Coco Farm and Winery

Founded in 1950 as a boarding school for underachieving kids, it gradually evolved into a self-supporting vineyard, produced its first wine in 1980, established ties with Sonoma vineyards, then hired a California vintner, and provided the sparkling wine for the G7 summit in Okinawa in 2000. Per-glass prices range from ¥300 to ¥1000, with a variety of hors d'oeuvres at a similar range of prices. A sample of three wines and matching hors d'oeuvres can be ordered for ¥2000. Winery tours cost ¥500 per person; five Coco Farms wines can be sampled for ¥500.

• family

Address

Tajima-cho 611

Getting there

deep in a valley north of Ashikaga; by car take Route 293 north and follow the Coco Farm signs; by taxi from JR Ashikaga, budget ¥2000 each way

Hours

Gift shop open daily 09:30 to 17:30; cafe open daily 11:00 to 16:00; winery tours at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00; closed 31 December through 2 January

Website

cocowine.com (opens in a new tab)