Enjoy the beautiful Azumino scenery and the spring water at Japan’s largest wasabi farm
Daio Wasabi Farm is a popular tourist spot in the Azumino area. On its huge grounds, wasabi horseradish is cultivated using spring water from the Northern Alps whose quantities reach 12 tonnes per day. A stroll through the wasabi farm is one of the charms as you enjoy the pristine scenery of Azumino. But there are plenty of other things to enjoy on the farm. At the pickled wasabi workshop, you can try your hand at making these pickles (separate fee is necessary) which can be done in about 20 minutes so that you can take them home right on the same day. Also, you can sample some of the spring water which supports the farm that has been selected as one of the Top 100 Famous Sources of Water in Japan. You will definitely want to have that famous fresh taste of the water and wasabi.
Take a ride along the waterside through the area that was the site for a Kurosawa film
The first thing that draws your attention on the farm is the water mill that stands alongside the Tate River. The area was chosen by the late director Akira Kurosawa to be the site for his film “Dreams” (1989). The sight of the 3 water wheels turning slowly has remained the same since those days. If you would like to fully enjoy the clear waters of the Tate River, then it’s recommended to board the Clear Boat from the dock close to the mill (separate admission required). The boat has a transparent bottom so that the bottom of the river can be seen. You can view the sight of river fish swimming and river grass swaying.
After taking a walk through the farm, don’t forget to try some of the local cuisine!
Genuine wasabi ice cream is the most popular item on the farm. Since there is the image of wasabi adorning sushi, it’s hard to imagine it in something like ice cream, but it is exceptionally tasty with a refreshing sweetness. What is also interesting is the slight pungency that hits your nose as you continue to eat it. There are plenty of other examples of wasabi cuisine with dishes such as wasabi stem croquettes and emerald-green wasabi beer! At the soba restaurant, you can enjoy Shinshu soba along with fresh raw wasabi, so if you want to enjoy Japanese horseradish in a more orthodox manner, then this is recommended.