Azumino Wasabi: One of Japans Great Wasabi Lands

Azumino is blessed with clear streams welling up from the Northern Alps snowmelt and is known as one of Japans leading wasabi producers. Real wasabi grown slowly in cold, clear water spreads a fresh aroma and mellow heat when grated. The landscape woven by vast wasabi fields has become a signature sight of Azumino.

Highlights

At Daio Wasabi Farm you can enjoy fields as far as the eye can see and a scene with waterwheels, popular as a photogenic spot. Foods you can taste only here abound, such as wasabi soft serve, soba, and croquettes. The aroma of freshly grated real wasabi is an experience apart from store-bought. At the farm, said to be one of Japans largest, abundant spring water nourishes the fields year round.

Enjoying the Seasons

Wasabi is harvested year round, but the fresh green of spring into early summer makes the fields beautiful and ideal for a stroll. In summer, savoring wasabi soft serve while feeling the cool beside the cold spring water is popular.

Access and Basic Information

Daio Wasabi Farm in Hotaka, Azumino, is the representative spot, with good access from the Matsumoto direction. Admission is free, and you can enjoy wasabi-related foods while strolling the spacious farm. Opening hours change by season, and free parking is provided. Wasabi soft serve and wasabi croquettes can be enjoyed casually for a few hundred yen.

Practical Travel Notes

To enjoy Azumino wasabi, the free-admission Daio Wasabi Farm is the representative spot. Walking paths run along the fields, letting you stroll a scene with waterwheel huts and enjoy photos. Opening hours change by season, and by car it is near the Azumino interchange on the Nagano Expressway with free parking. By public transport, a taxi or bus from Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line is convenient. Within the grounds you can casually enjoy foods found only here, such as wasabi soft serve, wasabi croquettes, and wasabi soba. Summer is cool beside the spring water, and the fresh green of spring makes the fields beautiful, so choosing your season to visit is also nice. Real wasabi shows its aroma best grated just before eating, so if you take fresh wasabi as a souvenir, grating it right before use lets you fully enjoy the flavor.

A Quick Tip

Wasabi is most aromatic grated just before eating. For souvenirs, besides fresh wasabi, processed goods such as wasabi pickles and wasabi miso keep well and are handy.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Official recognition: The Azumino Wasabi Field Spring Water Group was selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Waters during the Showa era, and in the Ministry of the Environment's "100 Best Waters of Japan Selection Election" it ranked first nationwide in both the tourist destination category and the scenery category (Azumino City official information).
• Where you can taste it: Daio Wasabi Farm (3640 Hotaka, Azumino City / 0263-82-2118) has free admission. Opening hours are 8:00-17:00 from March to November and 9:00-16:00 from December to February, and it is closed on December 31.
• Access: About 10 minutes from Azumino IC on the Nagano Expressway. About 10 minutes by taxi from Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line (about 30 minutes on foot), or about 20 minutes by taxi from Akashina Station on the JR Shinonoi Line.

* Opening hours and prices at individual shops vary from shop to shop.

(Sources: Daio Wasabi Farm official website; Azumino City official website, "The Azumino Wasabi Field Spring Water Group wins two titles in the Ministry of the Environment's '100 Best Waters of Japan' Selection Election")

Sources of Information

This article is compiled from Nagano Prefecture tourism information and information published by each shop. Prices, menus and seasonal availability may change, so please check the official information of each shop for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: Fresh wasabi and processed products come in a wide range of prices
• Where to eat it: Farms, direct sales outlets and souvenir shops in Azumino
• Best time to go: Year-round. The wasabi fields are beautiful in the fresh greenery of spring
• Beating the crowds: Daio Wasabi Farm gets busy in the holiday seasons. Mornings are your best bet
• Enjoy it together with: Wasabi soft-serve ice cream, wasabi-zuke pickles as a souvenir, soba noodles, and the waterside scenery of Azumino