Karuizawa wine tour with sommelier guide and private transport

Unno-juku post town tour, wine & beer tasting, vineyard lunch with expert sommelier guide

A private wine tour from Karuizawa led by Eriko, a certified sommelier and Nagano Terroir Guide, covering the historic Edo-period post town of Unno-juku, the Chikuma River Wine Valley's museum, and Villa d'Est Winery with its panoramic vineyard lunch. Your own driver handles transport so all guests taste freely. The guide pairs wines with seasonal farm-to-table dishes and explains the region's terroir, from its silk-farming past to its modern viticulture. Children from age six are welcome, and non-alcoholic pairings substitute for wine.

Step-by-step itinerary

Nagano wine tour and cultural visits

• Visit Unno-juku Edo-period town
• Explore Wine & Beer Museum exhibits
• Wine tasting at museum dispensers
• Lunch with wine at Villa d'Est Winery

The experience

Four to five hours takes you through three distinct stops that build a picture of Nagano's wine country. You start at Unno-juku, a preserved Edo-period post town on the historic Hokkoku Kaido highway, where you walk streets lined with authentic udatsu merchant houses and learn how the region's low rainfall and abundant sunlight once fueled a thriving silk industry, and now drives world-class viticulture. The connection between that past and the present wine culture is what makes the stop matter: geography shaped both.

Next comes the Wine & Beer Museum in Tomi City, the official visitor center for the Chikuma River Wine Valley. You sample a rotating selection of local wines and craft beers on tasting dispensers, discovering your preferences before the winery itself, and you gather context about the independent winemakers and the terroir that defines their work. This is where the region's craft and passion become concrete.

The day ends at Villa d'Est Winery, a pioneer of modern Japanese wine founded by essayist and painter Toyoo Tamamura. You sit surrounded by panoramic vineyard views and eat a specially curated seasonal lunch of farm-fresh local vegetables, herbs from the winery's own garden, and regional meats and seafood, each course paired with handcrafted Villa d'Est wines, or craft non-alcoholic pairings if you prefer. Your guide, Eriko, brings sixteen years of international flight-attendant hospitality and certification from the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, the prestigious Tastevin Wine Brotherhood, so the commentary carries both depth and warmth. A private driver means everyone tastes freely without driving worries.

Optional stops at Raiden Kurumi no Sato, a roadside station with local produce and walnut specialties, or Tsuruya supermarket for regional wines and exclusive private-label items, can be added on request. Your guide will arrange them if you want to shop for edible souvenirs.

What’s included

• Your own private driver and transport from Karuizawa.
• Eriko's guided commentary in English throughout the day.
• two wine tastings at the Wine & Beer Museum or one non-alcoholic drink.
• a specially curated seasonal farm-to-table lunch at Villa d'Est paired with estate wines or craft non-alcoholic pairings.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to Sunday

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Japan Go Round

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English fluently and brings sommelier expertise, so travelers comfortable with wine education and cultural context, rather than casual sightseeing, get the most from the day. The pace is entirely your own, and a private driver means all guests can taste freely without worrying about driving.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What is Unno-juku and why does the tour stop there?

Unno-juku is a beautifully preserved Edo-period post town on the historic Hokkoku Kaido highway, renowned for its traditional udatsu merchant houses and silk-farming heritage. The stop connects Nagano's prosperous past to its present wine culture: the same climate and geography that built the silk industry now drives world-class viticulture in the Chikuma River Wine Valley.

Can I taste wines if I don't drink alcohol?

Yes. The tour includes two wine tastings or one non-alcoholic drink, and Villa d'Est offers craft non-alcoholic pairings to accompany your seasonal farm-to-table lunch, so the meal experience stays complete.

Who is the guide and what is their background?

Your guide is Eriko, a certified sommelier, Nagano Terroir Guide, and Tōmi Wine Ambassador who spent sixteen years as an international flight attendant. She has guided for the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, the prestigious Tastevin Wine Brotherhood, bringing world-class hospitality and deep wine knowledge to the tour.

What does the farm-to-table lunch at Villa d'Est include?

The lunch features a specially curated seasonal menu of farm-fresh local vegetables, aromatic herbs from the winery's own garden, and premium regional meats and seafood, paired with handcrafted Villa d'Est wines. You eat surrounded by panoramic views of rolling vineyards.

What is included in the price and what costs extra?

The tour includes your private driver and transport throughout, Eriko's guided commentary, two wine tastings or one non-alcoholic drink, and the seasonal farm-to-table lunch with wine or non-alcoholic pairing at Villa d'Est. Meals beyond the included lunch, and optional stops at the roadside station or supermarket, are separate.