An indigenous grape variety, Koshu is grown mainly in Yamanashi Prefecture. | GETTY IMAGES
Nov 15, 2026
When I told friends I was visiting wineries across Japan in 2016, many of them thought I meant sake breweries. They were surprised to learn I was referring to the actual drink made from grapes.
“Japan makes wine?” they’d say.
Ten years later, Japanese wine has gained international recognition, winning awards at competitions such as the Decanter World Wine Awards and appearing on the wine lists of top restaurants around the world.
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Source: The Japan Times · Weiwen Lin
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- 🇯🇵 JP
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