Hokkaido Royalty: Ikeda Wine “Castle”

The Ikeda-cho Grape and Wine Research Institute was established in 1963 and are the first winery to be run by the government. The winery also goes by the name Ikeda Wine Castle, thanks to the building’s architectural similarities to a Middle-Age European fortress. Visitors can tour the winery’s aging barrels, which are used for maturing the wines, as well as the old vintage bottles in the castle’s underground cellar. The first floor of the winery is home to exclusive Ikeda Winery souvenirs, and guests can spend time tasting unique Tokachi wine.