Minami Shinshu Matsukawa Tree Dome is located in Matsukawa Town in the southern part of Nagano Prefecture, overlooking the two majestic Japan Alps mountain ranges with apples and other fruit orchards spreading out. While there’s a cozy atmosphere, a pellet stove, and a wooden deck, there are no televisions or clocks inside. We want you to set aside the overwhelming amount of information and convenience for a moment and feel the sound of the wind through the trees, the gentle touch of the earth, the sizzling sound of wood, the flickering of the campfire, and the starry sky with your whole being. We would like adults and children to come and enjoy being enveloped in the atmosphere and create new memories.
Just bring yourself and enjoy a French chef’s special basket with a luxurious lunch in the tree shade surrounded by nature. The meal includes an appetizer, black pork sandwich, soup, dessert, and apple juice. Pick up your meal at the Matsukawa Travel Information Center between 11:00 and 14:00. You can relax in the orchard until 16:00. Please make a reservation 5 days in advance.
Matsukawa Town boasts a history of over 100 years as a fruit village, where you can enjoy picking almost all year round, from asparagus in spring to grapes and apples in fall. The tourist farm is known for its safe and secure organic cultivation as well as cultivation with reduced pesticides. It is popular for their farm-and-something-extra features such as post-harvest tastings, free juice, and homemade jam and cider activities, making them the perfect place to visit with family or friends.
Every year from mid- to late September, 50,000 red spider lilies brightly color the temple grounds and plum orchards, making it a spectacular spot symbolizing the arrival of autumn. The best time to see them is generally short, lasting about a week. The bell towers and guardian deity statues scattered around make for a beautiful landscape that is popular with photographers. This is a perfect place for those who want to enjoy a relaxing autumn day while gazing at the sea of fiery red spider lilies.
The people in the Bena area, located to the east of Matsukawa Town, are working to develop the area so that people can enjoy the rich natural environment and beautiful scenery overlooking the Central Japan Alps, with the motto of Turning the Entire Village into a Park. Recognized as Shinshu Hometown View Hill, the area is dotted with scenic spots on high ground and walking paths where you can encounter rare plants and flowers. Recommended for those who want to be immersed in the nostalgic scenery of satoyama (the area where the villages meet the mountains).
This 59.2-meter-high gravity concrete dam was constructed on the Katagiri Matsukawa River in the Tenryu River system to secure water for agriculture. The lakeside is filled with beautiful seasonal nature, from young leaves in spring, deep green in summer, and red leaves in autumn to snow-covered scenery in winter, captivating visitors. Well-maintained walking paths around the lake enable visitors to refresh themselves in nature while admiring the structural beauty of the dam and the tranquil lake surface. It is also a popular spot for bird watching and photography, beloved by locals and tourists alike. This is a soothing spot where you can feel the changing seasons in a quiet and tranquil atmosphere.
Enjoy the unique experience of savoring seven authentic French dishes while the sunlight gently filters through the trees. Surrounded by fruit tree branches and overlooking the Southern and Central Japan Alps, the experience begins with a guided walk through the farm and a toast with locally produced cider. All ingredients are locally sourced. Reservations are required. We are open only from April to November. You could enjoy your lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and your dinner starts 30 minutes before sunset. Please make a reservation at least 10 days in advance.
At Baishoen Matsutake Cottage, an Outdoor Plaza, you can enjoy the blessings of the mountains throughout the seasons; their popular lunch menu features handmade soba noodles made with 100 percent locally grown buckwheat flour. Enjoy mountain vegetables in the spring, BBQ and catching fish with your hands in the summer, matsutake mushroom dishes in the fall, game meat in the winter, and a full range of authentic outdoor gourmet cuisine unique to the countryside. Lunch is served from 11:00 to 13:30 (from 10:30 on Sundays). Reservations are recommended. The cuisine, which brings out the best of its ingredients, and the dining experience in nature are a delight that will satisfy everyone from children to adults.
A hidden bakery quietly nestled in an apple orchard. The aroma of butter wafts from the bakery. The large croissants are crisp on the outside and chewy and richly flavored on the inside, earning high praise. Enjoy a wide variety of breads, including crusty loaves, cream buns, and curry buns, and Danish pastries. The store is so popular that it sells out even on weekend mornings. Easily accessible, with a parking lot that can accommodate around ten cars. Just a three-minute drive from Matsukawa Exit.
The water wasabi cultivation areas in the Izu region spread along the streams of the Amagi mountain range, with its highest peak at Mount Amagi standing at 1,406 meters. The water in this region is derived from rainwater that has percolated through layers of pumice and quartz andesite, volcanic deposits that provide an optimal balance of water volume, temperature, and nutrients for wasabi cultivation. The traditional farming method known as “tatami-ishi style wasabi fields,” which started in the Meiji era, has been recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. As the largest producer in Shizuoka Prefecture, the region consistently wins awards such as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize and the Director-General of the Forestry Agency Prize, ensuring its status as one of the top-quality producers in Japan. The wasabi from this region is distributed almost nationwide, including the Kanto, Chubu, and Kansai regions, and is renowned for its high profile and esteemed by chefs for its exceptional quality.
