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Top 10 Wineries in Japan Featured Image

10 Wineries in Japan to go wine tasting

There are currently more than 300 wineries across Japan, each with its own distinct character. If you’re a wine-lover, here are 10 of the most incredible wineries in Japan that you should check out!

With the recent rise in popularity of Japanese Whiskey, Sake and Japanese beers, have you ever wondered whether Japanese wine is a thing? Something that is typically unknown is that the climate of Japan, with its long north-south axis and four colourful seasons, gives birth to wines that are truly unique and reflect the characteristics of each region.

Let’s go through two of the distinct difference between Japanese wine. There are two types of wine produced in Japan, Japanese wine and Domestically produced wine. Japanese wine is a type of wine that is made exclusively from locally sourced Japanese raw materials. Domestically produced wine is a type of wine that is made in Japan, however, the raw materials used are sourced from abroad.

Here are some of the top wine breweries in Japan:

Chitose Winery – Hokkaido

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Chitose Winery
Credit: Yado

Wines nurtured in the northern climate of Hokkaido are the Kita Wine’s and fruit wines. This winery is built as a stone warehouse including an improved Sapporo soft stone granary. Primarily, Chitose Winery grows mainly Pinot Noir for red wines, and Kellner for white wines.

The winery is currently run by Mr. Keiji Misawa who is the son of the Misawa family. In fact, this family has a long history of brewers who through each generation have passed down the skill and knowledge of making perfect Japanese wine. If you visit here, you are able to take a free tour (pre-booked) where you are able to see the equipment used to make the wine and the process of the brewing.

Official website

http://www.chitose-winery.jp/

 telephone number

0123-27-2460

 Google map

066-0035 Hokkaido Chitose-shi Takashiro 1-chome 6-20 [Car] About 15 minutes from “Chitose IC” on the Dojo Road, about 20 minutes from the Chitose “Higashi IC” on the East Road [Train] 10 minutes

Wine Chateau Osako – Iwate

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Wine Chateau Osako
Credit: Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization

Based in the Iwate Prefecture, Wine Chateau Osako offers a complete hands-on brewing tour with full tasting and education on the personalities of the wine such as flavour, taste and rarity value. In the wine cellar, Chateau Osako currently stores over 2000 bottles of wine.

It is believed that the climate, with little precipitation and a vastly varying temperature difference between the night and the day and the weakly alkaline limestone soils, allows for Osako to essentially be a wine utopia.

Wine Chateau OsakoIwate Prefecture

[Address] 10-18-3 Osako-cho, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture [Business hours] 9:00 ~ 16:30 [Regular holiday] Tuesday,

year-end and New Year holidays (December 31 ~ January 3) [Fee] Free admission [Access]

Edelwine | Introducing wines using grapes from Iwate Prefecture It is a winery in Tohoku, Iwate, Edelwine. (edelwein.co.jp)

Akibo Winery – Miyagi

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Akibo Winery
Credit: City of Sendai

Akibo Winery is located in the Akiho Onsen Township. This winery is stylish, and offers incredible views of the vineyards surrounding. They focus on 12 cultivars, including black and white grapes native to France from the region of Bordeaux and Alsace.

Additionally to that, they also have an on site laboratory with a maturation cabinet. They allow for tours and tasting at these areas! If you were to visit the café at this winery, they offer certain snacks which they provide based on the suitable wine pairing.

Winery [Address] Miyagi Prefecture Sendai City Taihaku-ku Akibo-cho Yumoto Sugihara West 6 [Business hours] 9: 30 ~ 17: [Regular holiday] Tuesday [Fee] [Tour] Free [Tasting] 200 yen ~

[Access]

Asahi Town Wine Castle – Yamagata

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Asahi Town Wine Castle
Credit: Asahi Town

Asahi Town Wine is a spectacular winery, simply in the fact that the winery is reminiscent of a European castle. This is why the Asahi Town Wine is also known as Asahi Town Wine Castle.

Red, white and rosé wines made from locally grown grapes, sparkling wine made from 100% Yamagata grapes, Asahimachi brandy, fruit wines such as cherry and peach, as well as grape juice, which contains no additives whatsoever are all produced here. When you visit, you are able to watch the wines being created and then afterwards, visit the on site shop to sample many of the wines for free!

Asahi-machi Wine Castle

Address] 1080 Aza Takano, Oaza Oya, Asahi-machi, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture

Opening hours] [Apr-Oct] 9am-5pm [Nov-Mar] 9am-4pm

Closed] Year-end and New Year holidays

Fees] [Admission] Free

Tokyo Winery

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Tokyo Winery
Credit: Go Tokyo

Since opening in 2014, Tokyo Winery is renowned as Tokyos first winery! Founded by Miwa Echigoya, the ambition was to allow for people living in Tokyo to experience the simple concept of enjoying both wine and vegetables produced in Tokyo together!

Tokyo Winery is open for Lunch on Saturdays and Sundays, making it the perfect attraction for a little sightseeing on the weekends.

Official website

https://www.wine.tokyo.jp/

telephone number

03-33867-5525

Google map

178-0061 2-8-7 Oizumi Gakuencho, Nerima Ward,

Tokyo [Train] 10 minutes on foot from Seibu Railway “Oizumi Gakuen Station”

business hours

11:0017:00

Closed

Wednesday

remarks

Parking: None

Curve Dotch Winery

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Curve Dotch Winery
Credit: Niigata Visitors & Convention Bureau

Based at the foot of Mt Kakuda, the Curve Dotch Winery is an elegant and truly unique place to visit, resembling a European wine village. The winery includes a wine cellar, restaurant, shop and a garden where you can explore and casually enjoy delicious wine and food.

