Shimane Winery Guide: Free Tours and Wine Tasting near Izumo Taisha
Shimane Winery is a sightseeing winery in Taisha Town, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, about 2 km east of Izumo Taisha, where you can tour the wine production facilities, enjoy tastings, dine, and shop in one place.
Combine a visit with worship at Izumo Taisha to experience the region's food and craftsmanship as well.
Admission and factory tours are free, and the winery is open year-round.
Its southern European-style grounds, with rows of terracotta-colored roofs, bring together the winemaking building, the Bacchus tasting and sales hall, and the Château Misen barbecue restaurant.
How Izumo's Grape-Growing Tradition Shaped Shimane Winery
The winery began with local growers' desire to put their grapes to good use through processing.
During the Shōwa 30s (1955–1964), local growers increasingly called for a grape-processing facility to address fruit splitting caused by prolonged rain and poor coloration caused by physiological disorders.
Wine production using 100% Delaware grapes began in 1959 (Shōwa 34), and Shimane Winery opened at its current location in 1986 (Shōwa 61).
Taisha Town in Izumo City is one of Japan's leading greenhouse grape-growing areas, and Shimane Prefecture ranks among the country's top producers of Delaware grapes shipped from April through June.
Today, the winery connects grape growing, winemaking, and tourism while showcasing Shimane's agricultural products.
In 2008 (Heisei 20), it opened its own Yokota Vineyard in Okuizumo Town, formerly Yokota Town, in the Chūgoku Mountains.
In 2026, it received a 4-star rating at the Japan Winery Award 2026.
Looking beyond the southern European-style buildings to the agriculture behind them can deepen your interest in the wines on sale.
Can You Pick Grapes at Shimane Winery? A Place for Winemaking and Tasting
Grape picking is not available at Shimane Winery.
Think of it as a destination for watching the factory production process and choosing finished wines and local foods, rather than harvesting grapes in a vineyard.
If you would like to go grape picking, visit one of the nearby facilities introduced on the official website's nearby sightseeing page.
Even if drinking is not your aim, you can combine a look at the production process with a meal.
Shimane Winery's Free Factory Tour: What to See in the Winemaking Building
The winemaking building offers free admission with no reservation required, and you can explore freely during tour hours.
Tour hours are 10:00–16:30, and the self-guided format makes it easy to stop by at a time that suits your arrival.
On your first visit, seeing the production process before tasting or shopping can help you connect the products with their background.
See the Production Process in a Factory with 99 Tanks
The factory has outdoor and indoor tanks for storing grapes and wine, equipment for preparing the grapes, and bottling lines.
There are 99 tanks in total, both outdoors and indoors.
Along the tour route, follow the process that takes grapes through to bottled wine.
When looking at the large tanks and machinery, asking yourself what each piece of equipment holds or at which stage the wine is bottled can make the experience more informative than simply looking around.
Winemaking involves fermenting grape juice with yeast to produce wine, and preparing the grapes is the first stage of that process.
Check the Bottling Schedule to See Bottling and Grape Preparation
Bottling and grape preparation do not take place every day, so the production line may not be operating when you visit.
Bottling generally takes place irregularly on weekdays other than Wednesdays, while grape preparation takes place irregularly from June through early October.
Even on a scheduled production day, work may not be underway at every hour.
To see the work in action, check the official bottling schedule or contact the facility at 0853-53-5577.
Touring the factory does not always mean seeing production in progress—keep this distinction in mind when planning your visit.
Free and Paid Wine Tasting: Choose Shimane Wines at Bacchus
At the Bacchus tasting and sales hall, you can sample wines before choosing souvenirs.
Both free and paid tastings are available, so first check which option covers the wines you would like to try.
Free Tasting of About 10 Wines: Daily Selections and Grape Drinks
Free tastings feature about 10 wines, with examples including red, white, and rosé Budō Shinwa wines and white and red Original Sweet 12% wines.
Some of the free tasting selections change with the season, and nonalcoholic grape drinks are also available.
When tasting wine, gradually compare the differences that interest you, such as color, aroma, and sweetness on the palate.
Remembering the names of your favorites is more helpful for shopping than trying to taste as many wines as possible.
Paid Tastings at Wine Bar Bacchus: From 300 Yen per Glass
At the paid Wine Bar Bacchus, you can sit at the counter and try wines from the Special Series and higher ranges that are not included in the free tastings.
Special Series wines start at 300 yen, including Shimane Wine Enmusubi, made with grapes grown under contract in Izumo and Masuda cities.
The Premium Series Yokota Cabernet Sauvignon and Yokota Chardonnay, made with grapes from Yokota Vineyard in Okuizumo Town, are 600 yen each.
The wine bar is open 10:00–16:00 and closes earlier than the shop, so plan accordingly.
You can start in the free tasting area to discover your preferences, then check the paid menu for any wines you would like to explore further.
Available wines vary by season, so check the day's menu for both selections and prices.
Choosing Shimane Winery Souvenirs: Ask for Advice Based on Your Tastes
Alongside wine, the shop sells sweets made with wine and specialty products from Shimane and Izumo.
