It's about 250km or 3hour drive or train ride from Tokyo

Nagano is not only famous for the 1998 Olympics

It's also a top agricultural area

and a place where Japan's most notorious vegetable thrives

WASABI

The DAIO WASABI FARM is the largest in Japan

and allow visitors

Let's have a look around

If you ever wondered what a WASABI farm looks like, this is it!

Wasabi is not grown in the field, but literally on a bed, in the river

It needs cool pure water and shade to thrive

The water flows freely through each Wasabi bush

Rocks hold the plant and roots in place

This mountain water is clean enough to drink

making Nagano an ideal place for growing Wasabi

This water comes from the snow capped mountains in the surrounding Japanese Alps

In the spring, that snow melts

bringing with it loads of minerals in the water that Wasabi just loves to drink up

Shade is essential

and DAIO WASABI FARM covers the entire river as it meanders down hill

Under the canopy, is the Wasabi plant

Here is one. It is sometimes called Japanese horse radish

although it's a different kind of plant

Is it a root? No!

Wasabi is technically a stem

since it's submerged in water the whole time

It usually takes over one year to grow

which makes it expensive

The Wasabi leaf can also be eaten

and also has some of that Wasabi bite to it

Nagano and Shizuoka are the most famous places for it

Sushi. Wasabi is the perfect condiment for it

It's hidden on the rice

Here comes more!

Sushi shop Wasabi can look like this

Mix it in soy sauce, and enjoy

Try not to lose your rice

Go top first,or find another way

Wasabi flavor can be found in snacks

It's often sold as powder, or in tubes!

as a flavored condiment

They even have Wasabi KitKats

Does that taste like Wasabi?

Sort of...

Just a hint of that Wasabi kick, definitely worth a try

Now let's get our hand on some real organic Wasabi from the source

My guide Kagita-san shows me a nice place

where the Wasabi plant is ready to be pulled

The root holding in place are loose

and can be pulled from the ground easily

You see the Wasabi yet?

I don't

I went to the river to wash the soil away

This exposes the little root which protects the stem

To get to the valuable Wasabi stem. you have to pull away the roots and leaves

you can start to see it in the middle

the wasabi stem is just a part of the whole plant

I really wasn't expecting that

Now I can see the...

and there you go....WASABI!

This is part of the plant that we see sold in stores

Cut off the top, and the scent of Wasabi fills the air

So that's what Wasabi looks like

Traditionally , Wasabi is grated on a shark skin grater

called OROSHIKI

Push really hard

How's does it taste this fresh?

the coloring is different. It's mint-green

strong

hot!!!

It's spicy, isn't it?

Spicy!

Wasabi starts to lose its flavor within15minutes after grating

That's why in Sushi, it's put under the fish on the rice

that's Wasabi

When fresh. those Wasabi vapor will hit you hard every time

I've always wondered why Wasabi was so expensive at supermarkets in Japan

The fact is no one really knows how big a Wasabi stem will be

until it's pulled from the ground

a normal Wasabi stem takes 12 to 18 months to mature

Most Wasabi stems are small

But every now and then, you strike Wasabi gold

A big one!

Like finding a diamond

A big Wasabi can bring in as much as 10,000yen in Tokyo

Is this Wasabi Soft Cream?

You can make a lot of things from Wasabi. Like this!

Wasabi Soft Ice Cream

Taste good!

It takes like fresh cream with vegetable in it

I've never seen this before

Turbo charger Ice cream cone

You feel me?

haven't had enough?

There is Wasabi Juice!

Stir it up to get the Wasabi going!

If you need something stronger, try this

that's right. Wasabi Beer

It's mean, green and loaded with Vitamin C

Those are real bits of good stuff in there. Great match

this beer will go great with that!

Wasabi croquet sandwich garnished with Wasabi leaves

Chow time, in the country side

All the Wasabi stuff has got me thinking

and I know just the guy to answer my questions

I asked Kagita-san what food matches well with Wasabi

and what he finds interesting about this amazing Japanese plant

Where is Wasabi used in Japanese cuisine?

DAIO Wasabi Farm is also a pleasant place to walk around

It's often used as location in movies and TV shows

Most famously in the Kurosawa film "DREAMS"

as part of the village of watermills

This truly is Wasabi Paradise

After enjoying the day, and getting your Wasabi fix,

How about going inside for more Wasabi?

there is Wasabi wine

Wasabi salad dressing

More Wasabi Ice Cream

Are you craving Wasabi pickles?

I am

There's even the Wasabi bear

for that special someone in your life

and more!

the range is amazing

All I can say is go for it all