From gravity-fermented natural wines to 18th-century sake, a curated route through prime Japanese viniculture and serene mountain landscapes.
Famed luxury resort and architectural landmark Shishi-Iwa House is raising the bar on wine-led escapes this year with the launch of a new itinerary: “Wine Tour: The Best of Japan,” running 31 May – 4 June 2026 from its forest-framed retreats in Karuizawa, a resort own in the middle of Japan. Designed for travellers who want their glass of wine with a side of culture and craft, the four-night, five-day journey threads together Nagano and Yamanashi’s most storied vineyards, historic estates and quietly radical local producers.
Starting in Nagano, one of Japan’s cool-climate regions, where high-elevation vineyards and volcanic soils lend precision and freshness to the wines, guests then move south to Katsunuma in Yamanashi, the cradle of Japanese viticulture since the late 19th century. Along the way, guests meet winemakers and brewers who champion sustainable techniques that mirror the restraint and harmony of Japanese fermentation traditions on eleven handpicked stops, private tours and tastings that go well beyond the standard flight.
Stops include the likes of Nagano’s Chateau Mercian Mariko Winery in Nagano, acclaimed for its high-altitude Chardonnay and Merlot; Yamanashi’sn98WINEs – a boutique operation featured in the World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2025 list; Suntory’s historic Tomi no Oka estate and Japan’s oldest surviving winery, Maruki, founded in 1891. A detour to Shichiken Sake Brewery, established in 1750, pairs pristine Southern Alps water with a private sake tasting lunch. Priced at JPY 520,000 (around US$3400) per person package (for double occupancy), the all-inclusive programme includes four nights’ accommodation, guided winery visits and tastings, three meals daily, cultural and wellness activities, nature excursions, and round-trip transfers from Karuizawa Station in a compelling cultural hospitality offering in Japan’s more rural heartlands.
