Spot

During the middle of the Meiji period (1868-1912), vine growers in Katsunuma organized a cooperative to embark on wine making for the purpose of stabilizing the prices of the grapes they produced as well as promoting the consumption of locally produced grapes and wine. Members of the cooperative started a Wine Drinking Campaign to encourage drinking wine in everyday life, as well as on ceremonial occasions. This is why wine became a beverage closely related to the everyday life of the residents of Katsunuma.
The Daizen-ji temple operates the Kashiwa Winery in the temple's precincts. The chief priest of the temple himself makes wine in cooperation with local supporters of the temple. Wine is always served to visitors as well as offered to the deity when sacred rites are performed at the temple.
This fact indicates that wine culture has deep roots in Katsunuma.