Daio Wasabi Farm 大王わさび農場

Whatever your feelings about wasabi, the 15-hectare Daio Wasabi Farm in Azumino makes a great excursion from Matsumoto . Explore the beautiful grounds and become an expert on Japan's popular condiment.

You can reach the farm by bus, taxi or bike from Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line.

Hotaka Station is located 30 minutes from Matsumoto on the JR Oito Line. Buses serving the station and farm operate on weekends between mid-April and October. Taxis from outside the station are a convenient alternative; the journey takes 10 minutes.

Outside of winter, a popular option is to rent a bike at the station and enjoy the scenic ride out to the farm through the Nagano countryside.

Wasabi grows naturally in streambeds in some regions of Japan, but the plants are notoriously temperamental and need ultra-pure conditions to thrive. Thanks to mineral-charged water from the neighboring Alps and the careful attention of the farm workers, the Daio Wasabi Farm plants thrive.

The grounds look more like a work of art than of agriculture. The rows of perfectly spaced wasabi plants in their cultivated gravel beds conforming to the flow of the streams running through the property are reminiscent of Zen gardens.

Stroll the network of walking trails throughout the farm and visit the watermills and thatch-roofed houses that were constructed as part of a set for Akira Kurosawa's 1990 film “Dreams.” They stand beautifully on the banks of the Tate River bordering the property. In the warmer months, you can take a short rafting ride for a different view of the farm and its surrounds.

Tasting some of the intriguing wasabi concoctions at the farm's restaurant is one of the visit's major highlights. You can sample wasabi pickles, wasabi rice crackers, or if you're ready for a meal, perhaps wasabi soba, wasabi croquettes, or even wasabi curry will tempt you.

For something sweet and adventurous, try wasabi soft-serve ice cream. If you just want a beverage, try a green glass of wasabi beer or something non-alcoholic there's always the wasabi soda. Of course, you can try fresh wasabi, too.

Before heading back to town, stop at the farm's shop where they offer a wealth of wasabi-related products and gifts including wasabi-flavored KitKats.