Yamanashi — the land of wine and fruit
The homeland of Japanese wine, Shosenkyo Gorge, and fruit orchards with views of Mount Fuji
- Duration: Start at 9:00 / 10 hours
- Price: On request
- Departure: Departure and arrival at the Tokyo hotel
Overview
Yamanashi, stretching across the northern slopes of Mount Fuji, is the capital of Japanese wine and the "Kingdom of Fruits," leading Japan in the production of grapes, peaches, and plums. The Kofu Basin, surrounded by the Southern Alps and Mount Fuji, is one of the sunniest regions in the country, with more than 2,200 hours of sunshine per year. Well-drained alluvial soils, significant temperature differences between day and night, and the purest spring water have long fostered grape cultivation and laid the foundation for Japanese winemaking.
This journey offers a leisurely day filled with discoveries: from the scenic Shosenkyo Gorge, designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, to historic wineries in Katsunuma, seasonal orchards, and secluded viewpoints overlooking Mount Fuji. In the birthplace of Japanese wine, you will enjoy local produce and landscapes, harmoniously woven into the rhythm of local life.
Itinerary: hotel in Tokyo → Shosenkyo Gorge → Shosenkyo Ropeway → Katsunuma wine region → winery tour → seasonal fruit orchard → lunch at a winery → hotel in Tokyo
Key Features
- Shosenkyo Gorge — The gorge is considered the most picturesque in Japan. Here you will find impressive rock formations, clear streams, and vibrant seasonal colors that turn crimson from late summer to autumn.
- Sengataki Waterfall — A waterfall about 30 meters high. The peak, named after the ascetic monk Kakuen, and the waterfall formed by tectonic movements together create the natural landscape of Yamanashi.
- Cable car — A five-minute aerial journey will take you to an altitude of 1,058 meters. On clear days, you can enjoy views of the Southern Alps ridge and a panorama of Mount Fuji. At the foot of the mountain, guests are greeted by golden carp.
- Katsunuma — The birthplace of Japanese wine since the beginning of the Meiji era. The indigenous white grape variety "Koshu." Home to more than 80 wineries producing numerous award-winning wines recognized at competitions both in Japan and abroad.
- The oldest winery in Japan — Château Mercian Katsunuma Winery is a Japanese winery with a 145-year winemaking history. The wine museum, built in 1904, is the oldest surviving wooden building of the winery and is registered as a cultural heritage site.
- Fruits of the Four Seasons — Yamanashi ranks first in Japan for the cultivation of grapes, peaches, and plums. From early summer to late autumn, the orchards are adorned with cherries, peaches, grapes, and pears, reflecting the abundance of this land.
Itinerary
Day 1 — From Mountain Valleys to the Seasonal Flavors
A Day in Yamanashi
- 9:00 Departure from the hotel in Tokyo
Your personal guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby. Traveling west along the Chuo Expressway, you will head to the Kofu Valley in Yamanashi—a journey of about two hours, with views of Mount Fuji and the Southern Alps along the way. - 11:00 A walk through the Shosenkyo Gorge,
Take a leisurely stroll through the Shosenkyo Gorge, a granite canyon recognized as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Walk along the clear waters of the Arakawa River, heading toward the majestic Kakuembo peak and the impressive Sengataki Waterfall.
Experience the true beauty of Yamanashi’s landscapes, where sheer cliffs and lush nature create a breathtaking scene. - 12:00 Cable car
A five-minute aerial journey will take you to an altitude of 1,058 meters. Below lies the Kofu Basin, before you stretches the ridge of the Southern Alps, and on clear days Mount Fuji appears on the horizon. - 13:00 Katsunuma Winery
In Katsunuma, an experienced guide will accompany you to a winery selected according to your preferences.
At Château Mercian Katsunuma Winery, you will discover Japan’s oldest surviving wooden winery, built in 1904 (a designated cultural heritage site), and learn about the Koshu grape variety and the history of winemaking since the Meiji era.
At Lumière Winery, founded in 1885 and family-run, you will see a stone fermentation tank and an underground cellar from the Meiji era, both still in use today. - 14:00 Lunch at the winery restaurant
Enjoy a leisurely lunch at the winery restaurant overlooking the vineyards or in a private dining room. We will arrange French cuisine paired with Japanese wine, wagyu with red wine, seasonal kaiseki, tasting menus, and much more according to your wishes. - 15:30 Seasonal experience in the fruit orchard
Depending on the season, visit gardens with peaches (late June – early September), grapes (mid-August – October), cherries (late May – early July), and strawberries (January – May). You can taste ripe fruit straight from the tree, comparing different varieties. - 16:30 Views of Mount Fuji
On the way back, you will drive along a hilly road with views of Mount Fuji beyond the vineyards. Enjoy the sight of Fuji and the Kofu Basin bathed in the evening sun. - 19:00 Hotel Tokyo
Return to the hotel in Tokyo. Leisure time
Slow harvest
Gentle Harvest — The Flow of Time in Yamanashi
Upon entering Yamanashi, the air feels different. The dry wind blowing from Fuji and the coolness descending from the Southern Alps meet in the Kofu basin. At this crossroads of wind and water, people planted grapes.
At the beginning of the Meiji era, two young men brought winemaking techniques from France, which took root on the slopes of Katsunuma. One hundred and forty-five years have passed since then. Even today, the harvest here is never rushed. Peaches ripen on the branches, and grapes are picked only when they are fully infused with sunlight. In sake breweries, they simply wait as water passes through granite for nearly thirty years.
To wait is to believe. Trust in the land and in time becomes fruit, becomes sake, becomes wine. Perhaps a visit to Yamanashi is a chance, if only for a moment, to touch this “time of waiting.”
Additional options
- Sasaichi Brewery (Otsuki city): private tour and tasting of the "Dan" series — founded in 1661, uses Mt. Fuji spring water "Gozen-sui"
- Yamanashi Meijo (Shichiken / Shirazu-cho, Hokuto city): private tour and tasting of Alain Ducasse Sparkling — founded in 1750, uses Southern Alps spring water "Hakushu no Mizu" from Mt. Kaikoma
*The Hakushu area is about an hour's drive from Katsunuma. Visiting both breweries in one day takes a total of 11–12 hours - Seasonal fruit picking (cherry, peach, grape)
- Takeda Shrine and a Sengoku-era history walk in Kofu (sites associated with Takeda Shingen)
- Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art — "The Sower" by Millet and other works of the Barbizon school
- Visit to a crystal craft workshop (Koshu crystal gemstone craft)
- Sightseeing helicopter tour over Mt. Fuji
- Plan to extend your stay by one night in a ryokan
- Autumn foliage photo tour (late October — mid-November)
- Scenic route through the Southern Alps
Practical Information
- Start time / Duration
- 9:00 / 10 hours
- Included in the price
- - Transfer by private car
- Accompaniment by a professional guide
- Entrance tickets
*Please note that meals and additional options are not included in the price of this tour.