“Funao Winery” is located in Funao, Kurashiki City.
It is famous for its wine made from the “Muscat of Alexandria,” the queen of grapes.
I heard that the “Winery Cherry Blossom Festival” would be held here, so I went to find out more.
The information provided was current when this article was published in March 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the “Winery Cherry Blossom Festival”?
The “Winery Cherry Blossom Festival,” which began in 2017, will be held for the fifth time in 2025, following cancellations during the period of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The festival is held to introduce Funao Winery, a little-known cherry blossom spot, to more people. It features not only sales of the winery’s products, but also performances by local residents and local vendors.
There are around 100 cherry trees around Funao Winery.
Many vendors gather for the festival, held over two weekends during cherry blossom season.
- