The wine cellar is built into the hillside to utilize natural thermal stability for aging and storage.
The facility exclusively serves wines produced within Koshu City that have met specific quality standards.
The 'tastevin' tasting system is modeled after traditional French professional wine evaluation tools.
The complex includes a large, open-air hot spring bath designed to look out over the vineyard-covered valley.
Koshu is one of Japan's oldest and most historically significant wine-producing regions.
The site hosts a restaurant that specializes in pairing local Koshu wines with regional Yamanashi cuisine.
Katsunuma Budou no Oka is a hilltop complex in the center of Japan's Koshu Valley, specifically designed as a showcase for local Yamanashi wine production. The facility features an expansive underground wine cellar containing approximately 200 varieties of locally produced Koshu wine. Visitors gain access to the cellar via a standardized tasting cup (tastevin), which allows for self-service sampling of all available vintages. The site also functions as a multi-use leisure destination, incorporating a panoramic hot spring bath, an accommodation wing, and restaurants overlooking the surrounding vineyards. It sits on a prominent elevation that provides unobstructed views of the Kofu Basin and the surrounding mountain ranges. The facility is owned and operated by Koshu City to promote the regional viticulture industry. It acts as a central hub for the local oenology scene, hosting wines that have passed a rigorous quality screening process by the Katsunuma Wine Committee.
The terrace area overlooking the Kofu Basin and the vineyard-covered valley below.
Purchase the tasting cup early to maximize your time in the cellar, as there is no limit on how many wines you can sample.
If planning to use the hot spring, bring your own towel to avoid rental fees.
Visit the gift shop on the main floor to purchase bottles of your favorite samples discovered in the cellar.
Do not attempt to sample every single wine if you have a low alcohol tolerance, as the sheer volume of choices can be overwhelming.
Open daily; occasional maintenance closures occur, so check the official website before travel.
Do not drink and drive; designated driver programs or local transport must be arranged in advance.
