college, a returning favorite from last year.
- New potato fries: made with freshly harvested new potatoes grown at 1,300 meters elevation.
Farm Tours Continue
By popular request, the farm tour offers a compact loop around the campus's highlights, including hands-on time with cows, chickens, and goats.
Details: https://www.asoview.com/channel/activities/ja/yatsunou-taiken/offices/3117/courses
Fresh Highland Vegetables at the Farm Stand
Corn, edamame, potatoes, and other fresh highland vegetables harvested early each morning by students and staff continue to be sold at the farm stand. The college's "fresh milk cookies," made with its own 100% fresh milk, are also recommended.
YATZ GARDEN Flower Field Update
Salvia
Colors
At the 10-hectare flower field YATZ GARDEN (https://yatsunou.jp/garden/), visitors can enjoy the salvia field and the striped "Colors" section, among other main areas. The buzzworthy "Breathtaking View Swing" photo spot and soft-serve made with the college's own fresh milk are also available. Peak bloom in the main areas has passed, but staff and students continue tending the flowers daily.
- Salvia (220,000 plants), "Yatsugatake Red Carpet": red (110,000 plants) and white (110,000 plants)
- "Colors" (55,000 plants): a variety of flowers blooming in stripes
Marigolds and soft-serve from last year
For the latest updates on closures due to poor weather, check the stories on the college's official Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yatsunou.since1938/) or its opening hours on Google Maps. The garden may close on short notice during business hours in poor weather.
The Buzzworthy "Breathtaking View Swing"
A wooden swing newly installed within the "Salvia (red)" section, the spot with the best view of Yatsugatake, has become a popular photo spot, drawing attention on social media for its overwhelming sense of immersion amid the crimson field and its sweeping view of the Yatsugatake mountain range.
Hot air balloon rides offering an early-morning view of Yatsugatake from the sky will also run near the flower field, on the mornings of September 22 and 23 only.
Yatsugatake Agricultural College Autumn Fest Overview
- Dates: September 19 (Saturday) to September 23 (Wednesday, holiday), 2026
- Autumn Fest hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Farm stand hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (daily during the fest)
- Hours for the special food area and craft booths may vary by vendor and day.
- Freshly harvested highland vegetables are expected to sell out early in the day, so early arrival is recommended.
- YATZ GARDEN flower field hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (the kitchen truck in the flower field operates 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
Access
To the farm stand:
- By car: about 15 minutes from Suwa-Minami IC, or about 30 minutes from Kobuchizawa IC, on the Chuo Expressway.
- By train: about 20 minutes by taxi, or about 30 minutes by bus, from JR Chuo Line Chino Station to the "Yatsugatake Chuo Nogyo Jissen Daigakko-mae" bus stop, then about a 7-minute walk. (Through October 12, a sightseeing shuttle bus connects Chino Station with the farm stand and flower field on weekends and holidays; see the college's website for details.)
To the flower field: about a 4- to 5-minute drive from the Yatsugatake Farm Direct-Sales Shop, marked with white signage.
Parking: free parking is available (100 spaces at the farm stand area, 600 spaces at the flower field area).
