Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Saquon Barkley Plaque
Kirkkasik Bedesten inside
Kirkkasik Bedesten
Someshwar Temple
Someshwar Temple
Grilled cheese and tomato soup are soulmates.
The Palisades Restaurant
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
A skeleton on display contemplating its own mortality.
Kid Mai Death Awareness Cafe
This classic London pub has a surprising history behind it.
John Snow
The beef, Guinness, and oyster pie sports a rich, flaky crust.
The Guinea
Welcome to one of the only floating pubs in the world.
Tamesis Dock
This may be the oldest pie in the world.
St Helens 'Oldest Pie' at The Turks Head
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Decoy’s wines reflect the terroir of California.
How a Wooden Duck Migrated From the California Wetlands to a Wine Label
12 days ago
There’s more to the French capital than the Eiffel Tower.
Dear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
15 days ago
The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
22 days ago
“There may be a collective sense of a dark loneliness,” Dahl says, referring to Norway’s natural landscape.
In Norway, Easter Means Tucking Into Crime Stories
22 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Azumino Daio Wasabi Farm
AO Edited

Daio Wasabi Farm

The largest of its kind in Japan, this century-old wasabi farm is also known for its appearance in an Akira Kurosawa film.

Azumino, Japan

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The farm.   sk
The farm.   sk
The farm.   松岡明芳
Wasabi at the farm.   松岡明芳
The watermill and the stream.   松岡明芳
The watermill featured in the Akira Kurosawa film “Dreams.”   松岡明芳
An aerial image of the farm, 1977.   Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
A giant wasabi sculpture.   sk
“Welcome to the Daio Wasabi Farm.”   663highland
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Blessed with breathtaking nature, Nagano Prefecture in northern Japan is widely known for its agriculture, particularly the massive crops of wasabi. Much of it is produced at the Daio Wasabi Farm, the largest farm of its kind in Japan.

Founded in 1915 and now spread across 37 acres of land, the farm produces over 150 tons of wasabi every year, accounting for a tenth of the nationwide production. Most of it is consumed at the farm's restaurant in the forms of donburi, curry, noodles, beer, ice cream, and more.

The cultivation of wasabi is not the only thing that the farm offers to visitors. Photogenic sights await guests throughout the premises, including sacred caves and a shrine where the torso of Gishiki Hachimen Daio, a medieval thief whose adventures are sung about in local folklore, can be found.

In 1990, Daio Wasabi Farm was prominently featured in the final segment of Dreams, a magical realist anthology film directed by the legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. A quaint watermill was constructed for the film and has since become a popular tourist attraction. 

Related Tags

Farms Restaurants History & Culture Agriculture
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

June 30, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Daio Wasabi Farm
3640 Hotaka
Azumino, 399-8303
Japan
36.338932, 137.909226
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto, Japan

miles away

Yohashira-jinja Shrine

Matsumoto, Japan

miles away

Nawate Dori

Matsumoto, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto, Japan

miles away

Yohashira-jinja Shrine

Matsumoto, Japan

miles away

Nawate Dori

Matsumoto, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 110

Related Stories and Lists

10 Farms That Are Works of Art

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Dade City, Florida

    Kumquat Growers

    This central Florida farm is the largest producer of these little golden fruits in the United States.

  • The Sign for the Old Wellington, with the Old Wellington itself in the background on the left.

    Manchester, England

    The Shambles

    Two of Manchester’s oldest buildings were moved twice.

  • Between 1720 and 1737, six missions were established in the region, including Misión Santa Rosa de las Palmas in 1733.

    Todos Santos, Mexico

    Misión Santa Rosa de las Palmas

    Once a Catholic mission, this small town tucked between the ocean and the mountains is now a magical spot for art and history lovers.

  • Reykjavik, Iceland

    Árbær Open Air Museum

    The history of Reykjavik told through a historical village and live actors.

  • Miracle berries!

    Teluk Bahang, Malaysia

    Penang Tropical Fruit Farm

    A sprawling tropical paradise offers a taste of fruits from around the world.

  • This 30-foot tall brick tower is occupied by a flock of Swiss goats.

    Windsor, Illinois

    Tower of Baa-Goat

    A 30-foot-tall goat tower in central Illinois is home to a herd of Swiss ungulates.

  • Stockbridge, England

    Danebury Hillfort

    One of the most studied Iron Age settlements in Europe.

  • Ghawr as-Safi, Jordan

    Ghawr as-Safi Sugar Mills

    This millennium-old site reflects a time when sugar was a treasured commodity.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.