Azumino City in Nagano Prefecture lies at the foot of the Northern Alps. It is famous for its abundant spring water and its wasabi farms.
Wasabi Grown in Spring Water
Azumino’s wasabi fields are fed by the area’s spring water, which comes from the Northern Alps.
The Azumino springs have been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Waters.
Spring Water Data
Water volume: about 700,000 tons per day.
Spring water gushes out in many places around Azumino, and one of these spots has been made into a park. The water temperature stays at around 13°C all year round.
Drinking water in Azumino City is groundwater that comes from melted snow in the Alps.
Enmei Spring Water in the Mountains
Next, we drove up into the mountains to Enmei-sui (“long-life water”), a spring where you can drink the water.
There is also a small waterfall.
Azumino official website:
The Watermills from Akira Kurosawa’s “Dreams”
We met a photographer taking pictures here.
This is the filming location of Akira Kurosawa’s movie “Dreams,” with its old wooden watermills turning in the clear river.
A Wasabi Farm Visited by the Imperial Family
This large wasabi farm has even been visited by members of the Imperial Family.
Nearby Destinations
Azumino is close to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: Tateyama Kurobe (Part 1)
Kamikochi is also nearby: Kamikochi, Nagano (Part 1)
