Nagano is Japan’s second most prominent wine-producing prefecture after Yamanashi. It is also easy to get to from Tokyo, taking only about 1.5 hours from Tokyo station to Nagano station by Shinkansen bullet...
Japan wine – a trip through Nagano
Guest contributor
Wednesday 3 December 2025
• 1 min read
Yoko Obara highlights what’s possibly 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 Meiji era. See also Japan wine – past and future for an overview and Japan wine – visit Yamanashi. Above, Matsumoto Castle in Matsumoto City, one of only 12 surviving castles from before the Edo period.
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