I previously wrote about the gastronomical delights that visitors can enjoy in the city of Azumino (安曇野市), located right in the heart of Nagano Prefecture (長野県). The underrated city is famous not only for its wasabi (わさび), but also for its wines and sake, thanks to Azumino Winery and Daisekkei Sake Brewery.
What’s more, the prefecture’s ideal climate—its location in the midst of the Northern Alps allows for plentiful snowmelt and arable land—provides a thriving environment for growing the freshest mountain vegetables and Shinshu salmon. The delicious foods alone would make visitors want to come back time and time again!
However, if there is one thing about Azumino (and Nagano as a whole) that visitors should not miss out, it’s the sheer beauty of the city’s seasons. The city is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the prefecture, whether it is during the flowering season of spring, vibrant days of summer, warm-coloured autumn, or even snow-white winter.
For this article, I will share information on some of the best destinations visitors ought to check out in Azumino during different seasons. Without further ado, let’s check out several spots in Azumino that are known for their seasonal beauty!
Sakura galore in spring: Bicycle Plaza & Jonen Dosojin
Spring traditionally marks the start of a new beginning in Japan, and it comes as no surprise that the season is perhaps one of the best times to visit Azumino. In spring, the city’s landscapes will be covered in various shades of pink and white as cherry blossoms bloom for around one to two weeks.
If there is one place that visitors to Azumino should seek out during spring, it would be Bicycle Plaza (自転車広場). Located near Minami-Toyoshina Station (南豊科駅), the plaza stretches along the Jikkasegi Weir (拾ヶ堰), and is famous for its stunning spring view, where not only can visitors see cherry blossoms, but also snow-capped mountains of the Northern Alps in the distance when the weather is clear. Imagine that: a scenery of not one but two seasons in one glance. Rent a bicycle at a train station nearby, and enjoy a leisurely cycle along the weir and to the plaza!
If you’re travelling on the roads in Azumino, keep a lookout for stone monuments found alongside the roads. They are called dōsojin (道祖神): roadside guardians believed to ward off evil spirits and harmful influences. The city is known for these monuments found along several of its roads, but perhaps the most popular ones at those with an amazing seasonal view.
Jonen Dosojin (情念道祖神) are a pair of roadside guardians that are special in their own way: they sit under two cherry blossom trees, and in the far background is the majestic Mount Jonen. Under the right conditions, visitors can see the stone monuments under blooming cherry blossoms with the snow-capped mountain in the background, making for an incredibly photogenic scenery. Be on the lookout for these monuments when you are on the road in Azumino!
Splendid Summer: Daio Wasabi Farm & Ikoi no Ike Pond
When all the cherry blossom petals have fallen and vibrant greenery begins to appear, you will know that summer has arrived. People would usually associate the season with sweltering heat and uncomfortably warm days, but in Nagano, where there is more mountainous terrain and higher elevations, the weather is comparably cooler than other parts of Japan!
Summer is perhaps one of the best seasons to visit Azumino, where the city comes to life with fresh greenery everywhere, and this is also the best time to visit Daio Wasabi Farm (大王わさびファーム), which is one of the most popular attractions in the city. Although the farm is open throughout the year, summer is perhaps the best season to visit, as visitors can enjoy boat rides along the stream in the farm, and see wasabi plantations sheltered by black tarps.
Daio Wasabi Farm (大王わさびファーム)
Address: 3640 Hotaka, Azumino-shi, Nagano 399-8303
Access: 10-minute taxi ride from Hotaka Station (穂高駅)
Want to enjoy pure serenity? In Azumino, the best place for quiet tranquillity is Ikoi no Ike Pond (憩いの池). Also known as Azumino Wasabida Springs Park (安曇野わさび田湧水群), this pond is a popular pit stop for visitors to Azumino and also makes for a great spot for a relaxing stroll.
Fun fact: even in the summer, the water in the pond never exceeds 15°C. It originates from the Northern Alps, which is the same source as the water used to cultivate the wasabi at Daio Wasabi Farm and farm the local rainbow trout.
