3 Must-Try Japanese Grapes From Nagano - Japan’s Grape Kingdom!

*This article was sponsored by Nagano Prefecture.

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What Sort of Place Is Nagano?

Located in central Japan, Nagano Prefecture is the 4th largest Japanese prefecture by area and one of its most mountainous. Its capital is Nagano City, a mid-sized urban hub of around 360,000 residents. Through the prefecture runs the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train, linking Nagano Station to Tokyo Station in just over 1 hour and 20 minutes at the quickest.

Nagano is best known for the skiing mecca of Hakuba and the snow monkeys of Jigokudani. It’s also a time capsule of old world Japan, seen at historical sites like Matsumoto Castle, whose castle tower was built before the Edo Period (1603-1868) and is one of just 12 in Japan that have remained intact since; and Narai-juku, a former inn town on the ancient Nakasendo trail. Nagano’s remote highland of Kamikochi is also popular with hikers and campers seeking adventure in untouched wilderness.

Nagano Prefecture is also one of Japan’s leading fruit regions. Its spacious land and pristine environment, along with long sunlight hours and large temperature differences between day and night, make it well-suited for growing a wide range of top-quality fruit and other produce. Nagano has also developed a number of original fruit varieties, including apples, pears, plums, and grapes boasting unique flavors and textures.

What Kind of Grapes Are Grown in Nagano?

Nagano Prefecture is Japan's second-largest grape-producing region, and is best known for the varieties Nagano Purple, Queen Rouge®, and Shine Muscat. Each of these Nagano grapes has its own distinctive color and taste, and can be eaten whole without worrying about seeds. Let’s break down their traits!

・Nagano Purple (Early to Late September)

The luscious sweetness of Nagano Purple has cemented it as Nagano's go-to grape. It was born in Nagano by crossbreeding Japan’s famous Kyoho grape with the Rizamat, yielding a springy, bulky body with a beautiful dark purple sheen. Its low acidity and smooth aftertaste make Nagano Purple a favorite for those averse to sour flavors. It also doesn’t have any seeds and can be eaten whole with the skin.

・Queen Rouge® (Mid-September to Early October)

Created in 2021, Nagano’s new Queen Rouge® radiates a glowing red hue with an elongated shape. It was developed from the Shine Muscat grape, another of Japan’s most famous grapes, ramping up its sweetness while retaining the original invigorating aroma. Red grapes able to be eaten whole are notoriously difficult to cultivate, and there aren’t many that are seedless, so be sure to try it!

・Shine Muscat (Early September - Late October)

Shine Muscat is one of the most in-demand Japanese grapes, loved for its shiny light green skin, mellow fragrance, and refreshing sweetness. Though not created in Nagano, Shine Muscat grapes cultivated in the prefecture have an enhanced flavor profile and aroma thanks to the efforts of local farmers.

Along with these three varieties, those hankering for more grapes in Nagano have plenty to gorge on, including Japanese classics like Kyoho and Pione. While the freshest are concentrated around September, breakthroughs in cultivation and storage have extended the Nagano grape season from June to December, granting plenty of leeway to get your fill.

You can find Nagano grapes at local farm-direct shops, farmers markets, fruit vendors, or supermarkets all throughout the prefecture. Sweettooths can also have them in parfaits atop towering scoops of ice-cream at cafes and dessert stores. And if you’re visiting Nagano outside the grape season, there are ample snacks and sweets made with Nagano grapes available year-round, ideal for long-lasting souvenirs to bring back home.

Coinciding with the Nagano grape season are also other local goodies like Nansui (pears), Shinano Pearl (plums) and several kinds of scrumptious apples, offering plenty of other original Nagano fruits to discover.

Where Are Nagano Grapes Grown?

To learn more about Nagano grapes, we ventured out to one of Japan’s most esteemed vineyards in Nakano, a small rural area situated in a basin just above Nagano City. While grapes are grown all throughout Nagano Prefecture, many of the highest grades are found in Nakano, owing to its perfect grape-growing climate.

