Wine Talent Yui's Recommended Shinto Shrines and Local Wines!

Hello! I'm wine talent Yui Chiyoda.

My family home is a Shinto shrine, and I am qualified as a Shinto priest. Currently, alongside my career in entertainment, I serve at the shrine when rituals and festivals take place.
I have an older sister, making us two sisters, and eventually we plan to inherit the shrine together.

So, having been born and raised at a shrine...
I simply love shrines!!
Besides the shrine where I serve, visiting shrines across Japan is my favorite hobby.

When you visit a shrine, it gives you such a refreshed, crisp feeling, doesn't it?
Also, there are so many shrines that have existed for hundreds or thousands of years, so visiting them allows you to learn about the local culture♪

For example,

Japan's Three Great Festivals:
attracting Gion Matsuri, Tenjin Matsuri, and Kanda Matsuri.

Not only are they cherished by local residents, but they also welcome countless tourists and draw attention from all around the world.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, festivals across the country were canceled across the board this year, but they will surely return from next year onward to pass down Japan's tradition of "matsuri." I am really looking forward to seeing festivals held again.

So with that,
this time, from my dual perspective as a Shinto priest and a Wine Expert,
I'll introduce my recommended shrines visited on my travels along with my local wine recommendations!

Naminoue Shrine can be reached in about a 10-minute drive from Naha Airport.
You can walk straight from the shrine right onto the beach! How delightfully Okinawan!

It is said to have been built near the sea back in the Ryukyu Kingdom era to pray to the sea gods for bountiful catches and rich harvests. Locals have long affectionately called it "Nanmin-san."

When you actually visit, the shrine building features a distinctly Okinawan color scheme. On the main island of Honshu, shrines don't usually feel very colorful, but Naminoue Shrine centers on a vermilion shrine building that brings joy just by looking at it. It is a rare shrine that inherits the culture of Okinawa's castles, "gusuku."

Above all, the most heart-fluttering detail is that the shrine's guardians are not komainu lion-dogs, but "Shisa"! It's a shrine where you can truly feel Okinawan culture loved by tourists as well.

This shrine offers various blessings such as household safety and rich hauls of fish, but recently it has also become popular among women as a romantic power spot♪

★ Wine to Drink at Your Destination

Local Specialty "Pineapple Wine?"

What I drank wasPineapple Wine Lagrima del Sol Slightly Dry 9% ABV 720ml / Nago Pineapple Winery /

https://shop.nagopain.com/products/detail/899

Purchased at Pineapple Park.

I used to think, "Isn't wine delicious precisely because it's made from grapes?!"—a notion that was completely shattered... Being able to enjoy a wide variety of production methods and philosophies is what Japanese wine is all about. Throw away your preconceived notions!!

People might think of pineapple as sweet, but this wine is dry with a subtle pineapple aroma that lets you enjoy a tropical vibe.
It pairs easily with the saltiness and bitterness of Goya Chanpuru, letting you enjoy the Okinawan mood to the fullest♡

Awamori is delicious, but pineapple wine is actually exquisite too! Please give it a try♡

This shrine is located near Fuji-Q Highland, which is famous for its thrill rides. It is about a 10-minute drive from Mt. Fuji Station. Situated at the foot of Mount Fuji, it is a shrine with a history spanning over 1,900 years.

The approach to the shrine is wide and wonderfully pleasant. The view is so breathtaking that all your minor worries just melt away.
Also, because Mount Fuji is nearby, the air is clean and deeply refreshing. There is a sacred tree over 1,000 years old, where you can feel its history and great spiritual power.

An unusual spot is the chozusha (water pavilion), where you wash your hands to purify yourself. The water at the chozusha next to the main worship hall comes from the snowmelt of Mount Fuji. It is clear, sparkling water that is even said to taste delicious if you drink it.
Once you step through the torii gate, it is a shrine where you can feel your body soaked in negative ions just by breathing.

The enshrined deity at Sengen Shrine is a goddess named Konohanasakuya-hime. She is famously known as one of the most beautiful goddesses in Japanese mythology! That's why she is said to be extremely popular among women looking for a marriage partner♪
If possible... I'd love to share in some of that good fortune. (laughs)

★ Wine You'll Want to Drink at Your Travel Destination

Yamanashi Prefecture boasts the highest wine production in Japan!! Lately, it's even referred to as the "Wine Prefecture."
Yamanashi has been pioneering Japanese wine culture since the Meiji period, and produces many different types of wine.
So deciding which wine to pick... can be a tough choice!

My top recommendation is a red wine made from Yamanashi's local "Muscat Bailey A". As an indigenous Japanese variety, it has a pleasant mouthfeel and is easy to drink even for those who don't usually drink wine.

Muscat Bailey A is characterized by a charming strawberry-like aroma and pairs well with slightly sweet savory sauces (tare).
To put it simply, it goes perfectly with yakitori sauce♪

At the foot of the shrine, Fuji Yoshida's local specialty "Yoshida Udon" is famous for having the firmest noodles in Japan. The broth is generally made with dashi blended with soy sauce and miso, giving it a rich, deep flavor. Topped with cabbage and horse meat, it is a local gourmet dish you can truly only taste here.
I love this broth, so whenever I go to Yamanashi, I always stop by to eat it before heading home.

And remarkably! Muscat Bailey A pairs wonderfully with this slightly sweet broth. Udon and wine is quite a fresh combination, isn't it?
Yoshida Udon has become hugely popular recently and is even sold as souvenir packages and cup noodles.
Dishes and wines made in the same region naturally pair well together, so please give it a try♪

Finally

Thank you very much for reading this far♪
This year, due to the impact of the coronavirus, I imagine many people haven't been able to travel and have spent their time staying at home.
For people who love traveling, the stress must be building up. I'm one of them too.

While we still can't let our guard down, why not carefully try taking a Go To Travel trip to a place you've wanted to visit, while maintaining social distance and avoiding the "three Cs"?

Boost your luck with shrines and local wine!! Please give it a try.
I hope your trip becomes a memorable one♪