Ikoi no Ike Pond (憩いの池)
Address: 6780 Toyoshina Minamihotaka, Azumino-shi, Nagano 399-8201
Access: 10-minute taxi ride from Hotaka Station (穂高駅)
Awesome Autumn: Abandoned Railway Track & Alps Azumino National Government Park
Autumn is a favourite season among many visitors to Japan, when warm colours paint the landscape and the weather begins to cool down even further. During this season, Azumino’s landscapes will be replaced by vivid shades of red and orange, and visitors will recognise the unmistakable sign of the arrival of autumn.
One might be surprised to hear that one of the most recommended spots to view autumn foliage in Azumino is actually an abandoned railway track. It used to form part of the old Shinonoi Line but was eventually discontinued over time. Nowadays, visitors make their way to the track to appreciate the rustic beauty surrounding it, especially in autumn when the track is enveloped in autumn foliage.
Do you like flowers? Then look no further than Alps Azumino National Government Park (国営アルプスあづみの公園), a sprawling park that showcases Nagano’s overall natural beauty. The park has two locations in Nagano Prefecture altogether: one in the Horigane and Hotaka region, closer to Azumino, and the other in the Omachi and Matsukawa Region, further up north.
For the one near Azumino, the park is known for its field of beautiful flowers. Visitors can see different flowers blooming at different times of the year, whether it is delicate tulips during spring or dainty cosmos flowers in autumn. The park is also surrounded by mountains, with Mount Jonen visible in the far distance when the weather is clear.
Alps Azumino National Government Park (国営アルプスあづみの公園)
Address: 33-4 Horiganekarasugawa, Azumino-shi, Nagano 399-8295
Access: 15-minute taxi ride from Hotaka Station (穂高駅)
Other noteworthy spots: Ohisama Road and Tokoji Temple
Did you know that there is a stretch of road in Azumino that is particularly famous? It is called Ohisama Road (おひさまロード) and, while there is nothing special about the road itself, it is known for its scenic rural beauty, flanked by green open fields with rural homes in the distance.
But what makes Ohisama Road loved by so many people is the view on the horizon: Mount Jonen and the Northern Alps, standing majestically in the background. While this stretch of road is open throughout the year, one season that visitors recommend visiting is winter, when the mountains are capped with snow, making for an unforgettable scenery.
Fun fact: If you are wondering why it is called Ohisama Road, that is because the road was featured in an NHK drama program called “Ohisama,” which also means “sunflower.”
From afar, Tokoji Temple (東光寺) may look like your ordinary Buddhist temple, but step inside and you will find some quirky, contemporary installations. Beyond the imposing demon guardians and ornately carved wooden dragons that guard the temple entrance, there is something more lighthearted for visitors: gigantic orange geta sandals and cutout figures that make for perfect quirky photos!
There is also a charming Japanese garden around the courtyard, and a cemetery where visitors can spend a quiet time in the temple compound. The temple is open throughout the year, and makes for a delightful discovery for any visitor to Azumino.
Tokoji Temple (東光寺)
Address: 2721 Hotaka, Azumino-shi, Nagano 399-8303
Access: 20-minute walk from Hotaka Station
Closing
If one asks which is the best season to visit Azumino in Nagano Prefecture, the answer would be “any season is good!”, as the city’s natural beauty is worth discovering at any time of the year. Whether it’s the cherry blossom season of spring, the verdant greenery of summer, warm shades of autumn, or even the snowy winter season, Azumino has something to, and welcomes all visitors to come and see its seasonal wonders.
Witness Azumino’s amazing seasons!
Excited to visit Azumino? Guess what: JAPAN RAIL CLUB has seasonal tours around Azumino just for you! These are self-guided taxi tours that will take you to various tourist attractions around the city, including Daio Wasabi Farm and Hotaka Shrine. Take note, however, that some destinations are best experienced only during certain seasons, such as the Bicycle Plaza in spring, and the abandoned railway track in autumn.
There are several taxi tours available for you, such as for spring/summer, autumn, winter, and cherry blossom season specially in spring. Check them all out on JAPAN RAIL CLUB and see you in Azumino soon!
Header image credit: ©安曇野市観光協会
