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Where to Buy Japanese Wine in Tokyo: 23 Shops & Urban Wineries

In recent years, the words "Japanese wine" have been showing up far more often on restaurant wine lists and in department store wine sections. Starting with Koshu from Yamanashi and Merlot from Nagano, wine made from Japanese-grown grapes is steadily gaining recognition. At the same time, we often hear people say, "I'm curious, but I don't know where to buy it," or "How is it different from the domestic wine I see at the supermarket?"

This article introduces 23 shops in Tokyo where you can buy Japanese wine (made only from grapes grown in Japan), chosen from the shops listed on this site and grouped by type: urban wineries, large specialists and long-established shops, natural-wine select shops, downtown liquor stores with kakuuchi (drinking in the shop), and liquor stores in the Tama area. First, let's sort out the surprisingly little-known difference between the labels "Japanese wine" and "domestic wine."

"Japanese wine" vs. "domestic wine": the labeling rules introduced in 2018

The first thing to know is the labeling rules. In the past, some products called "domestic wine" (国産ワイン) were made by processing and bottling imported grape concentrate or bulk wine in Japan. The national wine labeling rules introduced in 2018 (the Labeling Standards for the Manufacturing Process and Quality of Fruit Wine, etc.) are generally understood to have made it clear that only wine made in Japan from 100% Japanese-grown grapes may be labeled "Japanese wine".

In other words, not all wine made in Japan (so-called domestic wine) is Japanese wine. When you want a bottle made from Japanese grapes, check whether the label says "Japanese wine" (日本ワイン). Just looking at the label together with region names such as Yamanashi, Nagano, or Hokkaido makes choosing much more fun. All 23 shops below are places where you can find Japanese wine.

Buy at the winery: urban winery shops [5 shops]

At an urban winery's own shop, you can buy freshly made Japanese wine right where it was made. Tokyo's 23 wards have several wineries, all of which make wine from Japanese-grown grapes in the heart of the city. We cover this type in more detail in Tokyo Urban Wineries. A bottle chosen while chatting with the winemaker leaves a completely different memory, even if it's the same wine.

Tokyo Winery (Nerima-ku, Oizumi-gakuen) is a pioneer that in 2014 obtained the first winemaking license in Tokyo. Its signature is unfiltered, unfined "cloudy wine" (nigori wine) made from Japanese grapes, mainly grown in Tokyo. It has strong ties to local farming, such as suggesting pairings with Nerima vegetables, and on weekends and holidays you can enjoy tasting flights and lunch in the café space inside.

BookRoad (Taito-ku, Okachimachi) is a downtown winery that opened in 2017. It focuses on small-batch production from Japanese grapes, and you can taste two recommended wines at the shop. Winery tours are available by reservation, so you can see winemaking up close before choosing a bottle.

FUJIMARU Kiyosumi-shirakawa (Koto-ku) combines a winery on the first floor with a wine restaurant and tasting room on the second. Besides its own wines, it offers a selection of over 200 wines from Japan and abroad, centered on Japanese wine and covering both natural and classic styles. It's a place where you can have it all, from freshly made wine to Japanese wines from around the country, and the group's online shop also offers a strong selection of Japanese and natural wine.

Fukagawa Winery Tokyo (Koto-ku, Monzen-nakacho) opened in 2016 under the banner "a small winery in Tokyo's old downtown." It sells its own Japanese wine by the bottle, offers tastings at the adjoining tasting lab (from ¥300 a glass in the evening), and on weekends and holidays runs winery tours with tastings (reservation required).

Shibuya Winery Tokyo (Shibuya-ku, MIYASHITA PARK North 3F) opened in 2020 as Shibuya's first winemaking facility. Everything from crushing the grapes to bottling is done in-house, and in the adjoining dining area you can enjoy freshly made Japanese wine by the glass. Its location, easy to drop by while shopping, is second to none.

Choose from a wide selection: specialists and long-established shops strong in Japanese wine [3 shops]

If you want to take your time comparing regions and producers, head to a large specialist or long-established liquor store with deep stock. Instead of walking all over Tokyo looking for a Japanese wine specialist, at these three you can narrow down your choice from a wide range with the help of tasting facilities and professional staff.

The Cellar Toranomon Honten (Minato-ku, Toranomon) is one of the largest specialists in Tokyo, with about 2,500 items arranged like a library. Alongside Burgundy, it puts particular emphasis on about 300 Japanese wines, making it the first place to consider if you want to compare a large number of bottles. It is run directly by an importer in the Suntory group and was renovated in 2023 with a new name and interior. Besides a glass-walled wine cellar, it has a tasting room where you can taste at any time with a ticket system.

