Katsunuma Koshu Wine Country Tasting Tour

The Katsunuma Koshu Wine Country Tasting Tour covers Japan's oldest and largest wine region, centered on Koshu City's Katsunuma district, where Koshu-grape viticulture dates back more than a century. Arranged through the Koshu City Tourism Association, the roughly four-hour route moves between two to three member wineries, including a mix of larger producers such as Chateau Mercian and smaller family estates, with guided tastings at each stop explaining the difference between the region's dry Koshu whites and its Muscat Bailey A reds. A vineyard walk between tastings covers the basics of Koshu grape cultivation, including the distinctive overhead trellising used across the Katsunuma hillside to protect the grapes from Japan's humid summers. The tour concludes with a winery lunch pairing seasonal Yamanashi produce, often including Koshu-branded beef, with a glass of the host winery's own wine. The savoury winery lunch anchors the tour, with the tastings themselves the primary alcohol-focused component; there is no dedicated sweet course beyond a light dessert included in the lunch. The ¥6,000 base fee covers the guided tastings, vineyard walk, and lunch; a ¥9,000 tier adds a fourth winery stop and a small bottle to take home. Not included is transport to Katsunuma itself, though many wineries are within walking distance of each other. Groups are kept small, and guiding is available in Japanese with English support at the larger wineries; travelers should confirm this when booking. Because participants are of Japan's legal drinking age of 20 and above for the tastings, valid ID should be carried, and a non-alcoholic tasting can sometimes be arranged with advance notice.