Ushiku Chateau

Ushiku Chateau is a French-style winery in the city of Ushiku featuring a brick building with two stories and traditional wine production architecture. The ground floor displays large wooden barrels for fermentation, while the upper level showcases historic equipment and tools used in the winemaking process.

This winery was established in 1903 as Japan's first large-scale venture using French production methods for wine. The founding marked a turning point in how Japan engaged with European agricultural techniques.

This place represents Japan's first attempt to blend European winemaking with local ingredients and preferences, creating a distinctive wine culture. Visitors can observe how traditional production methods were adapted to serve Japanese tastes.

The grounds are open throughout the day with free entry for everyone. An on-site restaurant serves food at different times of day, making it convenient for visitors to spend several hours exploring the building and vineyard.

A small rail line ran directly through the main arched entrance, carrying grapes straight into the fermentation chambers inside. This ingenious transport system allowed the harvest to flow seamlessly from vineyard to production.

Location: Ushiku

Inception: September 1903

Founders: Kamiya Denbei

Website: http://oenon.jp/ushiku-chateau

GPS coordinates: 35.97850,140.14744

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:24