Matsumoto Photo Gallery - Daio Wasabi Farm

Daio Wasabi Farm covers 15 hectares and takes advantage of natural springs for their wasabi production. The farm is geared towards tourists' visits and you have walkways and bridges where you can see the plants and water courses, a museum, restaurants, and a huge gift shop. From Matsumoto, take the JR Oito Line to Hotaka station, where you can rent a bike from one of several shops across from the railway station to pedal your way. The ride is scenic, with quiet streets and nice fields framed against the mountains. Arrive early to avoid the tour buses, and follow the maps on-site to explore on your own. Lots of water is needed to grow wasabi! Japanese restaurants typically show plastic models of their menu on the windows. With a language barrier, snap a photo of what you want with your phone to make ordering easier. Some food items you should try while you are there include wasabi ice-cream. Your bike rental shop would give you a discount coupon for this. It actually doesn't taste spicy at all. From the gift shop, there are many different items available, such as a flavour enhancing powder for your soba noodles. A small museum showcases the production process and some historic photographs. After filling up and shopping, then head back to the train station on your bike. On holidays, a shuttle bus also runs to JR. They are so thoughtful that they even put a temporary special sign saying no buses run today. On the way back, stop by some of the town's historic sights for a quick stroll. Check the train departure times beforehand as they don't run too often.