Orchard Restaurant
Unforgettable Fine Dining Experience in the middle of an Orchard
The idyllic orchard town of Matsukawa in Nagano provides the stage for our experience.
Matsukawa is a well-known fruit picking destination with a long-standing fruit farming tradition that goes back over 100 years. From June to November, there is always some fruit ripening on the trees- cherries, blueberries, peaches, and plums in the summer; grapes, pears, and apples in autumn.
Here, immersed in the picturesque beauty of Matsukawa’s time-honored orchards, you can embark on an innovative farm-to-table experience.
About
Bringing the farm to the restaurant table hardly seemed enough, so we decided to go even further and bring the restaurant tables to the farm. The tree trunks are our walls and the foliage is our roof.
Come enjoy the magical atmosphere of Matsukawa’s orchards- spaces born from the encounter of nature, agriculture, history, and tradition.
Sampling the food where it was grown makes it taste even better.
Orchard Restaurant Matsukawa, our unique alfresco dining experience, opened in Matsukawa (Nagano) on October 8th, 2022. It offers the unique chance of feasting on a full-course meal in the fairytale-like atmosphere of an orchard. You can dine while surrounded by tree branches ripen with fruit, the breathtaking view of the Alps rising up in the background.
Schedule
Orchard Restaurant Matsukawa is held every weekend from April to November, each time at a different orchard. The meeting time is set in advance, and the event starts once all participants show up.
Borrowing from the European wine tour tradition, we begin with a short tour of the grounds. The owner shows us around their orchard, sharing the secrets to grow top-quality fruit and offering fruit tasting when in season. Toward the end of the guided walk, we gather at the orchard’s most scenic spot to enjoy a simple aperitif of locally brewed hard cider together.
This is the time to ask your questions or simply enjoy the farmer’s company.
Once all glasses are emptied, we head to the restaurant area to sit and dine.
Menu
Following the steps of the farm-to-table philosophy, all our main ingredients come from the local farms of Matsukawa Town and the Ina Valley.
The Ina Valley is a treasure trove for fresh products- fruit but also organic vegetables, freshwater fish, and even pork and wild game.
The area is also characterized by a thriving cider and wine scene. The three breweries in town produce various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks made with fruit from their own farms.
The menu is made up of seven courses: amuse-bouche, cold appetizer, hot appetizer, soup, main dish, dessert, and coffee or tea. This is a staple, but every other aspect of the meal changes with the season.
Example of Menu
Calendar
The restaurant is open from April to November.
Please check the calendar for the exact business days.
Price
Basic Plan (Orchard Restaurant only)
●Adults（13 or older）
14,000 yen/person（tax included）
※Guided walk, aperitif, full-course dinner, and gift included
●Children（6~12）
3,000yen/person（tax included）
※Children menu includes only soup, main dish and dessert
Children aged 5 or younger do not have to pay, but we cannot provide a special menu or baby chair for them.
Stay Plan (Seiryuen)
Stay at local onsen inn (breakfast included) + dinner at orchard
*all prices are tax included.
single use 23,470〜 yen p.p
2 people sharing 1 room 22,370〜 yen p.p
3+ people sharing 1 room 21,270〜 yen p.p
※Free shuttle service to restaurant venue
●About the stay
- Room type will be assigned by staff depending on availability.
（If you wish to reserve a specific room type, please contact us by phone or contact form） - Every room is provided with an in-room toilet. All rooms are non-smoking.
- Room capacity：1〜7 people (depending on room)
- Hot spring facility（Large Indoor and Open air bath）
- Free shuttle service from closest bus stop and train station at check-in and check-out
Host Farms
Below you can find more information on the host farms that serve as the Orchard Restaurant venues.
Marukame Orchard
Large family-run orchard stretching over two hectars. The farm grows prunes, pears, and apples. Some of their fruit trees are over 60 years old.
They also run a cidery – Marukame Brewery.
VinVie
This farm owns one of the three wineries in town.
They have been producing wine and cider with fruits grown in their own orchards since 2018.
Kayama Farm
This is an intimate little farm, tucked away out of sight.They grow cherries, grapes, and apples.
