A Historic and Precious Winery Beloved by Locals: Ushiku Chateau Today

Ushiku Chateau, located in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is Japan's first full-scale winery ever constructed.
The story of how it helped shape Japanese wine culture has been designated a Japan Heritage site, and its winemaking facilities from that era are also recognized as Heritage of Industrial Modernization by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Additionally, the chateau building, constructed in 1903 (Meiji 36), is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan and possesses a deeply atmospheric presence.

There is no doubt that it is a historically valuable winery.
In this article, we would like to share its history, its relationship with local residents, and the current charms of Ushiku Chateau.

It was built by the founder of "Kamiya Bar" (1-1-1 Asakusa, Taito City), famous for "Denki Bran," Denbei Kamiya.
This was Japan's first bar.
At a time when Western spirits were unfamiliar, the word "denki" (electric)—which was used back then to mean "something new" or "stylish"—was added to the product name. Created with a proprietary recipe that remains undisclosed to this day, "Denki Bran" reportedly gained so much popularity that it became an iconic drink representing Asakusa.

Driven by an unflagging passion to produce domestic wine, Mr. Kamiya later searched for land with a climate and terroir similar to Bordeaux. After extensive research on grape cultivation and winemaking, he established a winery in Ushiku—the first in Japan capable of large-scale, integrated production from grape growing to fermentation, bottling, and shipping.

The opening of the Joban Line, "Hachi-Jirushi Kozan Wine" and the boom in sweet wines such as this, along with rapid economic growth from the 1960s onward and increased international exchange from events like the Tokyo Olympics and Osaka Expo, helped support wine demand across Japan—not just at Ushiku Chateau.

However, in 2018, due to chronic deficits, the operating company decided to withdraw from the restaurant, retail, and winemaking businesses, leading to its closure. Refusing to give up on a historic winery that local residents held in such high pride, 25,000 petitions calling for its preservation were reportedly submitted by Ushiku citizens.
Moved by these heartfelt sentiments, Ushiku City worked tirelessly to revitalize Ushiku Chateau using various methods, including crowdfunding, successfully reopening it in June 2020.

Both past and present, it can truly be said that the chateau is a beloved symbol that energizes Ushiku and is cherished by local residents.

At Ushiku Chateau, with over 100 years of historyYou can enjoy French cuisine at the restaurant converted from a former storage cellar.
The brick building, retaining the charm of its past, has a delightfully nostalgic atmosphere, making a visit to the chateau worthwhile even if just for a meal.

Along with wines from Chateau Ushiku, you can also enjoy craft beer made in Ushiku.
In addition, the unpretentious French dishes made with local Ibaraki ingredients are delicious.

For the wines of the reborn Chateau Ushiku, not only the winemaking equipment but also the bottle labels have been completely revamped, with
"Ushiku Budoshu Merlot 2021"and"Ushiku Merlot 2021"being released in 2022.

While these wines have been stylishly refreshed, winemakers Mr. Ota and Mr. Notsu share, "First and foremost, we focus on standard winemaking without doing anything unnecessary." This approach feels like a dedication to establishing a true Ushiku flavor that everyone will love.

I have a feeling that wonderful wines will continue to be crafted here—wines that express the local climate and terroir, while allowing you to feel the civic pride continuously passed down from their predecessors.
I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the reborn Chateau Ushiku.

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