Nestled in the picturesque highlands of eastern Nagano Prefecture, the city of Tomi is a little-known gem for wine and food lovers. This charming area between Ueda and Karuizawa is blessed with rich volcanic soils and a climate ideal for viticulture and gourmet craftsmanship. A visit to Villa D’Est Winery, on the eastern slopes just outside of town, offers a perfect gateway into these culinary delights, complemented by stops at neighboring wineries and specialty shops that showcase the region’s food culture.

Visit Villa D’Est Winery

Arriving at Villa D’Est Winery, visitors are greeted by sprawling vineyards stretching out against a backdrop of mountains. At the center of the estate, you’ll find the winery, café and gift shop, as well as a charming English garden where you can enjoy the sweeping views of the vineyards, the Chikuma River valley below, and the distant peaks of the Yatsugatake Mountain Range. The estate specializes in a variety of wines, like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. A guided tour of the winery, by reservation only, is held once a day on weekends and holidays, but for those unable to visit at the right time, the daily operations of the winery can be observed from the windows in the café and shop upstairs.

Access: 15 minutes by taxi from Tanaka Station.

Address: 6027 Kano, Tomi, Nagano

*If traveling by car, be sure to set a designated driver if you plan to have wine. Japan has a zero-tolerance drinking and driving policy, so even a sip of wine could put you over the legal limit, making it illegal to drive.

Dine at Villa D‘Est’s Café Restaurant

No visit to Villa D’Est would be complete without a full-course lunch at their on-site cafe, which pairs their wines with a gourmet menu crafted from locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Wines can be ordered by the bottle, glass, or half-glass, and the staff are all very knowledgeable about which wines pair well with your entrée. Whether indulging in a perfectly grilled Shinshu beef steak or savoring a delicate salad of local, seasonal vegetables, each meal is a celebration of the region’s rich agricultural heritage and will fit nicely with the wine of your choice. And while you dine, the beautiful views right out the large windows by your table make the moment absolutely perfect.

Before leaving, a stop at the winery’s gift shop is highly recommended. Here, guests can purchase their favorite wines alongside a number of gourmet preserves and other locally crafted delicacies, as well as a selection of tableware and other elegant kitchen items that make for excellent souvenirs or gifts.

Hop Over to Noranorah Farm & Winery and Rue De Vin

Beyond Villa D’Est, Tomi and its surroundings are home to several other notable wineries that make for a rewarding wine-tasting itinerary. Noranorah Farm & Winery, formerly the Hasumi Winery, and Rue De Vin right next door are two such places, both offering a much simpler and more casual wine tasting experience. Both stand out for their boutique approach to winemaking, with cozy tasting rooms that offer an intimate experience, where visitors can savor beautifully balanced whites and reds while engaging with knowledgeable staff about the nuances of each vintage.

Access: 12 minutes by taxi from Villa D’Est or Tanaka Station

Address: Rue De Vin, 405 Netsu, Tomi, Nagano; Noranorah Farm & Winery, 413 Netsu, Tomi, Nagano

Partake in Locally Produced Cheeses at Atelier de Fromage

Atelier de Fromage, a renowned cheesemaker in the region, is a paradise for cheese lovers. Producing artisanal cheeses that rival some of Europe’s best, this popular spot is the perfect place to sample and purchase fine cheese to accompany the wines collected along the journey. On site there is a small café on the deck and a shop, but next door, a newly renovated restaurant is scheduled to open in April 2025.

Access: 13 minutes by taxi from Villa D’Est or Tanaka Station; 6 minutes by taxi from Noranorah Farm & Winery or Rue de Vin

Address: 682-2 Mihari, Tomi, Nagano

Stop by Harvest Nagai Farm for Sweets and Coffee

If cheese and other dairy is your thing, a visit to the Nagai Farm Shop is a delightful way to experience local produce and specialty goods. Grab a waffle cone of soft-serve ice cream crafted from locally produced milk and for a great souvenir of your day, take home some of their excellent mozzarella cheese and fresh yogurt drink.

Access: 7 minutes by taxi from Villa D’Est or Tanaka Station; 10 minutes by taxi from Atelier De Fromage

Address: 8406-2 Kano, Tomi, Nagano

Shop for Last Minute Gourmet Goodies by Tanaka Station

Before you head home, there are several places around Tanaka Station where you can purchase last minute wines or locally produced delicacies.

Tomi Wine Chapel is one rather unique spot for both dining and wine shopping found at just seven minutes on foot from Tanaka Station. This charming little spot was once a wedding chapel run by the local agricultural cooperative before being converted to a wine shop and restaurant. Sit down here for a nice meal or simply browse their selection of fine wines for sale in their cool, dry, and quite snug little wine room.

Meat lovers should not miss Sausage Ham-O, a specialty sausage maker that has earned a reputation for its expertly crafted cured meats. Using traditional European techniques, Sausage Ham-O produces a variety of sausages and hams that pair exceptionally well with the region’s wines and cheeses. Take out is always available, but if you want to eat in, you must make a reservation.

And for some local sweets, just couple doors away is Okashidokoro Hanaoka, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop, offers an exquisite selection of wagashi (Japanese sweets), each delicately made to highlight seasonal flavors and textures.

Access: From Tanaka Station, 2 minutes on foot to Sausage Ham-O or Okashidokoro Hanaoka, and 7 minutes on foot to Tomi Wine Chapel; By car, parking is available at Okashidokoro Hanaoka (you may park here for Ham-O as well).

Address: Tomi Wine Chapel, 63-4 Tanaka, Tomi, Nagano; Sausage Ham-O, 190-1 Tanaka, Tomi, Nagano; Okashidokoro Hanaoka, 179 Tanaka, Tomi, Nagano

Access to Tomi

Located in Eastern Nagano, Tomi is easily accessible from Karuizawa, Ueda and Komoro via the Shinano Railway train line. From Karuizawa, it is 42 minutes by train, and from Ueda or Komoro, it is 10 minutes by train.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking for a full-course meal or just a simple opportunity to sit down and sample local vintage, a visit to Tomi has a lot to offer. From the refined elegance of Villa D’Est Winery to the charming stops at Noranorah Farm, Rue de Vin, and local artisanal shops, Tomi offers a culinary adventure that will linger long after your journey ends!