As part of the iEXPerience Program, students from iCLA visited the vineyard of Monde Winery in Akeno, Hokuto City, to explore Yamanashi’s rich viniculture heritage through a hands-on learning experience.
Organized by iCLA, the iExperience Program offers students opportunities to deepen their understanding of Yamanashi’s history, culture, and local industries through firsthand experiences. By combining learning with practical activities and guidance from experts, the program encourages students to connect classroom knowledge with the region’s traditions and the people who sustain them.
Yamanashi has a long history of grape cultivation dating back to the Nara Period (710–794 AD), when a monk planted the first grape seeds in the area. Grapes are said to have been introduced to Japan from China via the Silk Road. Winemaking came to Japan later, during the Meiji Period. Japan’s very first winery was opened in Katsunuma, Yamanashi. Today, Yamanashi is renowned throughout Japan for its grapes and wine. Home to approximately 100 wineries, the prefecture accounts for around 30 percent of the country’s wine production. It is also Japan’s leading grape-producing region, harvesting more than 43,000 tons of grapes annually.
Monde Winery was established in 1952 (known as Touhou Winery at the time). The winery is particularly known for pioneering wine in portable aluminum bottles with screw caps, reflecting their commitment to making wine more casual and accessible to consumers. Monde Winery’s dedication to quality is also evident in its numerous award-winning wines. Their vineyard located in Akeno provides optimal conditions for grape cultivation, with good soil conditions, abundant sunshine, and significant temperature differences between day and night.
Before visiting Monde Winery’s vineyard, students attended a lecture by Professor Ryo Furuya from the Faculty of Business Administration. Professor Furuya provided an overview of Yamanashi’s agricultural industry, covering its history, current trends, and challenges. Students learned about the prefecture’s major agricultural products, including peaches, plums, corn, Koshu Wine Beef, and Fujinosuke Salmon, but especially highlighting Yamanashi’s production of grapes. Professor Furuya explained how the popularity of Yamanashi’s grapes across the country has influenced the prefecture’s agricultural industry. He also discussed how consumer preferences and profitability have influenced farmers’ decisions to cultivate certain varieties of grapes.
This introduction gave students valuable context for understanding the region’s viniculture industry before experiencing it firsthand at the vineyard. Guided by Monde Winery staff, students learned the techniques involved in harvesting grapes and worked alongside Professor Furuya’s seminar students in the Faculty of Business Administration. The group harvested Merlot grapes, which Monde Winery will use to produce grape juice. Although the vineyard primarily cultivates grapes for winemaking, the winery also grows table grape varieties such as “Madonna no Houseki” and “Waga Michi”.
Through this hands-on activity, students gained practical insight into the care required for growing grapes. They carefully selected the grapes, removing damaged or unsuitable fruit to ensure that only the best grapes were used for juice production. Working together, the students successfully harvested an impressive total of more than 40 crates of grapes. The experience allowed them to appreciate the knowledge, skill, and attention to detail that contribute to the high quality of Yamanashi’s grapes.
Beyond the vineyard, students also enjoyed sharing conversations with new friends over lunchtime bento and eating delicious Shine Muscat grapes grown by Monde Winery. Students received Shine Muscat grapes and sparkling wine produced by Monde Winery to take home.
By combining an academic lecture with direct participation in grape harvesting, the visit offered students a deeper and more personal understanding of Yamanashi’s viniculture industry. Students were able to engage with local practitioners and gain a greater appreciation of the work behind the products for which the prefecture is known.
Links
Students Experience the Art of Ikebana at On-Campus Workshop
Experiencing the Power of Wadaiko at Local Yamanashi High School
Viniculture Learning Experience at Yamanashi Winery
Students Practice Zen Mindfulness at Buddhist Temples with Professor William Reed