Japan
Latest Japan
Wine news in 5
Strengthening US wine labelling, new EU trade deals, market reports, more bottles lighten up
Plus, wet weather makes California drought-free for the first time in 25 years and leaves snow on Douro vineyards. Much to the delight of Otto, Paul Symington’s dog, above. A...
Samantha Cole-Johnson
Friday 30 January 2026
• 1 min read
Free for all
25th anniversary tasting of mature Australian wines in Tokyo
Team JR
Wednesday 28 January 2026
• 2 min read
Travel tips
Japan wine – a trip through Nagano
Yoko Obara highlights what’s p ossibly the most exciting wine region in Japan today. An ever-growing range of wineries here are building on a history that reaches back to the...
Guest contributor
Wednesday 3 December 2025
• 1 min read
More Japan
Travel tips
A guide to Japan’s most robust wine region by Yoko Obara DipWSET. See her introduction to Japan wine here...
Free for all
In this entry to our 2025 wine writing competition, oenologist Sera Goto writes about a particularly interesting grape variety: Muscat...
Free for all
Japan gets its first foreign wine investor. This is the view from his new vineyard. See also Japan wine –...
Tasting articles
A total of 36 local ferments were tasted by Jancis during her recent few days in Tokyo. Some of those...
Nick on restaurants
Exceptional food and drinks in hard-to-find locations. Shimbashi Shimizu and Noyashichi are two of the most exceptional restaurants I have...
Nick on restaurants
Casual but top-quality eating in the Japanese capital, with shades of Paris. Tokyo is a fascinating city. Its population of...
Don't quote me
A month with a trip to Japan and more very smart bottles than professional tastings. Above, Kyoto's 300-year-old Kenninji Ryosokuin...
Nick on restaurants
Not strictly a restaurant review, but a look at food and drink in the air on a (very) long flight...
Nick on restaurants
Michelin stars, eel and a profusion of sakes as the cherry blossom faded. The prevailing mood of any customer arriving...
Inside information
Winegrowing in Japan has exploded in the last decade. Wine expert and translator Yoko Obara offers an inside look.
Although...
Drinks not wine
A revolutionary approach to distilling that relies heavily on the past. Above, Ichiro Akuto of Chichibu distilleries. If you listened...
Free for all
In this entry to our 2023 wine writing competition, wine lover Emily Sivey writes about Mick Nippard, a wine importer...
Free for all
In this entry to our 2023 wine writing competition, sommelier Hikaru Takahashi writes about Shu Komatsu, a Japanese wine-bar owner...
Drinks not wine
Can sake be understood through the prism of terroir? Maybe, or maybe not. See also Sake beginner's guide.
‘If you...
Free for all
The UK wine trade is considerably impoverished.
We were shocked to learn that last Tuesday the UK wine trade lost...
Nick on restaurants
A trip to Japan, China and Thailand without leaving London.
With travel to China currently impossible and likely to remain...
Choose your plan
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