Items include Western-style and Japanese sweets containing wine, a wine-flavored version of noyaki, an Izumo specialty made from grilled fish paste, and wine glasses.
If you are unsure which wine to choose, explain the recipient's preferences or the dishes you would like to pair it with.
Choosing a focus for your questions, as below, can make products easier to compare.
| Your Preference | What to Say | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| You like sweet flavors | I am looking for a sweet wine. | Level of sweetness |
| You want a wine for a meal | Something that pairs with this dish. | Food pairing |
| You are sensitive to tannins | Something with less astringency. | Mouthfeel |
| You want to avoid alcohol | Products without alcohol. | Whether the product contains alcohol |
Use the Domestic Shipping Counter and Plan How to Take Purchases Home
At the Bacchus shipping counter, you can send wines and local specialties to destinations within Japan for an additional shipping fee.
Bottled wine is heavy and bulky, so shipping can be useful if you want to reduce the luggage you carry during your trip.
Before purchasing, ask whether delivery is available to your destination and discuss the arrival date.
If buying items to take home overseas, check your destination's customs information and your airline's guidance before choosing products that meet the import and baggage requirements.
Shimane Winery products are also available through its official online store.
Lunch at Shimane Winery: Shimane Wagyu Barbecue and Soft-Serve Ice Cream
If you would like to include food in your visit, consider Shimane Wagyu barbecue or grape-themed soft-serve ice cream.
You can also plan your visit around what you would like to eat, separately from wine tasting.
Enjoy a Shimane Wagyu Barbecue Lunch at Château Misen
The Château Misen barbecue restaurant is a dining facility where you can enjoy Shimane Wagyu beef and Shimane wine.
Its set menus feature Shimane Wagyu and are available for lunch as well as an early evening meal.
Opening hours are 11:00–17:30 on weekdays and 11:00–18:30 on weekends and public holidays, with last orders 30 minutes before closing.
The restaurant is divided into Building 1, Building 2, and the New Building, with capacity for around 500 diners.
Dining reservations are accepted by phone or email.
If there are ingredients you cannot eat, ask in advance about sauces and side dishes as well, rather than relying on dish names alone.
You can check the menu on the Château Misen page of the official website.
Choose Grape Soft-Serve Ice Cream at Shimarin Kitchen
Shimarin Kitchen, the frozen dessert counter near the main entrance of the Bacchus tasting and sales hall, offers options such as Kyohō grape, Delaware grape, and wine soft-serve ice cream, with varieties changing by season.
Soft-serve ice cream, including vanilla, is 450 yen per serving, tax included, and the counter is open 10:00–16:30.
Light snacks such as Shimarin Croquettes made with Shimane Wagyu and Shimane wine, at 220 yen each, can be enjoyed on the open-air terrace.
Some products contain wine, so check the ingredients and alcohol content when choosing items for children or anyone avoiding alcohol.
The Chardonnay bistro and café is closed for the time being.
If you were planning to eat at the café, take care not to visit assuming it will be open.
How to Get to Shimane Winery: From Izumo Taisha and Izumoshi Station, Plus Opening Hours
If you plan to taste wine, decide in advance how you will travel home without driving.
When combining your visit with Izumo Taisha or Izumoshi Station, checking transport and each facility's closing time together makes planning easier.
By Local Bus: Choose the Ichibata Bus Taisha Line via Shimane Winery
From Izumoshi Station or the Izumo Taisha area, you can take the Ichibata Bus Taisha Line service via Youme Town and Shimane Winery.
The journey takes about 27 minutes from Izumoshi Station or about 7 minutes from Izumo Taisha Bus Terminal; get off at the Shimane Winery bus stop.
Services on the same Taisha Line take different routes, so check that the bus stops at Shimane Winery rather than relying on its destination alone.
Check Ichibata Bus information for your travel date to confirm outbound and return times and service updates.
From Izumo Enmusubi Airport, take an airport shuttle bus to Izumoshi Station, a journey of about 30 minutes, then check the local bus timetable for your connection.
By Train: About a 15-Minute Walk from Hamayamakōen-Kitaguchi Station
The nearest Ichibata Electric Railway station is Hamayamakōen-Kitaguchi Station, about a 15-minute walk away.
As part of the journey is on foot, consider rain, heat, and how comfortably your companions can walk when choosing transport.
You need to arrange taxis yourself, so also think about how you will secure one for the return journey.
Staff can introduce nearby taxi companies if you ask.
By Car or Rental Car: Free Parking Available
By car, allow about 5 minutes from Izumo Taisha or about 20 minutes from Izumo Interchange on the San'in Expressway.
Parking is free, with space for 350 standard-size cars and 25 large buses.
Drivers cannot taste wine, so decide who will drive before setting off.
Opening Hours Vary by Facility: Check Each Closing Time
Factory tours run 10:00–16:30, while Bacchus is generally open 10:00–17:00, extending to 17:30 on weekends and public holidays from May through September.
The wine bar and dining facilities have their own hours, so not everything is available throughout the shop's opening hours.
The main opening hours are as follows.
