Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Vast land and cool climate. With low humidity and low summer rainfall, Hokkaido is the largest producer of vinification grapes in Japan! Furthermore, the climate is similar to that of the Champagne region in northern France, the home of wine, making it ideal for winemaking.

Grapes were first planted in Hokkaido in 1875. Later, Ikeda Town resumed winemaking at Japan's first municipally owned winery, the Grape and Grape Wine Research Institute, in order to save the town from a financial crisis, and this marked the beginning of the current history of wines produced in Hokkaido.

Since then, Hokkaido wines have continued to evolve through trial and error. In recent years, producers with a proven track record in Japan and abroad have chosen Hokkaido as their ideal winemaking region, and have moved to various parts of Hokkaido, including Yoichi, Hokkaido's first special wine zone, to take up the challenge of winemaking.

Driving through the farming villages of Yoichi Town, Niki Town, Iwamizawa City, and Mikasa City, all of which are currently the focus of attention, you are sure to come across a view of vineyards spreading out all around. There are a wide variety of wineries throughout Hokkaido, from large wineries to small wineries that pursue natural wines, and they produce high-level wines that have won awards at international competitions. Enjoy Hokkaido wines that are attracting attention both domestically and internationally.

For small trips from Sapporo, I recommend a tour of wineries in the Sorachi area. With seven wineries and numerous vinyards, the Sorachi area is now one of the leading wine producing areas in Hokkaido.

The characteristic of the Sorachi winery is that each one is carefully constructed on a small scale. Therefore, production volume is limited and it is difficult to see them outside of the production area. The wine, which takes time and effort to make each wine, is very popular as a special item. There are many restaurants that serve these wines, and you can enjoy the surprise and pleasure of meeting the treasured wines that you rarely see.

Yoichi and Niki are cities of apples and other fruit trees. In particular, Yoichi, which became Hokkaido's first special wine zone in 2011, is surrounded by mountains on three sides except for the sea, so the hills overlooking Yoichi Bay are a grape-growing region, and in fact boasts the largest yield of wine grapes in Hokkaido.

In addition to winery tours and tastings, there are many wineries, restaurants, and auberges surrounded by vineyards in the suburbs of Otaru and Niseko, including Yoichi and Niki, which are currently the focus of attention as wine-producing areas. In recent years, this new wine region has attracted the attention of many food connoisseurs.

Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, arrived at Yoichi in his quest to create the ideal whisky. Japanese whiskey production began in Yoichi, where the climate is cold and humid, similar to that of Scotland in England, and where the ingredients essential for whiskey production and the conditions and logistics necessary for production are available.

At the Nikka Whisky Hokkaido Factory Yoichi Distillery, visitors can experience the history and production process of Nikka Whisky up close. The facility is spacious, and there are many attractions such as the distillery building, the warehouse, and the former Taketsuru Residence. If you join a guided tour, you can listen to explanations of the whiskey-making process and the factory while being guided in a fun and efficient manner. After walking around the factory, you can go to the tasting corner for your enjoyment. The history of domestic whiskey, which took a long time and a great deal of effort to create, will give you a deeper taste of the whiskey as you enjoy it.

Akkeshi has a climate similar to that of Scotland's Isle of Islay, the sacred land of whiskey, and an ideal environment for aging. Since the Akkeshi Distillery released its first single malt whiskey in 2020, it has won gold medals at competitions one after another. It is a remarkable distillery that is now trying to spread its wings to the world.

The whisky is made in the traditional Scottish way and has a slightly smoky flavor and a refreshing taste. It is a perfect match for oysters, a specialty of Akkeshi Town!

Sake can only be made in Hokkaido, a place of magnificent nature with mountains and rivers and an abundance of high-quality water.

Sake from Hokkaido is often junmai (pure rice) sake, which is characterized by its light, dry, and refreshing taste, making it a perfect match for Hokkaido's delicious seafood and other foods.

Some sake is made in ice domes to take advantage of the harsh winters, while others are made using water melted from drift ice.

Here are some of Hokkaido's representative sake breweries that sake lovers should definitely get to know.

Botanicals, the lifeline and key ingredients of gin, include roots, seeds, and citrus peels. The choice of botanicals greatly influences the flavor.

Recently, new craft gins using botanicals from Hokkaido, known for their strong and rich vitality, have been emerging.

"Shakotan Spirit," which opened in 2020 in Shakotan Town, Central Hokkaido, sells the craft gin "HONOHO," made with Shakotan botanicals. This authentic Japanese craft gin is produced in Shakotan, where the vegetation is similar to that of the UK. With a variety of botanicals, the aroma changes with temperature and concentration. Enjoy it straight, on the rocks, or with water.

At the "Niseko Distillery" in Niseko Town, Central Hokkaido, established in 2021 by a group company of Hakkaisan Sake Brewery in Niigata, the craft gin "ohoro" was introduced ahead of the whiskey sales planned for 2024. Using local Japanese mint from Niseko, it offers a robust flavor with a light citrus aroma. Enjoy a guided tour (reservation required) and gin tasting at the bar counter (for a fee).

For those who want to enjoy a variety of drinks, why not try bar hopping? The time spent wandering from one establishment to another in search of delicious encounters is the highlight of a night out on your travels.

Here are some of the top spots in Hokkaido.