Kosaka Nanataki Winery is located in Uwamuki, with scenic spots and historical landmarks nearby. When planning your trip, the different time frames are especially important: Winery tours require reservations and are available only during certain seasons, while cherry blossoms bloom in early to mid-May and may vary from season to season.
Winemaking and Tours
Kosaka Nanataki Winery opened in 2017 next to Roadside Station Kosaka Nanataki. It makes Japanese wine from grapes rooted in the local area. Many of these grapes grow in the Tokito area on the Uwamuki Plateau—a connection between wine production and cultivation that gives the area its own ties to winemaking.
“Cellar Door Nanataki” is located right next to the Winery. Tastings are offered there, and the shop also carries most of the products made at the Winery. If you are planning a tasting, check availability before your trip. This distinguishes a visit to the shop from a booked Winery tour.
Winery tours are available by reservation through a form. Tour hours are from 10:00 to 15:30, with the last reservation accepted at 15:00. The Winery is closed on Tuesdays. In winter, it is closed from the second half of November through the end of March. Check booking information before your trip, especially if a visit is essential to your plans.
Fresh grapes are also part of the seasonal side of local viticulture: in autumn, they are sold directly in the fields and at Heartland Market. This is different from wine tasting or a booked Winery tour, and offers a direct connection to the harvest season.
Jukai Line and Cherry Blossoms
The 42.5-kilometer Jukai Line is a scenic road that is open year-round. It runs from Ōdate through central Kosaka and Nanataki to Hakka Pass on Lake Towada, offering scenic views in every season. As this does not provide information about current road conditions, it is advisable to check them before setting out.
Around 400 Beniyama cherry trees line the Jukai Line near Uwamuki, in the area around Roadside Station Kosaka Nanataki. They typically bloom from early to mid-May, though the actual timing may vary with seasonal conditions. The blossom season is therefore a natural event with variable timing, while the Winery’s winter closure covers a set period. Both details can help with timing your trip, but in different ways.
Nanataki and Tokito’s Cultural Heritage
Nearby Nanataki Falls is about 60 meters high. Its water cascades down seven tiers, with a watermill standing against the backdrop of the falls. The combination of the stepped cascade and the mill gives this natural setting an additional architectural feature, without requiring any particular amount of time for a visit.
In nearby Tokito stands the Towada-san Seiryū Daigongen monument, erected in 1832. It commemorates the legend that Nansobo drove Hachirotaro out of Lake Towada, transformed into a dragon deity, and sank into the lake. The area’s cultural landscape can thus also be understood through a traditional story connected with Lake Towada.
Tokito is also home to the remains of the former Tokito Mine, a reminder of the area’s mining history: one of the original two brick chimneys remains, along with a slag heap. The remains were designated a historic site by the town of Kosaka in 2002. The area around the chimney is closed to visitors, both because of the danger of falling bricks and because it is on private property. Please respect this closure and follow local notices.
Several seasonal opportunities can help you plan your trip: wine tastings and Winery tours have their own availability and reservation requirements, cherry blossoms depend on the weather, and fresh grapes are sold in autumn. Check the relevant dates before making these experiences a fixed part of your trip.
Discover more destinations: Yokote, Kosaka, Akita, Fujisato, Yuzawa, Noshiro, Yamamoto District, Kazuno.
For the broader travel overview: Akita Prefecture.
