Daio Wasabi Farm
Daio Wasabi Farm things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Daio Wasabi Farm is one of Japan's largest wasabi farm and is rather popular in this area. It is about 20 minutes from Matsumoto City if you take the JR line from Matsumoto to Hotaka Station and then a cab (1200Y one-way) to the farm. Entry to the farm is free. When leaving the farm, do get the information counter staff at the farm to help you call for a taxi, it will still be the same price. Wasabi requires shaded areas to grow and this farm gets its water source from the Northern Alps - cool clear ever-flowing stream water. It is a really beautiful place to visit as it has a very peaceful and rested atmosphere, where you can just sit back and admire the scenery of rows and rows of wasabi plants interspersed with cool water flowing through. There is also a cafe selling wasabi related snacks, like wasabi ice-cream and chocolate. Personally I felt the ice-cream was just ok and could not really taste the wasabi flavour. There is also a shop selling wasabi related products, like wasabi biscuits, soap, paste for food, etc. Some of the products are quite interesting and actually very good too if you are a fan of wasabi. The only downside was that there wasn't any explanation on how they cultivate the wasabi plant or how they extract it to get the paste which would have been really informative and made the trip more meaningful. When I was there, there seemed to be a tour of the farm, but it was in Japanese which I couldn't understand so perhaps the guide could have been explaining. Overall it is a nice place to visit and relax in the countryside after the bustling city. It is also good for buying authentic wasabi related products and other various crafts. However if you are not a fan of wasabi and do not have much time in this area, you could consider skipping this.
Daniel TanDaniel Tan
10
This is a major tourist attraction for Japanese - I only saw two other Westerners - stroll beside the gentle running water - relax in the wasabi museum - see the 3 water wheels and artists easels beside them oh, we also paddled a raft up the fast flowing stream - this was fun - I saw a large 15" fish in the weeds right under my paddle ! - but it's hard work - tip: one hand over the end knob, the other as low down/close to the paddle as you can, for maximum leverage with minimum effort (hook your feet inside the raft so you can lean out low over the side of the raft) - otherwise trying to paddle with your hands higher up is exhausting but gives little or none of the propulsion you Need to get back against the fast flow ! we would have eaten lunch at a restaurant but the queue was too long even on a non-busy Sunday so we just bought wasabi seaweed with a kick and got a wasabi ice cream- these are rare in Japan- I’ve only had it in the central mountains of the Izu Peninsula- another wasabi growing area where it grows beside the road- but today’s was disappointing- if you didn’t tell me it was wasabi flavour I wouldn’t have known- so for a real taste of wasabi ice cream I’ll recommend a trip to the central Izu Peninsula!
ultimobileultimobile
00
Very pretty farm, quite a few Japanese and tourists. I went the first weekend of November, just as they switched over to winter hours, so they close at 4:30 about 2 hours earlier than in summer, which is just as well since it's dark by 5:00. There's more to the place than just the farm and gift shop, they also have a restaurant, shrine, and museum. Unfortunately since I went late in the day I wasn't able to explore these places as much. Also I wasn't able to get raw wasabi, so go earlier if you want to buy some! They had minced wasabi paste for sale among other wasabi flavored goods. I was able to buy the wasabi ice cream! It's not spicy so much as it is herbal, kind of like mint, and it is sweet. Honestly you can tell they used real plants to make it because it tastes so much like "plant". The fields near the entrance were nearly bare but the ones towards the back were lush and green. The shades we're also drawn back so, I've heard that makes for a good photo. You can't walk next to the wasabi, you just look at it.
Monica FordMonica Ford
10
There are a couple of wasabi farms in the area but this one seems more popular, perhaps as it is the closest to the train station. There are several walks there, as well as a wasabi statue. In the autumn season, there is one especially majestic tree all decked out in yellow. Do also check out the mills by the river with its clear crystal waters. There are a couple of eateries, including a steak house and a rice pot eatery where you can mix the local wasabi, which you freshly ground, in. They serve wasabi ice cream and wasabi croquettes too. Do visit the shop where you can buy locally made products and wasabi related items. The young wasabi smells nice but is not as pungent or spicy like commercial ones where mustard is added. Getting there is relatively easy - you can get discounted taxi coupons for @1300 yen both ways from the tourism office, and then ask the wasabi farm staff to call a cab for your return to the train station.
steven limsteven lim
40
Today visited Wasabi farm. First times saw a live wasabi, and the modern mass farm. Wasabi plant need a lot clean and cold water (bellow 15 C), but it is not submerge in the water like padi, only the root planted on porous sand, with continue water flow thru. During warmer day, it use black net to shield from hot sun. The entrance is free, so no interactive show and tell. It is self service of walking around the farm. We bought the wasabi premium ice cream come with wasabi patse. It was new experience and quite nice. Lunch, my wife and son ordered the Japanese wasabi set, they had experience of glidding wasabi root themself. I ordered the 200g beef steak with wasabi patse.
Say Hoch TanSay Hoch Tan
00
The landscape of the Japan Alps in the background from Hotaka Station to Daio Wasabi Farm was wonderful. Although some stretches of the route were quite narrow for pedestrians, the views of the lightly snow covered alpine was more than make up for it. The layout of the farm was impressive. We chose to visit on a weekday so the crowd was more sensible. Meals are available in 3 restaurants . We dined at The Oasis. The pork loin was well seasoned and cooked just right. Delicious. So was the beef rump. The wasabi goes well with the meat. The dessert set was lemon and wasabi cheesecake and lemon wasabi sorbet. Interesting combination. Love it.
Kok-Wah YeapKok-Wah Yeap
20
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
3640 Hotaka, Azumino, Nagano 399-8303, Japan
Map
Phone
+81 263-82-2118
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Website
daiowasabi.co.jp
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Reviews
Overview
4
(5.3K reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
outdoor
family friendly
Description
The Daiō Wasabi Farm is a wasabi farm established in 1915 and located in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture near the center of Honshū, the main island of Japan. It is a popular tourist spot due to its watermills and for the river that runs through it.
attractions: あづみ野ランド, restaurants: Pan Calmo, 湧水飯釜 大王庵, Twinkle, Oasis
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