WINE MARKET PARTY Ebisu (Shibuya-ku, Yebisu Garden Place B1F) opened in 1994 and is one of the largest wine specialists in Japan, with over 2,000 wines. France, Italy, and the United States are its core, but it also carries a wide range of Japanese wine, and at the tasting bar you can try 16 to 20 or more wines by the glass every day. Besides the reassurance of consulting more than 30 qualified staff, it also stocks Japanese cheese, other food, and glassware, so you can get everything to go with your Japanese wine in one place.

Kimijimaya Ebisu (Shibuya-ku, atré Ebisu West Building 4F) is the Ebisu branch of Yokohama Kimijimaya, a long-established shop founded in 1892. It is a "select shop specializing in drinks to go with food," stocking Japanese wine alongside sake and shochu, and at its standing bar you can try a single glass. It's a 1-minute walk from the West Exit of Ebisu Station and open until 10 p.m., making it a reliable choice when you're looking for a bottle to go with Japanese food.

Discover Japanese wine at natural-wine select shops [5 shops]

Many Japanese winemakers lean toward natural winemaking, so select shops built around natural wine are also good places to find quality Japanese wine. The fun of this type is being able to compare vin nature from around the world and Japanese producers on the same shelf. If you want to know more natural-wine shops, see also 27 Natural Wine Shops in Tokyo.

Ginza Cave Fujiki (Fujiki Saketen) (Chuo-ku, Ginza) is a long-established liquor store, founded in 1889, that turned into a natural-wine specialist in 2010. Japanese wine is part of its selection of about 300 wines from France and Italy to Georgia, and you can choose with advice from a sommelier. It is located behind the Ginza Mitsukoshi New Building, is open every day, and also runs its own online shop, which adds to its convenience. Producer events and tastings are held from time to time in the in-store tasting space.

Sagamiya Honten (Taito-ku, Asakusa) is a direct importer of natural wine run by a shop with 130 years of history in Asakusa. As an importer-wholesaler that also sells retail, it uses its expert eye to stock natural wines from Europe (France, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Spain) and Japan, arranged by region. Its hours are fairly short, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Wednesdays and Sundays), so we recommend fitting it into an afternoon of exploring Asakusa. It also has an online shop.

Wine Shop JAJA (Shinjuku-ku, Kagurazaka) is a specialist built around French vin nature that it imports itself, along with natural wines from producers across Europe and Japan. It's open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, so you can pick up a bottle on the way home from dinner in Kagurazaka.

No.506 (Setagaya-ku, Kyodo) is a "neo-kakuuchi liquor store" with about 600 natural wines always in stock. It also carries wines from Japanese producers such as Domaine Tetta and Cave d'Occi, and you can drink the bottles you buy in the restaurant space at the back for a corkage fee of ¥1,800 (for entry by 3 p.m.; half price on full-moon days).

WINE SHOP nico Futako-tamagawa (Setagaya-ku, Futako-tamagawa) is a kakuuchi wine shop with a relaxed, café-like atmosphere (opened in 2018). Its selection ranges widely from Japanese and natural wine to fine wines and bottles for drinking at home, and at the kakuuchi counter you can taste wines, mainly new arrivals. It also runs an online shop, which is handy for buying a bottle you liked again.

Try before you buy at a kakuuchi: downtown liquor stores [3 shops]

The old downtown areas of Kinshicho, Oshiage, and Kiyosumi-shirakawa are dotted with liquor stores that have kakuuchi counters. Japanese wine varies widely from producer to producer, which makes it a perfect match for the kakuuchi style, where you can try a glass at the counter before you buy. These shops are also ideal for dropping by on a stroll.

IMADEYA SUMIDA (Imadeya Kinshicho PARCO) (Sumida-ku, Kinshicho PARCO Main Building 1F) is run by Imadeya, a long-established liquor store headquartered in Chiba. It displays Japanese and international wines, bought by visiting breweries and producers in Japan and abroad directly, in refrigerated cases, and in the adjoining food hall you can enjoy wine by the glass kakuuchi-style. It's open until 10 p.m., so it's easy to stop by after work.