To give Nagano grapes their trademark sweetness, a significant drop in temperature is needed between day and night. Nakano’s long sunlight hours let grapes convert sun rays into ample starch during the day, then its elevation brings down the temperature to just the right degree at night, turning the starch into sugar.

While a popular skiing destination in winter, our midsummer visit to Nakano saw the area enveloped in rich greenery, and the farms that made up the rural landscape were growing fresh and delicious fruit, promising a bountiful harvest in the fall. Nagano Prefecture boasts one of the longest life expectancies in Japan, and with its pristine air and wholesome food, the reason behind its healthy residents was clear.

We visited Shimizu Orchards, whose owner Mr. Shimizu took us on a tour of the grape farms. In the muggy greenhouses, he explained to us how, instead of mass-production, they carefully grow a limited number of high-quality grapes, shielded from pests and the elements by individually wrapped bags.

After work begins in April, the grapes are grown and monitored by Mr. Shimizu and his team until their June bloom. Their efforts are then concentrated on pruning to ensure each has the maximum amount of nutrients for the September harvest.

According to Mr. Shimizu, pruning is the hardest job, as they need to cut down the over 100 grapes that grow on a vine to just around 30. While anyone can do this, it takes the honed skills of farming masters like Mr. Shimizu to make neat, uniformed bunches.

Once they’ve been picked, the grapes undergo a final check for sugar content and taste, protecting their esteemed reputation. Seeing all the effort farmers at Shimizu Orchards put into producing delicious grapes doubled our appreciation for them, and we felt blessed to be able to see and taste these luxurious fruits for ourselves.

Enjoy Nagano Grapes In Singapore!

Between September 14 to October 4, 2024, Nagano grapes will be on sale at 16 DON DON DONKI stores in Singapore. If you live in Singapore, or are planning to be there during this period, be sure to stop by! Top-quality Japanese grapes delivered fresh from Nagano will be in stock everyday during the event, while free grape samples are available on weekends. Plus, 3 stores will also have delicious sweets made with Nagano grapes.

The DON DON DONKI stores selling Nagano grapes are as follows:
・Suntec City: Located inside the Suntec City mall in Marina Centre.
・HarbourFront Centre: In a bustling shopping mall on the coastline.
・Tiong Bahru Plaza: In a shopping mall near the city area easily accessible via public transport.
・City Square Mall: One of the biggest DON DON DONKI stores. 
・Square2: A large mall with over 200 stores & eateries.
・Paya Lebar Quarter: An innovative culture and shopping hub. 
・Downtown East: One of the largest lifestyle and entertainment centers in Singapore’s east.
・Jurong Point: A large suburban shopping mall with a Japanese food street.
・Orchard Central: The first DON DON DONKI in Singapore, located in the city center.
・100 AM: Located in one of Singapore’s busiest office districts; a popular spot for lunch and dinner. Nagano grape sweets available.
・Clarke Quay Central: Surrounded by clubs and bars; popular with both travelers and locals.
・Jem: West Singapore’s flagship DON DON DONKI.
・Tampines 1: East Singapore’s flagship DON DON DONKI.
・Waterway Point: Situated in an east Singapore shopping mall popular with kids.
・Northpoint City: North Singapore’s flagship DON DON DONKI. Nagano grape sweets available.
・Jewel Changi Airport: In a mall connected directly to the airport. Nagano grape sweets available.

Find out more about DON DON DONKI in Singapore here: https://www.dondondonki.com/sg/

Gorge on the Best Japanese Grapes in Nagano

If you’re visiting Japan during the grape season, adding Nagano to your itinerary will not only grant you access to a bunch of Japan’s top destinations, but will let you fill yourself up with ripe and delicious Nagano grapes along the way! For those who can’t make it, Nagano grapes can also be purchased outside Japan for a limited time at DON DON DONKI in Singapore, so be sure to keep a lookout!