A Slow Afternoon at Daio Wasabi Farm

Traditional Japanese Waterwheel

Daio Wasabi Farm was never on our “must-see” list. We visited on our way to Matsumoto from Kawaguchiko with no expectations at all and left with full bellies and even fuller hearts.

River stream boat tour

Koinobori for Children’s Day

We arrived the day after Children’s Day, just in time to see koinobori dancing gently over the wasabi fields. Even though it’s one of the most popular spots in the area, on that day the farm felt surprisingly quiet that afternoon, wrapped in soft spring air and the sound of flowing water.

As you’d expect from a wasabi farm, you can find everything wasabi here from ice cream, curry, soba, even wasabi chocolate. For lunch, we tried their set menu featuring fresh wasabi as the main ingredient. The highlight was grating our own wasabi root at the table. It’s one of those small details that kids love to observe, and yes, they offer kids’ meals that don’t contain wasabi.

After lunch, we took a slow stroll around the farm. The gentle turning of the waterwheels was strangely therapeutic, like a moving postcard from old Japan. From late April to late October, visitors can also enjoy short inflatable boat tours (about 20 minutes for 1,400 yen), offering a different view of the clear spring water that nourishes the wasabi fields.

During our visit, the fields were covered with black tarp sheets to protect the plants from the heat, so a cooler-month visit is recommended if you want unobstructed views. Still, the atmosphere remained peaceful and refreshing.

Before leaving, we stopped by the small café in front of Daio Shrine. Little Nori had her first encounter with friendly Shiba Inu owned by a lovely couple who happened to be surfers and had visited Bali several times. A sweet, unexpected connection that made the moment even warmer.

We didn’t spend too much time at the souvenir shop, but we managed to bring home a togarashi-wasabi seasoning that pairs beautifully with noodle dishes.

We left Daio Wasabi Farm with simple joys lingering; good food, peaceful scenery, and small sweet moments that remind us why we love slow family travel. It’s a lovely place for kids to see real wasabi plants up close, learn how fresh wasabi is grated, and enjoy an easy, unhurried few hours together.