Planning a Wine Trip in Japan? Here’s How to Get the Most Out of It.

Ah, Japan - the land of great food, gorgeous mountain ranges, efficient public transport, and...wine?

That's right.

You're planning your next trip, but Tokyo and Osaka's gotten stale. You're looking to take a path less-travelled this time, and it so happens that you can't resist that delicious fermented grape juice.

You jump onto the internet and Google away furiously; "Japanese winery visit", "Japan Wine Tour", "Japanese Wine Tasting Room", you type, and everything tells you to go to Yamanashi.

There's nothing wrong with that, but...

Japan's wine scene is heating up, and there's so much to discover. Here's how to get the most out of your trip.

Step 1: Decide what you want to do.

Would you rather be knee-deep in the weeds, talking about esoteric topics with a reclusive hermit-winemaker or comfortably seated in a plush wine room, glass in hand?

Are holidays meant to be a relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle or life back home, or is it a chance for you to experience all that the world has to offer?

Do you like to take things slowly or are you happy to get completely wasted by lunch? (hey, no judgement from me!)

It's important to ask yourself questions like these, because unlike most traditional wine regions, it's going to take some work to find the right places for you to visit, but I promise it'll be worth it.

It certainly feels like there are increasingly more places set up specifically for wine tourism in Japan, and it's great to see!

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Step 2: Temper your expectations!

Unlike most developed winemaking regions, Japan's modern wine renaissance is still somewhat in its infancy, and while there are certainly some awesome tasting rooms here and there, it's very much in the minority. More often than not, we've found ourselves out in the vineyard, in dimly-lit cellars, and even in people's homes!

There's something for almost every type of traveller, and if you approach things with an open mind, I can guarantee you'll leave with a great experience.

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Step 3: Do your homework.

While it's entirely possible to wing it in some parts of Japan, the last thing you want is to be thousands of miles away from home and meet a closed door.

For how structured and punctual things are in Japan, one thing you can't trust there is the opening hours on Google Maps - trust me, i've been there. Oftentimes, producers and wine bars will post updates and even their monthly schedule on Instagram and Facebook.

This goes both ways - a winery listed as closed on Google Maps may end up actually being open. Contacting producers by email and social media in advance is typically the best way to prevent any surprises.

Another important thing to take note of that really applies to any wine region - everything is seasonal. Want to see sprawling vineyards full of life? Spring to summer is your best bet. Want to talk at length with winemakers without feeling like you're imposing? Winter is best.

Not much to see in winter but some snow and twigs, unless that's your thing.

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Step 4: The Secret Jutsu - Harvest Season

It's not for everybody, but I truly think participating in harvest is the best way to really get a sense of what the Japanese wine scene is about.

You'll cross paths with all kinds of people - wine drinkers, wine professionals, salarymen/women, journalists, farmers, students, retirees - it's truly a cornucopia of personalities. Wine in Japan is very much community-driven, and even large scale wineries sometimes take volunteers for harvest.

In a way, many Japanese wines aren't made by a few pairs of hands, but instead by many.

At lunch, most producers will pop a bottle or two to taste, and sometimes you get a lovely home-cooked meal to go with it. Other times, you'll end the day with a winery tour and barrel tasting, or even take home a bottle as a souvenir and reward for your hard work.

At the end of it all, you're more than likely to come away with some lovely stories, possibly a few new friends, and a renewed perspective of what Japanese wine is and can be.

Pizza and local wine remains our favourite harvest meal to date.

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Final Thoughts

For real though, visiting wineries and vineyards in Japan is going to be more of a challenge than most other coutnries. Yet, we're pretty confident you will find the experience most rewarding - not only will you come across things you won't see in other wine regions around the world, you'll also get a peek into what is quickly becoming one of the most interesting stories in wine.

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Side note # 1: Drink, Don't Drive

The legal BAC (blood alcohol content) in Japan is very low. It's very common for tasting rooms and even small producers to check if you're driving, and if you are, it's likely you won't get served any alcohol.

You can spit, of course, although i've found that this concept isn't as widespread as in established wine regions, so you may or may not have access to a spittoon at times.

So how do you get around then?

Well it so happens that Japan's public transport is perhaps the most puncutal anywhere in the world, so planning out an itinerary that involves train and bus connections tends to work out quite well. Taxis are expensive, but sometimes spending that bit of cash let's you reach places no one else can!

Side note # 2: 英語が話せません

Want to make new friends, talk about esoteric winemaking concepts, or improve your chances of securing an appointment? Language is everything.

Translation software has gotten a lot better over the years, and it's now definitely possible to get a message across without any quirky errors. You don't need to have perfect (or even good) Japanese - all you need is a willingness to learn a little and a good translation app.