About Amasagi Wine
- Founded
- 1987
- 39 years ago
- Location
- 由利本荘市
- 秋田県
- Wines listed
- 4
- Red 1, Sweet 3
- Main grapes
- Plum, Fuji no Yume
Amasagi Wine was a pioneering plum winery in Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, operated from a scenic hilltop tourist facility known as "Amasagi Wine Castle" (天鷺ワイン城). Founded in March 1987 as a third-sector company of the former town of Iwaki, it released what is considered Japan's first commercially produced plum wine in 1988, and went on to make a range of plum-based wines, sparkling wine, brandy, sherbets, and jellies from locally grown plums. Later reorganized as Iwaki Co., Ltd. (株式会社岩城), the winery suspended production at the end of March 2022 due to prolonged deficits; as of the mid-2020s, Yurihonjo City has been unable to find a new operator for the facility.
Who Is This For?
For Japanese-wine enthusiasts and researchers curious about pioneering regional fruit wines and lesser-known corners of Japan's wine history.
Wines of Amasagi Wine
Location & Nearby
- Address
- 秋田県由利本荘市岩城下蛇田字高城2-1View map ↗
- Founded
- 1987
Source: beer-cruise.net (checked Sep 2026) / japanwine-navi.com (checked Sep 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Amasagi Wine still producing wine?
- No. Amasagi Wine suspended production at the end of March 2022 after years of declining sales, and as of the mid-2020s no new operator has taken over the facility.
- What made Amasagi Wine historically significant?
- Founded in March 1987 by the former town of Iwaki, it released what is considered Japan's first commercially produced plum wine in 1988, pioneering fruit-wine production in the Tohoku region.
- Where was Amasagi Wine located?
- On a hilltop overlooking the historic castle town of Iwaki in Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, at a tourist facility called Amasagi Wine Castle (天鷺ワイン城).
- What products did Amasagi Wine make?
- Plum wine, sparkling plum wine, brandy, plum sherbet, and plum wine jelly, all made from locally grown plums rather than traditional wine grapes.
- Can visitors still tour Amasagi Wine Castle?
- No. The facility has been closed since production ceased in 2022, though Yurihonjo City continues to seek a new operator for the site.