Tako-machi
多古町
A rice-farming town turned Chiba's boutique wine frontier
Tako-machi is a small town in the Katori District of northeastern Chiba Prefecture, sitting on the gently rolling Shimosa Plateau (average elevation around 27m) where the Kuriyama River has carved shallow valleys over millennia. The plateau's volcanic-ash Kanto loam soil ('akadama') is well-drained and porous, and has long supported the town's reputation as a premier rice-growing region — 'Tako rice' is a prized, historically imperial-tribute brand of Koshihikari grown here in limited quantities, alongside other local specialties like yamato-imo (Japanese mountain yam) and Genki pork. Wine growing is a very recent addition to this agricultural heritage: in the town's Funakoshi district, table grapes such as the Super Hamburg variety have been cultivated for over 50 years, and in 2020 that same district became home to Funakoshi Winery, only the second winery in Chiba Prefecture and the first to open in 90 years. Funakoshi Winery is a community-driven, low-intervention producer working with yamabudo-hybrid varieties (Yamasouvignon, Getsuyama No. 1) as well as Muscat Bailey A, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, positioning Tako-machi as one of Japan's newest and most distinctive boutique wine appellations.
Best for: Wine lovers curious about Japan's newest micro-appellations, fans of yamabudo-hybrid and natural, low-intervention wines, and travelers exploring Chiba's rice-farming countryside.
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Producers
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Food Pairings
Pairs naturally with the region's own rice-based dishes and yamato-imo (mountain yam) preparations, grilled Genki pork, and fresh Chiba seafood such as grilled sardines or sea bream — the Muscat Bailey A and yamabudo-based reds have enough freshness and light tannin to stand up to soy- and miso-based grilling.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Tako-machi a well-established wine region?
- No — it's one of Japan's newest wine appellations. Wine grape growing began in earnest around 2020 with the opening of Funakoshi Winery, though the Funakoshi district has grown table grapes for over 50 years.
- What grape varieties are grown in Tako-machi?
- Funakoshi Winery cultivates yamabudo-hybrid varieties such as Yamasouvignon and Getsuyama No. 1, alongside Muscat Bailey A, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.
- What makes the terroir of Tako-machi distinctive?
- The town sits on the Shimosa Plateau, a gently rolling upland of well-drained, volcanic-ash Kanto loam soil carved by the Kuriyama River — the same soil that made Tako famous for premium rice rather than grapes until recently.
- Why is Funakoshi Winery significant?
- It's only the second winery ever established in Chiba Prefecture, and the first new one to open in 90 years, founded by local rice farmers as a community revitalization project.
- What style of wine does the region produce?
- Low-intervention, natural wines made using 'kamoshi fermentation' (skin-contact whole-cluster fermentation) with minimal sulfites, resulting in fresh, spicy, food-friendly reds and rosés.