Shizuoka
静岡県
Mt. Fuji vineyards and Izu's subtropical terroir.
About Shizuoka
- Producers listed
- 2
Shizuoka stretches from the slopes of Mount Fuji to the Izu Peninsula and the shores of Suruga Bay, making it one of Japan's most geographically diverse wine regions. Its handful of boutique wineries — including Fujisan Winery and Fuji Kitayama Winery near Fujinomiya, and Chateau T.S in Izu — plant vineyards above 500 meters on Fuji's foothills, where large diurnal temperature swings and mineral-rich volcanic soil help preserve the acidity that Japan's warm, humid climate usually strips away. Alongside the Koshu grape long grown on these slopes, producers are increasingly experimenting with Chardonnay, Merlot, and other international varieties, while Izu's milder coastal terroir yields softer, more aromatic wines.
Best for
Wine lovers curious about Japan's high-altitude Koshu and cool-climate reds, and travelers combining Mt. Fuji sightseeing with winery visits.
Food Pairings
Suruga Bay sakura shrimp and shirasu (whitebait), Hamamatsu-style grilled eel (unagi), and fresh Izu seafood.
Producers
富士山ワイナリー
Fujisan Winery
Founded in 2006 by American-born entrepreneur Ernest Singer as the Koshu Wine Project, Fujisan Winery is based in Nehara, Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, on the northern foot of Mt. Fuji. The winery farms roughly 80% Koshu and 20% Merlot across its own vineyards in Fujinomiya and neighboring Yamanashi, using vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellising rather than the traditional pergola system common in Japan. Grapes are pressed at a deliberately low yield (around 55-60%) and the wines are generally not put through malolactic fermentation, producing pure, high-acid Koshu wines built to pair with Japanese cuisine. In 2008 Fujisan Winery became the first Japanese winery to export wine to the EU. The estate offers vineyard and cellar tours, tastings, and an on-site cafe, Cafe SHIZEN.
Explore →
www.fujisanwinery.co.jp/中伊豆ワイナリー シャトーT.S
Naka Izu Winery Chateau T.S.
Naka Izu Winery Chateau T.S. is a genuine estate winery in the hills of central Izu, Shizuoka, founded in January 2000 by Tsutomu Shida, founder of the Shidax Corporation, who invested his own resources to build a winery that would give something back to his hometown. The operation obtained its fruit-wine brewing license in 1999 and today farms roughly 10 hectares of vineyard at about 290 meters elevation, with views toward Mt. Fuji. Around seven grape varieties are grown on-site, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Riesling, several planted experimentally, supplemented with fruit from Nagano and Yamanashi. Each variety is hand-sorted, fermented separately and barrel-aged before final blending. The estate's Izu Symphony Red Premium 2022, a Petit Verdot-led Bordeaux blend, won the sole Grand Gold Prize among 860 entries at the Japan Wine Competition 2025. Beyond the vineyard and glass-walled winery, the site operates a tasting room, direct-sales shop, several restaurants, and a glamping resort.
Explore →
nakaizuwinery.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Shizuoka a well-known wine region in Japan?
- Not yet as famous as Yamanashi or Nagano, but Shizuoka is home to boutique high-altitude wineries near Mount Fuji, such as Fujisan Winery, that are gaining attention for cool, acid-driven wines grown at over 500 meters elevation.
- What grapes grow in Shizuoka?
- Koshu has long been grown on Mt. Fuji's slopes, alongside newer plantings of Chardonnay, Merlot, and other international varieties; Izu Peninsula wineries also work with aromatic varieties like Niagara.
- Why do Shizuoka's Mt. Fuji wineries plant vineyards so high up?
- At over 500 meters, the large gap between daytime and nighttime temperatures helps grapes retain the acidity that Japan's hot, humid summers usually burn off, a technique pioneered by wineries like Fujisan Winery.
- What should I eat with Shizuoka wine?
- Local specialties from Suruga Bay — sakura shrimp, shirasu whitebait, and Hamamatsu's grilled eel (unagi) — pair naturally with the region's bright, mineral-driven whites.