The Farm and Mountains of Azumino

I have told the story about visiting Daio wasabi farm in the former article ‘Meet the Real Wasabi in Nagano’. This is a place that I recommend you to visit.

If you are a nature lover, Daio wasabi farm is a place for you. In addition to wasabi, there are various types of trees, wildflowers, fish, birds, butterflies and other insects to enjoy.

If you like painting or photography then you should not miss Daio Wasabi Farm. It has a romantic feeling in the air with hills all around, wasabi fields which look like rice fields, running streams, a set of traditional water wheels, bridges over the wasabi meadows, shrines and caves. There are wildflowers and sculptures. The farm has many beautiful spots suitable for painting or photography.

If you like to eat wasabi, the farm offers all kind of yummy food which are of course made of wasabi, ranging from popcorn, crackers, soft ice cream, soba to wasabi juices and beer. The shops there sell many food items with wasabi and they also have wasabi bears and hello kitty dolls. Besides that the farm also offers wasabi cooking class. When I was there, they were making wasabi dip. It looked like fun, especially when everyone was beating the wasabi with a stick. The finished wasabi dip came out looking yummy.

And if you enjoy bike touring, the area around the Daio Wasabi Farm is in a valley surrounded by the beautiful Mountains of Azumino. It is a ski resort in the winter. There are still some snow on the peaks making a spectacular view. You can cycle along a small road lined with rice paddies. When I was there (Mid May) Azumino farmers were just starting to plant little rice sprouts which in month or two will grow and fill the paddy with green.

I love all of the above. So Azumino, Nagano is my favorite place. If I have a chance to visit Japan again, I‘ll certainly visit the Daio Wasabi Farm and the area around Azumino, Nagano again.

How to get to Daio Wasabi Farm? Normally those who visit Daio Wasabi Farm would come from Matsumoto which is the main tourist city of Nagano. From Matsumoto take the JR Oito Line train and get off at Hotaka Station, it will take about 30 minutes. You can rent a bike at Hotaka Station and ride to Daio wasabi farm. There are two bicycle rental shops at the station. Don’t forget to ask for a map of the area. If biking is not your thing, taxi services are available at the station as well. On the weekend there is a shuttle bus that runs between the farm and the station, the all-day pass costs 800 yen.

I traveled there and back from Tokyo in one day by the bullet train. The Shinkansen from Tokyo station to Nagano Station took about an hour and fifty minutes. From Nagano Station I hopped on the JR Shinetsu Main Line and got off at Akashina Station, that took another hour. Views from the JR Shinetsu Main Line train were so beautiful. It went through forests, mountains and beautiful valleys. I cycled out of Akashina Station to the Daio Wasabi Farm. But there is no bike rental shop at the station. You have to bring your own or use the taxi service. Trains in Japan will let you take your bike onboard, but it has to be a folding bike in a bike bag. Normal sizes are allowed in the train, but you have to take it all apart, both wheels off, and bag or box it.

Come indulge yourself in nature, get to know the real wasabi at Daio Wasabi Farm and cycle through the valleys and rice fields of Azumino, Nagano. Enjoy the real natural beauty of Japan.