All Things Wasabi at Daio Wasabi Farm

 

Kami tiba di saat hujan rintik-rintik. Saya berjalan sambil memegang payung memasuki area dengan kehijauan di kiri-kanan jalan setapak. Kami sontak berhenti di sisi sungai dimana terdapat rumah kayu dengan kincir air di sisi bangunan, sungai yang sebagian tertutup tanaman dan kehijauan kemanapun kami memandang.

It was drizzling when we arrived. While holding the umbrella, I walked down the path which was green on the both sides. We suddenly stopped when there was a wooden-house close to the river side that mostly covered with plants.

Meski matahari sedang bersembunyi, area di sisi Daio Wasabi Farm di Kota Azumino, Nagano, Jepang ini tetap terlihat indah. 

The area of Daio Wasabi Farm in Azumino Nagano City Japan stay beautiful, though the sun still hiding.

"Persis area ini dahulu merupakan lokasi shooting film Dreams di tahun 1989," ujar Teddy Yamaishi yang menemani kami.

“This area is used to be location of Dreams the movie in 1989.” Teddy Yamaishi, who accompany us said

Jujur saja saya tidak tahu film yang dimaksud, namun area indah ini memang cocok untuk set film. Bangunan dan kincir air ternyata memang dibangun sebagai properti film dan kemudian dibiarkan di bentuk aslinya hingga kini. Kami kemudian naik ke area lain dengan jalur seperti sungai yang tertutup kain hitam memanjang. Itulah area kebun wasabi, semacam pasta khas Jepang yang memiliki rasa pedas.

Honestly, I was not familiar with the movie, but having this beautiful spot for shooting was such a right choice. The building and water-wheel were originally built as the movie property but it remained in the same condition till now. Then we went up to another area with route like a river covered with a long black cloth. That was the wasabi farm, kind of Japanese pasta with a spicy flavor.

 

Daio Wasabi Farm merupakan perkebunan wasabi terbesar di Jepang dengan luas 15 hektar. Kebun wasabi ini berada di area aliran sungai dengan suhu yang selalu sama yaitu 13°C baik di musim panas maupun musim dingin. Suhu air selalu sama karena aliran air di perkebunan ini berasal dari pegunungan salju di sisi utara. Wasabi memang memerlukan suhu konstan 13°C untuk dapat tumbuh dengan baik.

Daio Wasabi Farm is the biggest wasabi farm in Japan with an area of 15 hectares. This wasabi farm is in the stream area with same temperature either in summer or winter, which is 13°C. That temperature is caused by the water source from the snow-mountains in the north side. A constant temperature at 13°C is important for wasabi to grow well.

 

Pada saat kami datang seluruh tanaman wasabi ditutup dengan kain jaring hitam untuk melindungi dari matahari, hal ini dilakukan pada bulan Mei hingga Oktober setiap tahunnya. Kita baru dapat melihat langsung tanaman tanpa tertutup kain di bulan November hingga April.

When we came, all the wasabi plant was covered with black webs cloth to protect it from the sunlight. They did it every year from May to October so we can only see the plants exposed on November to April.

Area luas yang dibangun sejak tahun 1915 ini cocok untuk berkeliling. Ada beberapa area dimana kita dapat menemukan berbagai patung di sisi kebun wasabi. Rupanya pemilik perkebunan menyukai karya seni patung sehingga terdapat banyak patung tersebar di berbagai sisi Daio Wasabi Farm. 

The wide area that has been built since 1915 is suitable for making a tour. There are also some areas where we could see various statues on many sides of Daio Wasabi Farm. Apparently, it is because the owner likes an artwork especially statues.

 

Di dekat tempat pekerja memotong tanaman wasabi yang sudah dipanen, terdapat kuil yang dibangun untuk menghormati Hachimen Daio yang dipercaya sebagai pelindung perkebunan. 

Close to the cutting area of wasabi that has been harvested, there was a temple to honor Hachimen Daio, which is believed to protect the farm.

 

Namun bagi saya tempat paling menarik adalah area makan dimana kita dapat menemukan berbagai makanan hingga es krim dengan tema dan rasa wasabi, serta toko yang menjual segala hal juga dengan tema wasabi yang kadang terlihat aneh seperti wasabi beer, wasabi curry, coklat wasabi, kacang wasabi hingga boneka wasabi berukuran besar.

But the most interesting part for me is the eating area where we could find various kinds of food even ice cream with wasabi theme and flavor, also a shop selling anything about wasabi which some looked weird like wasabi beer, wasabi curry, wasabi choco, wasabi nut, even a giant wasabi doll.

Saya hanya mencoba ice cream wasabi yang tetap manis namun melewatkan wasabi beer. Bagi saya bir dan wasabi bukan kombinasi yang tepat but hey anyway it's a wasabi land and the law of order is managed by wasabi Gods (may I say that?). Pecinta wasabi ataupun bukan, you'll enjoy a day of wasabi in the wasabi land :)

I only tried wasabi ice cream that still sweet and skipped wasabi beer. For me, beer and wasabi is not a perfect match but hey, anyway it’s a wasabi land and the law of order is managed by wasabi Gods (may I say that?). Either you’re a wasabi lover or not, you’ll enjoy a day of wasabi in the wasabi land :)

@marischkaprue - her hair is green, just like wasabi

NOTES

Where

Daio Wasabi Farm

1692 Hotaka, Azumino, Nagano

T: +81 263 822118

W: www.daiowasabi.co.jp

Opening Hours:

9:00 - 17:20 (April - Oktober)

9:00 - 16:30 (November - Maret)

How To Get There

Dari JR Matsumoto Station: naik kereta (JR Oito Line) ke Hotaka Station (arah Shinano-Omachi), waktu tempuh 30 menit, ¥320 one way.

From JR Matsumoto Station: take a train (JR Oito Line) to Hotaka Station (route Shinano – Omachi) for about 30 mins, ¥320/one way

Dari Hotaka Station naik taksi (¥1.300), atau naik Loop Bus (rute hanya beroperasi di bulan April-Oktober) waktu tempuh 10 menit (¥500/one way atau ¥800 one day pass)
From Hotaka Station: take a cab (¥1.300) or Loop Bus (only on April – October) for about 10 mins (¥500/one way or ¥800/one day pass)

PS:

Pada bulan (akhir) April hingga Oktober kita dapat menyusuri sungai dengan perahu selama 15-30 menit dengan harga ¥900 - ¥1800.

At the end of April until October we can track the river by the boat for 15-30 mins with only ¥900 - ¥1.800

 

More info/ group handling contact:

yamaishi@matsumoto-tca.or.jp (Matsumoto Tourism Association)

hotaka@atlas.plala.or.jp (Azumino Tourist Association)