- Factory tours (winemaking building): 10:00–16:30
- Bacchus tasting and sales hall: 10:00–17:00 (until 17:30 on weekends and public holidays from May through September)
- Wine Bar Bacchus: 10:00–16:00
- Shimarin Kitchen: 10:00–16:30
- Château Misen: Weekdays 11:00–17:30; weekends and public holidays 11:00–18:30 (last orders 30 minutes before closing)
Although the winery is open year-round, hours may be shortened on some days for equipment maintenance or other reasons.
Allow around 1 hour for a tour, tasting, and shopping, or around 2 hours if you also plan to eat at Château Misen, and work backward from each facility's closing time.
Before setting off, check the opening-hours notices on the official website and decide whether to tour and dine first or shop first.
Tips for Avoiding Crowds at Shimane Winery and the Autumn Wine Festival
Shimane Winery is close to Izumo Taisha and welcomes tour bus groups, so it can be busy on weekends during sightseeing seasons and long holiday periods.
If you plan to have lunch at Château Misen, ask in advance by phone or email about seating availability and dining times.
The Autumn Wine Festival is held in the fall; in 2026, it takes place on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, from 10:00 to 16:00.
Festival activities include tastings and sales of special wines, stage events, and an outdoor tent market, although activities and hours may change or be canceled due to weather or other conditions.
Parking may be crowded on event days, and shuttle buses also run to and from the Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo, so consider using public transportation.
For a quieter tour and tasting experience, plan your visit outside event dates.
Visiting Shimane Winery with Children or Nondrinkers
Combining grape drink tastings, a tour, dining, and shopping gives you options even when traveling with companions who do not drink alcohol.
No Wine Tasting for Anyone Under 20 or Anyone Driving
Japan's legal drinking age is 20, and drivers cannot take part in either free or paid wine tastings.
Decide on your driver in advance, and do not encourage nondrinkers to taste wine.
Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also refrain from wine tasting.
What you need to check before choosing products or traveling around the site depends on your companions.
| Companions | What to Check First | Ways to Enjoy the Visit |
|---|---|---|
| Families with children | Food ingredients | An adult should check before anyone eats or drinks |
| Nondrinkers | Products without alcohol | Focus on the tour and shopping |
| Wheelchair users | Accessible routes | Ask about the tour route in advance |
Nursing Rooms, Wheelchair Rental, and Accessibility of the Factory Tour Route
The facilities include a nursing room and diaper-changing stations, and wheelchair rental is also available.
Ask on-site staff if you would like to borrow a wheelchair.
Entrance ramps, wheelchair-accessible toilets, and ostomy-friendly facilities are also provided.
However, the factory tour route is not included in the barrier-free facilities.
If you need step-free access, do not assume the tour route is as accessible as the shop; ask in advance which areas you can use.
During your visit, also observe the following general tour etiquette.
- Stay within the designated visitor areas and avoid interfering with work.
- Check signs or ask staff whether photography is allowed, and be considerate about including other visitors in your pictures.
- Keep passageways clear in tasting and shopping areas, and share the space courteously with others.
Shimane Winery Facilities: Wi-Fi, Multilingual Information, and Visiting with Pets
Shimane Winery has free Wi-Fi hotspots where you can use translation apps and maps within coverage areas.
The official website's home page links to visitor information PDFs in English, Korean, and Chinese.
If you are not confident speaking Japanese, reviewing these before your visit can help you feel prepared.
Pets are allowed on the grounds but cannot enter the buildings.
Guide dogs and assistance dogs may enter the facilities.
Things to See near Shimane Winery
Around Shimane Winery, you will find places to explore Izumo's history and mythology, as well as experiences rooted in the area's grape-growing tradition.
Izumo Taisha: A Shrine of Relationships About 5 Minutes Away by Car
Izumo Taisha enshrines Ōkuninushi-no-Ōkami, a deity of relationships who draws worshippers from across Japan.
It lies about 2 km west of Shimane Winery, around 5 minutes by car or about 9 minutes by Ichibata Bus to Izumo Taisha Bus Terminal.
Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo: Next to Izumo Taisha's Eastern Side
The Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo, next to Izumo Taisha's eastern side, displays the Uzubashira pillars excavated from the shrine precinct ruins, along with bronze artifacts that include National Treasures.
The museum is on the same Ichibata Bus Taisha Line as Shimane Winery; check its official website for opening hours, closing days, and admission fees.
Nearby Grape Picking and Harvest Experiences: Roughly Early June to Mid-October
The area around Taisha Town in Izumo City is a grape-growing region, with nearby grape picking and harvest experiences generally available from early June through mid-October.
Operating seasons, reservation requirements, and prices vary by facility, so check each facility's official website for visitor information.
Planning Your Visit to Shimane Winery
Shimane Winery is a stop that adds winemaking and local food to your Izumo sightseeing itinerary.
Choose the factory tour, tasting, souvenir shopping, and dining experiences that interest you, and combine them to suit your companions.
Deciding in advance whether to taste wine and how you will travel afterward, then checking each facility's opening hours, will help you plan a comfortable visit.
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