3 November is the day Yamanashi Nouveau is allowed out of the cellar, and Katsunuma is where it is poured first.
Overview
Katsunuma, in Koshu city, is the centre of Japanese winemaking: the Koshu grape has been grown in this valley for centuries and the town has more wineries in walking distance of each other than anywhere else in the country.
The Yamanashi Wine Producers’ Association fixed 3 November as the release date for Yamanashi Nouveau – new wine from the native Koshu and Muscat Bailey A grapes – and the Katsunuma New Wine Festival at Budo no Oka is the event built around it.
When and where
The festival is held on 3 November every year, a public holiday, so in 2026 that is Tuesday 3 November, at Katsunuma Budo no Oka.
Nearest station: Katsunuma-Budokyo on the JR Chuo line, with shuttle buses on festival day.
Getting there
Katsunuma-Budokyo is about 90 minutes from Shinjuku on the Chuo line limited express to Kofu or Yamanashi-shi, changing to a local train. Do not drive: this is a tasting event and Japan enforces a zero-tolerance drink-driving law. Shuttle buses run from the station to Budo no Oka.
What to expect
Tasting across many producers in one place, with the vineyards below you.
- New-vintage wine from Koshu city wineries, poured on release day
- Tasting by the glass, with a festival glass typically bought at the entrance
- Koshu and Muscat Bailey A, Japan’s two signature grape varieties
- Views over the Kofu basin and the vineyards from the hill
- Budo no Oka’s own cellar, where a tasting cup gives access to a large tasting room year-round
Tickets and admission
Paid: you buy a glass or a tasting ticket, then taste across the participating wineries. Bottles are sold on site. Check the city’s announcement each year for the price and format, which change between editions.
Tips for visitors
Eat before you start and pace yourself – the pours are generous and the hill is a long way from the station on foot. Come by train, always. If 3 November does not fit, the Katsunuma Grape Festival in early October is the harvest-season alternative, and the Budo no Oka cellar is open all year.
Access and map
| Dates | 3 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Katsunuma Budo no Oka, Koshu, Yamanashi |
| Access | JR Katsunuma-Budokyo station, shuttle bus on the day |
| Admission | Paid tasting (glass or ticket purchase) |
| Official site | Koshu City |
Source: Koshu City official site
Image: Photo: Aw1805 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
