The harvest of "Tanba chestnuts"—a quintessential autumn delicacy—is nearing its conclusion in the Wachi district of Kyotanba Town, Kyoto Prefecture. At "Tanba Marron Farm," a chestnut orchard in the town, workers are busy gathering the large, glossy nuts; they use long metal tongs to pick them out from the spiky husks that have fallen beneath the trees.
Yoshitsugu Yamauchi (85 years old), who manages an orchard spanning approximately 1.2 hectares, walks through the grounds, collecting the fallen chestnuts one after another. He notes that this year, a period of persistent rain in late August caused temperatures to drop, which brought the peak of the harvest about four days earlier than usual. The yield has been strong—a somewhat bountiful harvest—and picking is expected to continue until around October 20th.
Yamauchi cultivates his chestnuts without the use of pesticides, employing methods such as using lights at night to deter pests. The Wachi district is well-suited for growing chestnuts, thanks to its significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, as well as the presence of the Yura River, which helps protect the trees from frost damage. The chestnuts here are known for their large size. "Wachi chestnuts are the best," Yamauchi says with a smile. "I truly hope people get a chance to taste them."
