Iwami Winery [Sanbe-cho, Ota]

The first winery located in a national park in Japan, with an open-air restaurant

A vast grassland, Higashi-no-Hara spreads out at the foot of Mt. Sanbe. The area is designated as “Daisen Oki National Park.” It is a popular tourist destination where families gather on weekends to enjoy sightseeing from chairlifts, hot springs and other leisure facilities scattered throughout the beautiful scenery.

In 2018, the Iwami Winery was newly established here in Higashi-no-hara. The building with a modern space was transformed from the rest house of a former ski resort. In addition to wine production and sales, the winery offers wine tasting and delicious homemade sweets at an eat-in area. It is gaining popularity as a new tourist destination.

Miwa Ishihara, enjoying a drink, first tasted the original brand of Iwami Winery at the tasting area. Mr. Kazuhiro Sugimura, General Manager, recommended red, white, rose, apple, and various types of wine. She enjoyed the color, aroma, and taste while listening to his detailed explanation of each wine.

After the wine tasting, she had a special, unique lunch at the outdoor food court “Iwami-no-Mori Hoshizora no Restaurant (Stargazing Restaurant).” The lunch was “Iwami Yamakujirayaki Nabe.”＊Reservation required.

“Yamakujira” is the meat of wild boar from Misato-cho at the foot of Mt. Sanbe. Some people think that game dishes may have a peculiar taste. In fact, this local fresh Yamakujira has no such peculiarity and the more you eat it, the more you can taste the flavor of the meat. Either wine or beer can be perfect accompaniments. Miwa chose red wine and enjoyed the hot dish at the open-air restaurant in early winter.

The restaurant also equips each table with a stove to keep you warm. Iwami Winery plans to hold events for each season so that visitors can enjoy the illuminated winery at night and the brightness of the snow. Iwami Winery will continue to delight visitors with its different ways to enjoy the changing seasons.