Bounty from the Mountains, Fields, and Water

Rice

Described as starchy with strong sweetness, this rice is cultivated in a land with a large temperature difference.

Producers

Omachi farms

Available at

Apples

Growing large, delicious apples thanks to little rainfall and large temperature differences between day and night. In addition to Akibae, Shinano Sweet, and Shinano Gold (referred to as the three apple siblings of Nagano), the area is famous for producing many types of apples including the king of them all, Sun Fuji.

Producers

Apple growers in Omachi

Available at

Blueberries

The cute round fruit is indispensable in jams and sweets. Fresh picked, they are surprisingly sweet, and you’ll be hooked after your first bite. Harvest season is from July to mid-August.

Producers

Blueberry growers in Omachi

Available at

Edible wild plants

The ingredients from the mountains reflect the joy of the people living at the foot of the Northern Japan Alps. From butterbur sprouts announcing the end of winter to fiddleheads, wasabi, and fall mushrooms, such as matsutake and shimeji, these ingredients give meals a seasonal accent.

Available at

Char, Trout, and Candied Fish

Fresh water fish raised in the cool, clear waters flowing from the Northern Japan Alps are said to be delicious, firm-textured fish without a strong smell. Those fish are used to make kanroni (candied fish).

Producers

Kashimayari Garden
Hokuan Chubu Fishery Association

Available at

Oka (Ground) Wasabi

With the chilly air from the Northern Japan Alps and the shade from the trees offering just the right amount of light, high quality oka (ground) wasabi is grown here. The wasabi plants show strong growth as the snow melts, and they are larger and softer than those from other regions. They are also called forest wasabi. Wasabi Flowers available from early April to mid-May.

Producers

Wasabi Growers Association of the Northern Japan Alps Foothills, Omachi Branch

Wasabi flowers are available at

Scarlet Runner Beans

There are two varieties of scarlet runner beans: those with red blossoms and those with white blossoms. The red flowering variety is grown in Omachi. Their blossoms are visible for a long period, from July until around October, with 2,000 to 4,000 flowers for each individual. For this reason, they are also known as a landscape crop. In terms of the bean’s use in cooking, they are commonly eaten boiled, or used in soups and confectionery.

Producers

Scarlet runner bean growers in Omachi (mainly in Yasaka & Miasa areas)