Nagano (長野県) is a prefecture that has garnered popularity among visitors to Japan for various reasons: splendid seasonal beauty, amazing food, amazing mountainous scenery, and much more. What’s more, Nagano Prefecture is easily accessible: Visitors can take the Hokuriku Shinkansen (北陸新幹線) from Tokyo to get to Nagano in less than two hours! From Nagano Station, travelling around the prefecture is a breeze, as there are many railway and bus options available for visitors to choose from.
The prefecture is also located in the midst of the Northern Alps, and thus is blessed with abundant snowmelt and a climate that is perfect for cultivating various foodstuffs. From mountain vegetables, thanks to the prefecture’s fertile soil, to Shinshu salmon for its abundant fresh water, the prefecture attracts many visitors simply for its delicious foods.
However, perhaps unbeknownst to many people, Nagano is one of the top producers of wasabi (わさび), the herb that is quintessential to Japanese cuisine. Wasabi cultivation can be pinpointed to the city of Azumino (安曇野市) in particular, a small city rich with local flavours and sightseeing destinations. Best of all, visitors can experience what the city has to offer in just half a day, too!
Curious to know how you can enjoy a gastronomical and sensory experience in Azumino? Let’s find out together!
The journey begins from Hotaka Station
If you plan to travel to Azumino by train, then you are most likely to arrive at Hotaka Station (穂高駅), which is often regarded as the gateway station to the city. The station is served by the Ōito Line (大糸線), a train line that is famous for its mountainous and idyllic countryside scenery. Tip: if you are travelling to Hotaka Station from Tokyo, take the Limited Express Azusa from Shinjuku Station (新宿駅) to Matsumoto Station (松本駅), which is a terminal station for the Ōito Line. Once there, simply take the line to reach Hotaka Station.
Sample Azumino’s craft beers at Azumino Brewery
If you arrive in Azumino late morning and want to have an early lunch, check out Azumino Brewery (安曇野ブルワリー), located right in front of Hotaka Station. There, you can sample some of Azumino’s delicious, locally produced craft beers made from hops and grains grown in the city. Not only that, but the brewery is also dedicated to “recycling agriculture”, where it returns malt residue from the brewing process to farmlands to be used as organic fertilisers, and incorporates the crops into their brewpub menu, ensuring zero waste.
Azumino Brewery (安曇野ブルワリー)
Address: 5950 Hotaka, Azumino, Nagano 399-8303
Access: 1-minute walk from Hotaka Station (穂高駅)
Sample Azumino’s finest wines
Azumino may be famous for its wasabi production, but did you know that the city is also known for its wines? Located near the foot of the Northern Alps, Azumino Winery (安曇野ワイナリー) is home to some of the best wines that the city has to offer. The winery cultivates its own grapes and produces its own wines, which include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay, and more.
Azumino Winery has also just recently had one of its proudest moments: at the 2025 Japan Wine Competition, it made 11 wine submissions and 7 of them won awards! With a tally of one silver and six bronze awards, the winery made a name for itself as a top-quality winery, and visitors can sample the award-winning wines too (while stocks last).
Azumino Winery (安曇野ワイナリー)
Address: 6687-5 Misato Ogura, Azumino-shi, Nagano 399-8103
Access: 15-minute taxi ride from Hitoichiba Station (一日市場駅)
Experience the best of Azumino’s sake
Still want to learn more about Azumino’s beverages? Then check out the city’s local sake as well, and the best place to do so is Daisekkei Sake Brewery (大雪渓), which is steeped in rich tradition and long heritage. With a tradition spanning more than 120 years, the brewery was established in 1898, and has accumulated accolades throughout the years for its wide range of high-quality sake.
If you want to learn more about the sake, have a chat with the brewery’s own master brewer, Mamoru Nagase. He has been the master brewer of Daisekkei Sake Brewery since 2009, and has established himself as an expert in sake, winning the gold medal at the Annual Japan Sake Award that same year. Learn more in-depth about the brewery’s history and products from the brewer himself, and discover how Azumino has garnered a reputation for producing great sake!
Daisekkei Sake Brewery (大雪渓)
Address: 9642-2, Aisome, Ikeda-machi, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano 399-8602
Access: 10-minute taxi ride or 35-minute walk from Azumi-Oiwake Station (安曇追分駅)
Wasabi, the essence of Azumino
Of course, a visit to Azumino would not be complete without a trip to perhaps the most popular tourist destination in the city, and it is not a surprise that it is the Daio Wasabi Farm (大王わさびファーム). It has the honour of being the largest wasabi farm in Japan, with over 100 years of experience dating back to its establishment in 1915.
Visitors to Daio Wasabi Farm will enjoy the full experience of what goes into cultivating wasabi, from the farm straight to the table. They will learn the sheer importance of fresh mountain spring water in growing wasabi and the differences between fresh wasabi and the commercial versions often seen in shops.
What’s more, visitors at Daio Wasabi Farm can also discover how versatile wasabi actually is. Most people would associate it only with sushi or sashimi, but did you know that there are more creative ways to enjoy it? In Daio Wasabi Farm, there are a number of restaurants and eateries that incorporate wasabi in their menus, including Japanese restaurant Yusui Meshigama Daioan, Western restaurant OASIS, and the food court Wasabi Wonder.
Diners can experience grating their own fresh wasabi as they tuck into local specialties such as Shinshu soba and kamameshi (rice cooked in a pot), or beautiful garden salads seasoned with wasabi, or even something as unique as wasabi beer or wasabi soft-serve ice cream!
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)
Experience tranquillity and heritage at Hotaka Shrine
Another tourist attraction that is a favourite among visitors to Azumino is Hotaka Shrine (穂高神社), located just a short walk from Hotaka Station. Surrounded by Japanese cedar and pine trees, the shrine is recognised as a sacred haven and a “power spot”—a location believed to possess spiritual or healing energy—in the city, and has a history stretching back as early as the 10th century.
Visitors to the shrine will be charmed by the sheer serenity of the compound, and get an omamori (amulet) as a gift. Also, because of its location near Hotaka Station, it is the perfect place to visit at the start or end of every visitor’s tour around Azumino before making their way back to the station.
Hotaka Shrine (穂高神社)
Address: 6079 Hotaka, Azumino, Nagano 399-8303
Access: 3-minute walk from Hotaka Station (穂高駅)
Closing
Azumino is still a relatively hidden gem in Nagano Prefecture, and visitors looking for a gastronomical experience will be in for a surprise when they set foot in the city. They can experience the city’s best beers, wines, and sake, made possible by Azumino’s optimal climate, and also visit famous landmarks for a complete travelling experience. Azumino has something for everyone, and the city is more than happy to welcome more visitors to come and see what the city has to offer.
Wine and dine in Azumino!
If you want to have a gastronomical experience in Azumino, then check out two special taxi tour packages available on JAPAN RAIL CLUB! There are two departures to choose from: one in the early morning, and another in the late morning. For both tours, visitors can enjoy a ride on a local taxi to all the destinations above, from Azumino Winery and Daisekkei Sake Brewery to Daio Wasabi Farm and ending at Hotaka Shrine. Pick-up will be at Hotaka Station, and terms and conditions apply. See you in Azumino soon!
Header image credit: ©安曇野市観光協会
