Shimane Prefecture is one of the largest grape producing regions in Japan.
Of all the kinds of grape harvested in Shimane, the Delaware grape is the most plentiful, in fact Shimane produces the most of any prefecture in Japan. The Delaware grape is loved as a table grape because of its sweet flavor, lack of seeds, and the ease of separation of the fruit’s flesh from the skin.
In Shimane, there are some grape farms where visitors can pick ripe grapes and either eat them on-site or take them home. The harvesting season for Delaware grapes begins in May, with the other kinds of grape following, one after the other, until Autumn/Fall. Peon grapes, which are called black diamonds, have a large and sweet fruit. Gigantic peak, which is called the ‘king of grapes’, is juicy and sweet. Shine Muscat grapes are very sweet and you can eat the fruit with outer skin still on. For its beautiful green-yellow color and sweetness, many patisseries in Shimane use the Shine Muscat to decorate sweets.
Sweet juicy fruit with color of emerald will slip out of the pale red outer skin.
Choose ones with white spots called ‘Bloom’ on the outer skins as the spots show the fruit have become sweet enough.
Address : 222-23, Naka-araki, Taisha-cho, Izumo city [map]
Fee : 700 JPY (※Need extra fee for grapes taken home)
Time : 9:00 – 18:00
Open between August and September
*There are three different grape farms at this location [map]
・Adachi Grape Farm
・Toda Grape Farm
・Nagashima Grape Farm
Address : Toda, Hirose-cho, Yasugi City
Fee : 1,000 JPY / 45 mitnutes (※Need extra fee for grapes taken home)
Time : 10:00 – 17:00
Open from the end of July to the middle of October
Address : I 735, Kanagi-cho, Shichi-jo, Hamada City[map]
Fee : 1,600 JPY/ kg of harvested grapes
Time : 10:00 – 16:00
Open from the end of August to the beginning of October
Address : 1261-3, Toda-cho, Masuda City [map]
Fee : 800 JPY (※No-time limit, must purchase picked grapes you intend to take home separately)
Time : 8:30 – 17:30 ( Closed : Wednesdays)
Open from the middle of August to the beginning of October
Address : 1237-3 Imazaike, Hikawa-cho, Izumo City[map]
Fee : 1,260 JPY / kg of harvested grapes
Time : 9:00 – 16:00 (Closed : Wednesdays)
Open from July to the beginning of October(※Reservation Required)
In addition, Shimane is home to wineries that use the locally grown produce to create delicious wines. At the two wineries, Shimane Winery (Izumo) and the Okuizumo Vineyard (Okuizumo), visitors can purchase these freshly made local wines. You can taste the wine before you buy, so relax, enjoy yourself, and find your favorite.
■Shimane Winery [map]
Address : 264-2 Hishine, Taisha-cho, Izumo City
Time : 9:30 – 17:00
■Okuizumo Vineyard [map]
Open : 10:00 – 17:00 (Closed : Tuesdays)
Address : 2273-1 Jiryo, Kisuki Unnan City
Access : 10 minutes by taxi from JR Kisuki Sta.