Ajimu — Touring Vineyards in One of Kyushu's Foremost Wine Regions

Gently spreading vineyards, fruit coloring in the autumn harvest, the warm hospitality of farmers—the Ajimu district of Usa City in Oita Prefecture is one of Kyushu's representative wine regions, making the most of the temperature differences characteristic of a basin. With a long history of grape cultivation, it is also known as a birthplace of green tourism. Through winery tours and farm-stay experiences, it is a richly flavored countryside where you can touch the blessings of the land and the lives of its people.

One of Kyushu's Foremost Wine Regions

Ajimu is located in a basin surrounded on all four sides by mountains in Usa City, Oita Prefecture. With large temperature differences between day and night and blessed with well-draining soil, this land is an environment suited to high-quality grape cultivation. Grape growing has flourished here since long ago, and winemaking using that fruit took root. The area's leading winery, Ajimu Budoshu Kobo (operated by Sanwa Shurui), produces distinctive wines using Ajimu-grown grapes, and the district is known as one of western Japan's notable wine regions.

Touring the Wineries

At Ajimu Budoshu Kobo you can tour the vineyards, brewing facilities, and cellars, strolling the grounds while learning about the winemaking process. A paid tasting corner beside the shop lets you compare several wines, and a cafe corner offers brandy soft-serve ice cream and grape juice. The view of the vineyards spreading over the hills is beautiful, changing with the four seasons. The autumn harvest period, with the fields colored by ripening fruit, is especially splendid. Limited wines and grape juice make welcome souvenirs.

Birthplace of Green Tourism

Ajimu is also known nationwide as a pioneering area of farm stays (green tourism), in which you lodge at a farmhouse and experience rural living. Enjoying farm work and making local cuisine together with residents, and spending time like family, offers a depth of flavor different from touring ordinary tourist spots. A journey to Ajimu, touching the rich nature and human warmth, will become a memory that stays with you.

Access & Basic Information

Ajimu Budoshu Kobo is only about a 5-minute drive from the Ajimu IC on the Usa-Beppu Road (which connects toward the Oita Expressway), making it easy to reach on a drive. By public transport there are route buses from the Beppu and Usa directions, but services are limited, so it is wise to check timetables in advance. The winery offers tours and shopping, with wine tasting available at a paid corner (drivers should refrain from tasting). Opening days and hours can change by season, so checking the official website is recommended.

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: Autumn, when you can enjoy the grape harvest and the new wine, is especially appealing. Early summer, when the vineyard greenery is beautiful, is also pleasant, and daytime hours suit a stroll.
• Time needed: About one to two hours for a winery tour, tasting, and shopping. Building in a farm-stay experience calls for an overnight itinerary.
• Avoiding crowds: Weekends during the harvest season draw more visitors. Weekdays and mornings tend to be more relaxed.
• Nearby real spots: The nationally famous Usa Jingu Shrine, the Innai stone bridges, and Torii Bridge are all within the same Usa City, and Beppu Onsen is within easy reach.
• Budget sense: Tasting is enjoyed at a paid corner. Allow for the cost of souvenir wine or juice. Drivers and minors cannot taste.

A Word of Advice

Because Ajimu's vineyards are dotted across the hills, traveling by car is convenient. After a winery tour, touring the Usa-Beppu area together with Usa Jingu, the Innai stone bridges, and Beppu Onsen lets you enjoy Kyushu's wine countryside alongside history and hot springs. If you want to taste, visit with a non-driving companion or stay overnight to savor it at leisure.

📚 Sources

For information on Ajimu's wine, the main references are the tourism guidance published by Usa City and the local tourism association, and the guidance of the representative winery, the Ajimu Budoshu Kobo (operated by Sanwa Shurui). Winery tours, paid tastings, and the acceptance of farm stays (green tourism) can be traced through such guidance. Business days and hours and the content of tours may change with the season, so please confirm the latest details through official sources before you visit. Drivers and minors cannot taste.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: A winery tour with tasting and shopping takes about 1 to 2 hours; if you include a farm stay, plan an itinerary with an overnight.
• What to bring: Tasting is done at a paid counter, so budget for wine or juice souvenirs; to enjoy tasting, visit with a non-driving companion or stay overnight, as drivers and minors cannot taste.
• Suggested route: At the Ajimu Budoshu Kobo, tour the vineyards, brewing facilities, and cellar, enjoy the shop and the tasting or cafe, then combine with Usa Jingu, the Innai stone bridges (such as Torii Bridge), and Beppu Onsen noted in the article for a loop of the Usa and Beppu area.
• Crowd tips: Weekends in the harvest season draw more visitors, so weekdays or mornings are more relaxed.