Head to Japan’s wine country and savor the charm of Katsunuma Wineries in Yamanashi

You can find European-style wineries in Japan too — Yamanashi Prefecture is the country’s largest wine-producing region. As early as the Meiji period, the Katsunuma area in Yamanashi began producing wine, but modern wineries have shed their traditional image, aiming to craft diverse wines beloved worldwide.

To showcase their beauty, many wineries in Yamanashi have developed their own unique styles, offering visitors not only a tour but also a chance to experience winery life. CHATEAU Katsunuma, the closest to Katsunuma Grape Village Station, is a winery that changed the history of Katsunuma. About 130 years ago, two young men took a gamble on whether the village could successfully produce wine, traveled to Bordeaux, France, to learn winemaking techniques, and returned to establish their own brewery, naming it “Imamura Winery.” Winemaking in Katsunuma began in the early Meiji period, and Imamura Winery is the predecessor of today’s CHATEAU Katsunuma.

Another filming location of the Japanese drama “Love Supply,” Genmoto Winery, gives off a very relaxing vibe upon entering. Looking up, you’ll see a canopy of grape leaves partially blocking the sunlight, keeping it cool even when temperatures exceed 30°C. The old house, once a residence, has been redesigned with decor that blends vintage charm with a modern touch. Genmoto Winery is a long-established producer that has been making wine since before World War II, primarily cultivating Koshu grapes. To create more distinctive wines, they also experiment with cultivating European grape varieties. During harvest season, visitors can pick grapes and enjoy a BBQ here — grape picking costs around 1,000 yen and includes all-you-can-eat access to various types of grapes in the vineyard.

Located along the same road as other wineries, Morita Koshu Winery is operated by the family of the late Sony Chairman Morita Akio. Originally a sake, soy sauce, and miso brewer since the Edo period, the Morita family began growing grapes in the Meiji period and leveraged their brewing and fermentation expertise to successfully advance their wine business.

Exiting Morita Koshu Winery and continuing along the road, turn right at the JA (agricultural cooperative) corner to reach Katsunuma Brewery, founded in 1937. It primarily uses Koshu grapes, the most widely grown variety in Japan, producing about 380 metric tons of wine annually. The brewery is housed in a renovated 125-year-old traditional Japanese residence, redesigned to offer a modern yet classic atmosphere.

Most wineries in Yamanashi’s Katsunuma region offer wine tastings, some free of charge and others for a few hundred yen. It’s recommended to choose based on your personal preferences and interests — sampling exclusive, limited-edition wines not available on the market is one of the joys of visiting these wineries.

Read more: Nagano Wineries (provided by Tripass Sightseeing Spots)