Orchard Restaurant Matsukawa in Nagano

Reservations for September and October 2023 are open!

 

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Index
1.About the Dining
2.Schedule
3.Host Farms
4.Price
5.Calendar
6.Menu

 

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Embraced on two sides by the Japanese Alps, the idyllic orchard town of Matsukawa in Nagano provides the stage for our experience.
Matsukawa is a well-known fruit picking destination and has a long-standing fruit farming tradition that goes back over 100 years. From June to November, there is plenty of fruit to be eaten- cherries, blueberries, peaches, plums, prunes, grapes, pears, and apples.

Here, immersed in the picturesque beauty of Matsukawa’s old orchards, we have embarked on an innovative farm-to-table experience.
Bringing the farm to the restaurant table did not seem enough, so we decided to bring the tables to the farm. There is no need for roofs or walls in our restaurant- we have placed the tables and chairs right in the middle of the orchard.
 

 

Orchard Restaurant Matsukawa, our new outdoor orchard restaurant, opened in Matsukawa, Nagano, on October 8th, 2022. It offers the unique chance of savoring a full-course French meal in the fairytale-like atmosphere of an orchard, surrounded by sturdy trees and with the breathtaking view of the Alps.
Following the farm-to-table tradition, all ingredients come from the local farms of Matsukawa Town and the Ina Valley.
 

 
More than anything, we want our guests to enjoy the magical space of Matsukawa’s orchards- spaces born from the encounter of nature, agriculture, and local culture.
We believe that sampling the food where it was grown makes it taste even better.
The restaurant has only five tables, so don’t miss your chance!

 

 

What is the Schedule of the Event?

 

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 winery tour customs, we begin with a short tour of the grounds. The owner shows us around the orchard, telling a bit about fruit farming and offering fruit tasting when in season. At the end of this guided walk, we gather at the orchard’s most scenic spot to enjoy a simple aperitif of locally brewed hard cider.

Then, we head to the dining area to sit and eat.

 

 

What is on the menu?

 

The menu changes every season. There are seven courses: amuse-bouche, meat appetizer, fish appetizer, soup, main dish, dessert, and coffee or tea.

All main ingredients are locally sourced from the area’s farms and orchards. Matsukawa is a treasure trove for fresh products- fruit but also organic vegetables, freshwater fish, and even pork.

And let’s not forget the thriving cider and wine production. The three breweries in town make various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks made with fruit from their own farms. We offer a cider/wine pairing option with labels from all three breweries both at lunch and dinner.
 

 

How to Reserve

 

①Click on the “Reserve” button on the top right
②Choose a date from the calendar
③Click on the “quantity” button to select the numbers of tables to reserve
※1 table sits 2 people
④Select the number of people for each table
 

 

Calendar

In Nagano prefecture, they’re wont to say that the end of the Obon festivities signals the start of Autumn. There might be only a few summer days left, but the thought of autumnal fruits makes it difficult to miss summer too much.
September may be the month with more fruit selection. In the beginning of the month, we can still enjoy peaches and plums. What’s more, it’s also grape picking season; Nagano Purple, Shine Muscat, Pione, and Kyoho. Not to speak of the season’s classics, apples and Japanese pears.
 

 

 

Summer Menu

Amuse-bouche
Sesame Biscuit with Amago Trout Cream Filling

Hors-d’oeuvre froid
Sansan Farm’s Pork Head Cheese
and Organic Vegetable Planter

Hors-d’oeuvre chaud
Alp Salmon Fillet smoked on site
with apple tree charcoal
Buckwheat Crepe with crispy Cheese

Soupe
Peach and Tomato Gazpacho Soup
with savory Sable Cookie

Viande
Sansan Farm’s Black Pork Loin Roast
with Apple Chutney and Spicy Risotto

Dessert
Reconstructed Peach
(Peach and Lemon Mousse Cake)

Café ou thé
Locally Roasted Coffee Brew or Tenryumura Japanese Black Tea

 

Host Farms:
Fruit Garden Kitazawa
Large family-run orchard stretching over two hectars. The farm has prune, pear, and old apple trees over 60 years old.
Beside the orchard, they also own a cidery- Marukame Brewery.
When the restaurant tour is held here, you will get to dine in the shade of the old apple trees.
(Pets allowed)
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.
When the restaurant tour is held here, you will get to dine among vineyard trellis.
Kayama Farm
This is an intimate little farm, tucked away out of sight.
They grow cherries, grapes, and apples.
The event is held in the cherry orchard in spring, and in the apple orchard in summer and autumn.（Pets allowed）
Fruit Farm Yoneyama
A farm specialized in Fuji apples, which also grows blueberries, cherries, and pears on the side.
When here, you will either dine in the cherry or apple orchard. （Small and medium sized pets allowed）
Ringo no Oka Farm
Cozy farm perched on top of a hill. Their harvest includes cherries, blueberries, peaches, and apples.
Apple, Cherry, and Peach orchards are all available as restaurant venues. （Pets allowed）
Yuzawa Farm
This farm has blueberries, Japanese pears, apples, and even their original hard cider.
The tour will be held either in the apple or Japanese pear orchard.（Pets allowed）
Kumachan Farm
Kumachan Farm sits at an elevation of about 650～750m. They grow cherries, Japanese pears, and apples.
The restaurant is set up in the cherry orchard. （Small sized pets allowed）
Marutomo Okuta Farm
This farm offers cherries, grapes, apples, and a great view on both the central and southern Alps.
Tours are held either in the cherry orchard or in the vineyard.（Pets allowed）