I highly recommend visiting this winery if you are interested in wine tours and understanding the fundamentals of making good wine. This winery tour takes you through the vineyards, vinification room, and barrel-ageing cellars, complete with an explanation of the wine-making process. There is also a restaurant, café and even a hot spring on site!

Curvedotchi Winery

Address] 1661 Kakudahama, Nishigamaku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture

Opening hours] [Wine shop] 10am – 5pm *Varies according to the facility.

Closed] Open every day.

Admission] Free *Tasting is charged.

Heidi Winery – Ishikawa

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Heidi Winery
Credit: HEIDEE WINERY

If we refer back to the two types of wine in Japan explained earlier, here is where you will appreciate this offering. Heidi Winery prides itself on using homemade Japan grapes from the local areas. These grapes grow overlooking the Sea of Japan with the specialty varieties being the Aojo series and the Senri series.

These are the perfect wines to match amazing Japanese seafood! The winery tour itself allows you to visit the vineyards and then enjoy a tasting from a window with a spectacular view.

Heidi Winery [Address] 31-21-1 Chiyo, Monzen-cho, Wajima-shi, Ishikawa

Prefecture [Business hours] [Wine Shop] 10:00 ~ 17:00 [Regular holiday] Tuesday [Fee] [Tour/Tasting] 1100 yen [Observation only] 550

yen

[Access]

Nakaizu Winery Chateau – Shizuoka Prefecture

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Nakaizu Winery Chateau

This winery is operated by the Sidax Group and has a huge 10 acres of vineyard fields. The winery prides itself on creating its own wines, wine grape vinegar and wine grape juice. All of these pair with its own cheese and hams that will match perfectly with their wines.

The winery also features a restaurant, so that you can enjoy the most elegant experience of tasting incredible wines while enjoying great food. Furthermore, touring the winery and visiting the wine cellar is completely free!

Naka Izu Winery Chateau T.S.

Address] 1433-27 Shimo-Shiraiwa, Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Opening hours] [Weekdays] 9.30am – 5pm [Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays] 9am – 5pm.

Subject to seasonal changes. Check the website for details.

Closed] No regular holidays.

Admission] Free of charge.

Katasimo Winery [Osaka]

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Katasimo Winery
Credit: かしわらイイネット

Katasimo Winery is located in the Kashiwabara City in Osaka. In fact, this winery is based in the largest grape-growing area in Osaka and has a history of brewing since 1913.

The wines, named after the company’s vineyards, are made from grapes grown on the company’s own farm using reduced pesticides and organic fertilisers where possible. Winery tours are also held. During the tours, wine tastings are also available, so you can find the perfect wine for you.

■Katashimo Winery

Address] [Direct sales office] 2-7-33, Taiheiji, Kashiwabara, Osaka

Opening hours] [Weekdays] 10am – 6pm [Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays] 10am – 5pm. 

Winery tours are held irregularly. Reservations required after checking the website.

Closed] New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Fees] Vary according to plan. Check website for details.

Sera Winery – Hiroshima

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Sera Winery
Credit: Dive! Hiroshima

Sera Winery sources its grapes from the Sera region of Hiroshima. The differing grapes offer wines that can be very dry to extremely sweet. Sera Winery is located next to the Sera Yume park which hosts incredible scenery and a nice change of pace for people looking to take a day out.

There are two brewing tours that allow visitors to experience the climate of the Serra Plateau and the thoughts of the brewers. This includes a tour of the brewery and a tasting of the wines in storage. You can also have a label made with your photo or message, so your original Sera wine is a great way to create memories!

Sera Winery

Address] 518-1 Kurobuchi, Sera-cho, Sera-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture

Opening hours] [Winery shop] Mar-Dec 9am-5pm, Jan-Feb 10am-4pm.

Closed] [Apr, May, Sep, Oct] Open daily [Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Nov, Dec] Tuesdays [Jan, Feb] Tuesdays, Wednesdays

Admission] Free.

Final Thoughts

Top 10 Wineries in Japan Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many different wineries throughout Japan that use a combination of domestically sourced grapes and locally grown. Japan has an edge for quality, and this is clear with the offerings of wine from Japan.

With Japan’s varying climate, the opportunity for great wine and wineries is vast. Come check it out for yourself on your next visit in Japan!

We host our own bar tours regularly as well! We take you to all kinds of unique and underground locations around Tokyo, with anywhere between five to fifteen international guests! We’ve also lived in Japan for years and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have, ranging from history, and culture to society and nightlife! Come join us for a great night!

Stay tuned for more information about Japan travel, Japanese culture, moving to Japan, living in Japan and more.

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We’re your local friend in Japan, helping you explore, experience and enjoy the ins and outs of Japan! When we first arrived in Tokyo, we all found this city to be overwhelming, not sure where to begin. During the years that we have lived here in Japan, we have discovered and visited countless famous tourist attractions as well as unique underground places. We are now proud to say that we are experts of Japan and would love to share the knowledge with all of you!

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FLIP GUIDE TEAM

Hey friend!

Just like you, we are foreigners from all around the world.

When we first arrived in Tokyo, we all found this city to be overwhelming, not sure where to begin.

During the years that we have lived here in Japan, we have discovered and visited countless famous tourist attractions as well as unique and underground places.

We are now proud to say that we are experts of Japan and would love to share the knowledge with all of you!

 

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