Japan's Hidden Wine Country

Discover Japan's emerging wine scene in the shadow of Mount Fuji.

Discover Japan's emerging wine scene in the shadow of Mount Fuji. Koshu grapes, meticulous craftsmanship, and a culture of perfection applied to wine.

A Wine Memories curated trail · winememories.fi

5 experiences 🇯🇵 Japan moderate 3 days

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Stops

Curated by Wine Memories

  1. 1
    🗺️

    Grace Wine Estate Tour

    Japan's most internationally acclaimed winery. Pioneer of premium Koshu since 1923, now in its 4th generation. Wines served at Japan state dinners. Appointment-only tours offer rare insight into premium Japanese winemaking.

    tour $$
  2. 2
    🗺️

    Château Mercian Winery Museum

    Japan's oldest winery (1877), now part of Kirin Holdings. Excellent visitor center with museum showcasing 150 years of Japanese winemaking history. English audio guides available, tasting from ¥500.

    tour $
  3. 3
    🍷

    Marufuji Natural Wine Tasting

    Small family producer with artisan approach to natural winemaking. Weekend visits by appointment. Popular stop during the annual Katsunuma Winery Walk festival.

    wine_bar $
  4. 4
    🍷

    MGVs Design Winery

    Award-winning modern architecture with stunning Mt. Fuji views. Premium Koshu specialist with a minimalist design tasting room. The perfect blend of Japanese aesthetics and wine culture.

    wine_bar $$
  5. 5
    🗺️

    Suntory Tomi no Oka Winery

    Suntory's flagship winery with stunning Mt. Fuji views from hilltop location. 90-minute tours include vineyard walk and 3-wine tasting. ¥1,000 tour fee. Closed December-March.

    tour $

Plan the trip

Insider tip. Combine with a visit to the nearby Fuji Five Lakes - the views are spectacular, especially in cherry blossom season.

Getting there and around

Car required
No
Parking
All wineries have free parking. Street parking in Katsunuma town also available.
Nearest airport
Tokyo Haneda (HND) - 1.5 hr to Yamanashi by train
Drinking and driving
Train from Tokyo is ideal - no driving needed. Katsunuma walkable. Local taxis for longer distances.
Other airports
  • Tokyo Narita (NRT) - 2.5 hr to Yamanashi
Without a car
Excellent train connections from Tokyo (JR Chuo Line to Katsunuma). Walking between Katsunuma wineries possible. Rent bike from station.

Where to stay

Base yourself in
Katsunuma or Kofu
Why there
Katsunuma is the wine village heart - small but charming. Kofu (20 min) is larger with more hotel options.
Booking tip
Cherry blossom (late Mar-early Apr) and autumn (Oct-Nov) are peak. Book 1+ month ahead for those seasons.
Nightly range
¥10,000-40,000/night ($70-280)

Recommended stays

Budget
Kofu Washington Hotel (¥10,000) - Business hotel, convenient, clean
Luxury
Hoshinoya Fuji (¥60,000+) - Glamping resort, Fuji views, unique experience
Mid-range
Keyforest Hotel (¥25,000) - Design hotel in wine country, vineyard views
Vineyard stays
L'Orient Wine Country Stay (¥20,000) - Winery accommodation, tasting included

What it costs

Includes
2 nights accommodation, train tickets, 4-5 winery visits, meals
Meals
¥1,500-3,000 lunch, ¥4,000-10,000 dinner ($10-70)
Per person
¥50,000-120,000 ($350-850)
Ways to spend less
  • Japanese winery tasting fees are very reasonable
  • Konbini (convenience stores) offer excellent cheap meals
  • JR Pass can include Yamanashi trains if doing broader Japan trip
  • Buy wine here - Koshu is hard to find abroad and cheaper at source
Tasting fees
¥500-2,000 per winery ($3-14) - excellent value

Booking and timing

Lead time
1-2 weeks for most wineries, some accept walk-ins
Closed days
Many closed Monday or Tuesday. Check each winery individually.
Peak season
Grape harvest (Sep-Oct) is festive. Golden Week (late Apr-early May) is extremely busy.
Best time of day
Morning visits popular with Japanese tourists. Afternoon often quieter.
Group size
Japanese wineries prefer smaller groups. Large groups should book well ahead.

Where to eat

Lunch
  • Château Mercian Restaurant - French-Japanese, vineyard setting, ¥3,000-5,000
  • Budouya (Katsunuma) - Grape and wine themed, local favorite, ¥1,500-2,500
  • Grace Wine Tasting Room - Light plates with wine, ¥2,000-3,000
  • Hoto noodle shops - Local specialty (thick udon), ¥1,000-1,500
Dinner
  • Suntory Tomi no Oka Restaurant - Fine dining with Fuji views, ¥8,000+
  • L'Étoile (Kofu) - French with local ingredients, ¥6,000-10,000
  • Izakaya in Kofu - Traditional Japanese, wine pairings work!, ¥3,000-5,000
  • Local yakiniku (BBQ) with Koshu - unexpected pairing, ¥4,000-6,000
Winery restaurants
  • Château Mercian - Best restaurant in wine country
  • Suntory Tomi no Oka - Premium dining experience
  • Grace Wine - Light bites with tastings

If your time is short

Do not miss
If you only have one day
If it rains
Château Mercian museum, or onsen (hot spring) in nearby Isawa
Skip if time is short

Mistakes to avoid

  • Don't expect English everywhere - learn a few Japanese phrases, bring translation app
  • Don't skip Koshu - the delicate white is designed for Japanese cuisine
  • Don't assume European-style winery hospitality - Japanese style is different, equally warm
  • Don't visit during Golden Week without bookings everywhere
  • Don't miss Mount Fuji views if weather is clear - magical backdrop
  • Don't ignore Muscat Bailey A red - Japan's answer to Beaujolais

Worth stopping for

  • Mount Fuji from any vineyard - clear mornings (Oct-Nov) best
  • Cherry blossoms and vines (late Mar-early Apr) - uniquely Japanese
  • Château Mercian colonial architecture
  • Katsunuma grape arbors walking streets
  • Autumn leaves with vineyards (late Oct-Nov)