Ushiku Chateau in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, is home to beautiful brick architecture dating from the Meiji era.
On Saturday, March 7, the Ibaraki Wine Festival will be held there, co-hosted by Ibaraki Prefecture and the Wine Culture Japan Heritage Council.
Ibaraki now ranks sixth in Japan for the number of wineries, with 13 operating in the prefecture, making it one of the country’s most energetic emerging wine regions.
Let’s look at what the event has to offer.
Wine Talk with Yuki Kashiwagi and Mitsuhiro Anzo, Ibaraki Ambassador
Former AKB48 third-generation member Yuki Kashiwagi will visit Ushiku Chateau on the day.
She will take part in a talk show about wine and Japan Heritage with Mitsuhiro Anzo, an Ibaraki Ambassador. Their very different perspectives should make the session appealing both to Kashiwagi fans and wine lovers.
【Venue: Chateau Garden inside Ushiku Chateau】
(Rain venue: Grand Hall, 2F Main Building)
*Admission in order of arrival; photography and recording prohibited
11:00–11:45 (scheduled)
Nine Ibaraki Wineries Scheduled to Exhibit
Nine wineries from across the prefecture will present their wines.
Ibaraki’s wineries are spread across areas including Hitachiota, Tsukuba and Ushiku, with a diverse range from award-winning bottles to rare wines that remain little known outside the region.
It is reportedly the first time so many Ibaraki wineries have gathered together within the prefecture, making this an efficient opportunity to sample a broad range of wines.
＜Participating Wineries＞
・Ushiku Chateau Winery (Ushiku)
・Ushiku Brewery (Ushiku)
・Bee’s Knees Vineyards & Winery (Tsukuba)
・Kurihara Winery (Tsukuba)
・Tsukuba Winery (Tsukuba)
・Buryu Winery (Hitachiota)
・Sakaimachi Farm & Winery (Sakai)
・Hiyama Shuzo (Hitachiota)
・Arai Kuma Winery (Mito)
Visitors can also casually enjoy foods produced in Ibaraki.
＜Selected Local Restaurants and Ingredients＞
・Kyoyuuzen Hanamiyako
・Ristorante Tsumu
・Ibaraki Hitachi Beef Promotion Association
・Hitachi no Kagayaki Promotion Council
・Hitachi-no-Kuni Masaba Producers Council
Photo is for illustration. Wines served on the day may differ.
5th Ushiku Chateau Japan Heritage Festa Held at the Same Time
Nine organizations from Japan Heritage councils around the country will exhibit, and brochures covering more than 40 heritage stories will be distributed, providing a broad introduction to Japan Heritage.
One striking feature of the festa is the sheer variety of content.
From wine to Anpanman, visitors of all ages should be able to spend an entire day enjoying Ushiku.
Special Talk Show
【Venue: Chateau Garden Stage】
(Rain venue: Grand Hall, 2F Main Building)
*Admission in order of arrival; photography and recording prohibited
11:00–11:45 (scheduled)
《Special Guests》
Yuki Kashiwagi (talent), Mitsuhiro Anzo (Ibaraki Ambassador), Kazutoshi Numata (Mayor of Ushiku)
Japan Heritage Quiz Stamp Rally
【Reception: beside Chateau Garden Terrace】
Tour the venue and answer quizzes. Original gifts are available.
Japan Heritage PR Corner
【Venue: Chateau Garden and Oenon Museum】
Information from Japan Heritage organizations across the country will be available.
First Public Display of Ushiku City-Designated Cultural Properties
【Venue: Oenon Museum】
Cultural properties newly designated by Ushiku City in 2025 will be specially shown to the public for the first time.
Free Chanko
【Numbered-ticket distribution: Chateau Garden Stage】
100 servings of Nishonoseki Stable-support chanko will be given away free. *Tickets distributed after the opening ceremony.
Local Food Corner
【Venue: Chateau Garden, Hachitonken and others】
Plenty of warming local foods will be available.
Municipality and Organization PR / Specialty Product Sales
【Venue: Chateau Garden and others】
Mascot characters from municipalities in southern Ibaraki will also appear.
Stage Program
【Venue: Chateau Garden Stage】
● Soreike! Anpanman Show
【Venue: Chateau Garden Stage】
Times: 10:30 and 14:00
*Free viewing
*Program may be changed or canceled due to circumstances.
《Participating Organizations》
Council for Promoting World Heritage Registration of Educational Heritage (Mito)
Kasamashiko Japan Heritage Revitalization Council (Kasama)
Kakaa Denka Gunma Silk Story Council (Gunma)
Japan Heritage “Noto, the Peninsula Where Lights Dance — The Passion of Kiriko Festivals” Revitalization Council (Ishikawa)
Kyoto Wine Resort Promotion Council (Yamanashi)
Koshin Jomon Culture Promotion and Revitalization Council (Nagano and Yamanashi)
Tatebayashi City Japan Heritage Promotion Council (Tatebayashi)
Japan Heritage “Soto Story” Promotion Council (Hachioji)
Shosenkyo Regional Revitalization Promotion Council (Kofu)
Event Overview
5th Ushiku Chateau Japan Heritage Festa / Ibaraki Wine Festival
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10:00–15:30
*Held in rain, with program changes
Venue: Ushiku Chateau
3-20-1 Chuo, Ushiku, Ibaraki 300-1234
About one hour from Ueno Station on the Joban Line, then a five-minute walk from the station.
Why not spend a spring day on March 7 enjoying Ibaraki wine and discovering Japan Heritage?