Fruit Farm Yoneyama
A farm specialized in Fuji apples, which also grows blueberries, cherries, and pears on the side.
Ringo no Oka Farm
Cozy farm perched on top of a hill. Their harvest includes cherries, blueberries, peaches, and apples.
Yuzawa Farm
On top of growing blueberries, pears, apples, and kiwis, this farm makes an original hard cider.
Kumachan Farm
Kumachan Farm sits at an elevation of about 650～750m, and ideal altitude to grow their cherries, Japanese pears, and apples.
Marutomo Okuda Farm
This farm offers cherries, grapes, apples, and a great view on both the central and southern Alps.
Access Information for those using public transportation
about 2h from Meitetsu Bus Center (Nagoya Station)
(Shuttle service available from Matsukawa bus stop for 500 yen p.p)
From Tokyo
about 3h from Shinjuku Station
(Shuttle service available from Matsukawa bus stop for 500 yen p.p)
・about 30min from Iida Station (Iida Line)
(Shuttle service available from Ina Ojima Station for 500 yen p.p)
– If you are staying in another accommodation in Matsukawa, we can arrange a shuttle service between the restaurant venue and accommodation for 1000 yen p.p
Where to stay in Matsukawa
If you are not in a hurry, we recommend spending one night in Matsukawa to better enjoy its magical atmosphere.
Below you can find our recommended accommodations.
FAQ
How soon should I make reservations?
You need to reserve at least 10 days in advance.
Can I go alone?
Many guests come on their own. However, we require at least 3 participants to carry out the event, so if noone else reserve on the same day as you, we might have to call off the event.
Are children allowed?
There is no age restriction. However, we cannot provide special menus or baby chairs for small children.
Do you cater for special diets and allergies?
Please inform us well in advance and we will change our menu accordingly. (Please be aware that we don’t have a separate set of pans and dishes dedicated to people with allergies. )
What happens if it rains?
In case of rain, we will change the location to a roofed cherry orchard.
However, the tour will be cancelled if there is a chance of extremely bad weather,
like typhoons, heavy rain, flood warnings, and other emergency situations.
In case of cancellation due to weather, cancellation policy does not apply.
Are pets allowed?
Pets are allowed.
What is the cancellation policy?
In case of cancellation by the guest, the following policy will apply.
10~2 days prior: 30% of total amount
1 day prior: 50% of total amount
Day of activity: 100% of total amount
What should I bring?
Please wear comfortable shoes (no high heels).
In the summer, we recommend bringing a hat to shade from the sun during the walking tour. At dinnertime, you will also need a long-sleeved shirt in case it gets a bit chilly.
In spring and autumn, we recommend wearing warm clothes even in the daytime. At dinner especially, you will need a down coat with a warm sweater underneath.
What about insects?
As the event is held outside, there might be some insects, especially in the summer. Farmers take measures to keep insects away from the fruit, so their presence is fairly contained. However, if you absolutely cannot stand insects, we recommend you visit in the following months:
May to June
October to November
Is it very cold at dinnertime?
In the coldest month, we apply the following measures:
We light a bonfire close to the tables.
If you wear warm clothes such as a down coat, we believe you will be quite comfortable. However, if you absolutely cannot stand the cold, we recommend visiting in the following months:
May to September
We set up a heating system underneath the table and lay a duvet over it to keep the heat inside. This keeps the guests’ legs warm.
Is it hot in the summer?
The weather is pleasantly cool in the evening.
Also, as the orchards are located at an elevation of about 700m, there is usually a nice breeze, and the restaurant is surrounded by nature, it is not unbearably hot even at lunch.
However, if you absolutely cannot stand hot weather, we recommend you visit in the following months:
Lunch: April to June, October to November
Dinner: anytime
How do I avoid hot weather, cold weather, and insects?
You will want to visit in the following months:
Lunch: May to June, October
Dinner: May to June
Does the menu change?
The menu changes depending on the season.
Do you serve non-alcoholic beverages?
We serve locally sourced apple juice and fruit-flavored soda.