Discover the wine culture of Shiojiri’s Kikyogahara area on a guided walking tour through one of Nagano’s best-known wine regions. Meet your guide in front of FamilyMart Shiojiri Soga Store, where you will receive a short introduction to the tour. Your guide will explain that this experience visits three wineries in the Kikyogahara area and introduces the climate, history, grape varieties, and winemaking culture that have shaped Shiojiri wine.
Begin by walking towards Izutsu Wine while looking at nearby vineyards. Along the way, learn why this area is suitable for fruit and grape cultivation, with a cool climate, relatively low rainfall, and dry conditions. Grape growing in Kikyogahara began around 120 years ago, originally with Concord grapes, and the area later developed into one of Nagano’s major wine-producing regions.
At Izutsu Wine, enjoy a free tasting and learn about grape varieties often associated with the Kikyogahara area, such as Concord, Merlot, and Niagara. Your guide will help you understand the character of these wines and how local grape growing has influenced the region’s wine identity.
Next, walk to Goichi Wine. After receiving a farm map near the reception area, explore the winery’s farm with your guide. Learn about the “Hayashi Smart System,” a distinctive method of vine training and pruning, as well as the winemaking philosophy of founder Goichi Hayashi. This stop gives you a closer look at how vineyard management and local innovation are connected to the wines produced here.
After the farm walk, enjoy a paid tasting at Goichi Wine. Your guide can help explain the tasting process and introduce the wines available on the day.
Continue on foot to Shinano Wine, another local winery in the Kikyogahara area. Visit the cellar and learn about the winery’s production environment before enjoying a paid tasting, with tasting costs included up to the designated amount. This final winery stop offers another perspective on Shiojiri’s wine culture and lets you compare different styles from the same region.
After the tasting, walk back to FamilyMart Shiojiri Soga Store, where the tour ends. By the end of the experience, you will have visited three different wineries, walked through vineyard scenery, learned about Kikyogahara’s grape-growing history, and tasted wines that reflect the climate and craft of Shiojiri.
