Katori
香取
Grape-growing heart of Chiba's Hokuso Plateau
Katori is a city in northeastern Chiba Prefecture, spread across the Shimosa (Hokuso) Plateau where the Tone River meets the historic Suigo waterway district. Long known for rice, sweet potatoes and table grapes, its Kurimoto district has grown Delaware, Kyoho and Steuben grapes since the early 20th century through cooperatives such as the Kurimoto Grape Growers' Association, and small family vineyards like Sugaya Budouen and Tsukamoto Family Vineyard still welcome grape-picking visitors each autumn. Local sake brewer Iida Honke, founded in 1877, drew on this grape-growing heritage to produce Gran Principessa, a light red wine made from Katori-grown grapes, showing how the area's fertile plateau soil and abundant water support winemaking alongside its long-standing sake and agricultural traditions.
Best for: Explorers curious about Japan's lesser-known table-grape regions turning to wine
No sub-regions registered yet.
Producers
No producers registered yet.
Food Pairings
Pairs naturally with the region's own specialties: namerō (hand-minced sardine or mackerel with miso and scallion), Sawara-style katsudon, and roasted local sweet potato.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Katori a recognized Japanese wine region?
- Katori is not a major, widely marketed wine appellation like Yamanashi or Hokkaido, but it has a genuine grape-growing tradition centered on the Kurimoto district, where table grapes such as Delaware, Kyoho and Steuben have been cultivated for decades and used locally in winemaking.
- What grape varieties are grown in Katori?
- Katori's Kurimoto district is best known for Delaware, Kyoho and Steuben, table grapes traditionally sold fresh at grape-picking farms but also used by local producers to make light, fruity wines.
- Why is Katori suited to grape growing?
- Katori sits on the Shimosa (Hokuso) Plateau, a broad, gently rolling upland with well-drained soils, and borders the water-rich Suigo district along the Tone River, giving the area fertile ground and reliable water for agriculture including viticulture.
- Which producer makes wine in Katori?
- Iida Honke, a sake brewery founded in 1877 in Katori's Omigawa area, expanded into winemaking using Katori-grown grapes, producing the red wine Gran Principessa alongside its traditional sake.
- What food should I pair with a Katori wine?
- Try it with the region's own dishes — namerō (minced sardine or mackerel with miso), Sawara-style katsudon, or roasted local sweet potato — for a genuine taste-of-place pairing.