The Last Taste of Summer — Peach Season on Zao's "Fruit Road"
At the foot of the Zao mountains, Prefectural Route 12 — running from Zao Town Hall toward Togatta Onsen — is lined with orchards and farmers' markets, which is how it earned the nickname "Fruit Road." Right now, Miyagi Zao peaches are at their peak. Seeing morning-picked peaches on the shelves is a sight you get only in this short season.
In the Enda district, Muronoi Fruit Farm is again offering peach picking from around August in 2026 (please contact the farm directly to confirm dates and whether a reservation is needed). The juiciness of a peach eaten straight off the tree is something you rarely meet in a shop. Even without picking your own, roadside markets such as "Aara Zao no Mebuki Ichiba Dattcha" and "Sanchoku Ichiba Minnano" sell the season's peaches. Most stock them until around early September — truly the last taste of summer.
Come September, pears take over, and Fruit Road keeps bearing fruit into early winter, so an autumn stay works well too. Carry on to Togatta Onsen on the way back and you can enjoy a chilled peach after a hot spring bath.
Fruit Road is about a 40-minute drive from MARUKI Saifuku (Togatta Onsen, about 55 minutes). Bring your peaches back and enjoy them on the engawa veranda of the old farmhouse — we have a refrigerator and a fully equipped kitchen, so you can chill them, slice them, and take your time.
Source / latest information: Zao Town Tourism & Products Association — Fruit Picking (Peaches) (Japanese). Dates, prices and reservation requirements change from year to year; please check with each farm or market before you go.