Getting a “kick” out of fresh real Wasabi in Matsumoto

I visited the Daio Wasabi Farm recently. With its wide open spaces, it is a great place to walk around and take some pictures. Also a good opportunity to pick up fresh real wasabi root in Matsumoto for the kitchen! If you like wasabi, the culture and history of wasabi farming is very interesting too!

The largest of its kind… in the world!

The Daio Wasabi Farm in Azumino is perhaps the greatest to be found anywhere! Nestled right next to Matsumoto in the foothills of Azumino Village, the farm is a charming place to visit any time of year. Founded in the early 1900s, the farm has been carefully cultivated for more than a century to make full use of the natural environment. Whether you’re on a mission in Matsumoto to pick up some fresh real Wasabi, local Soba or just want to take a relaxing walk in a natural setting, this is a wonder for any who visit.

Fresh real Wasabi is a unique taste

You may think the tube of green stuff you’ve always squeezed onto your sushi before is what real wasabi is supposed to taste like. But if you’ve never had natural fresh-ground wasabi before, you’re in for a surprisingly refreshing treat! Yes, the flavor is still just as spicy, but much fresher and more nuanced than the store bought stuff! Give it a try on your next visit. You’ll be glad you did!

A legendary movie set

Many Westerners know the name Akira Kurosawa, the director of many famous Japanese movies such as Seven Samurai (1954) and Ran (1985). But what many may not know is the Daio Wasabi Farm was also a backdrop for Kurosawa’s film Dreams (1990). The sets still look very rustic and authentic as ever, but in fact the water wheels and creek are an entirely modern man-made creation! It is a fascinating site for movie buffs, which still stands fully preserved for decades after its original construction.