Handa Saketen (vin de vin handa) (Sumida-ku, Oshiage) is a long-established liquor store a 3-minute walk from Oshiage Station. It keeps about 2,000 bottles in its basement wine cellar and carries a wide range from international wine to Japanese wine. At the in-store bar counter you can drink kakuuchi-style and taste wines (from ¥500 a glass), and it also holds kakuuchi events featuring Japanese wine.

Imadeya Kiyosumi-shirakawa (Koto-ku) is a sub-brand of the long-established IMADEYA and carefully selects about 100 sakes and wines combined. As a liquor store that carries Japanese wine, it is strong in sake and domestic wine, and you can have a standing drink at the kakuuchi before you buy. Combine it with FUJIMARU (above), also in Kiyosumi-shirakawa, and you can enjoy both a winery and a select shop in one day.

Find Japanese wine in the Tama area [7 shops]

Shops where you can find Japanese wine aren't limited to Tokyo's 23 wards. Along the Chuo Line, from Kichijoji and Mitaka to Tachikawa and Kunitachi, there are liquor stores full of character. You can also look for nearby shops on the Musashino/Kichijoji and Tachikawa area pages.

Osakaya Saketen (Musashino, Kichijoji-kitamachi) is a long-established neighborhood liquor store founded in 1923. It carries wine alongside sake and honkaku (authentic) shochu, and also runs an online shop.

Wine Shop Everyday (Mitaka) is a shop specializing in everyday wine, a 5-minute walk from Mitaka Station. Of its roughly 190 wines, nearly half are in the ¥1,000 range, and because they're arranged by style (white / red / sparkling / rosé, natural, orange, sweet) rather than by region, even beginners find it easy to choose. The owner selects the wines after tasting them, you can check them at the free tasting corner, and wine is also sold by measure.

AMEKAZE GREEN SPRINGS TACHIKAWA (Tachikawa) is a local-food select store from Fukushima, located in GREEN SPRINGS in Tachikawa. Its roughly 246 natural wines come mainly from family-run organic wineries, with plenty of everyday wines in the ¥1,000–¥2,000 range and Japanese wine. You can choose a bottle for your everyday table along with about 1,800 carefully selected food items.

Bic Shuhan Tachikawa (Tachikawa, right by the North Exit of Tachikawa Station) is Bic Camera's liquor store. Its strength is that you can get wines from around the world, plus food to go with wine, glassware, and wine fridges (home appliances), all in one place.

Un nouveau pas (Tachikawa) is a liquor store about a 5-minute walk from Tachikawa Station. It focuses on natural wines from around the world, also carries domestic wine and sake, and stocks natural-style sake such as that from Tsuchida Sake Brewery (it posts updates mainly on Instagram).

SAKE-BOUTIQUE SEKIYA (Kunitachi) is a long-established shop right by Kunitachi Station, founded in 1910. In a 2016 renovation it added a temperature-controlled wine cellar (about 12°C / 70% humidity) on the basement floor, where it keeps about 1,700 wines from around the world, making it one of the top all-around liquor stores in the Tama area. It also stocks about 200 sakes and about 200 craft and imported beers.

WINE SHOP Kawashima (Kawashima Shoten) (Kunitachi, at the entrance to Asahi-dori) is a long-established liquor store founded in 1927 (Showa 2). It carries everything from local Tama sake to wines from around the world, and the owner, who knows wine well, asks how you plan to enjoy it and suggests a bottle.

Tips for choosing Japanese wine

Check the label for "Japanese wine": The label tells you whether it is 100% Japanese-grown grapes and made in Japan. If in doubt, asking the shop staff is the quickest way.
Start with shops where you can taste: Japanese wine varies widely from producer to producer. Many of these 23 shops have tasting facilities, kakuuchi counters, or bars, so you can check the taste before choosing.
Visit an urban winery to hear from the winemaker: At shops attached to a winery, you can choose a bottle while hearing the story behind it. Harvest season (autumn) is when the winery is at its liveliest.
For gifts, go to a specialist with a deep selection: Large shops offer plenty of choice in regions and price ranges, and you can choose with advice from qualified staff, so you can't go wrong.
Use online shops for stores that are hard to visit: Many of these 23 shops run online stores. You can find them in the list of shops with online stores.

Buy straight from the winemaker at a winery, compare regions at a large specialist, or try a glass at a downtown kakuuchi before you choose: enjoying Japanese wine starts with choosing the shop. Start with whichever one catches your eye.

See all the shops and urban wineries in our English section, with the nearest station and opening hours for each.

*Information is based on official information at the time of our research and may change. Please check each shop's official information before visiting. You must be 20 or older to drink alcohol in Japan.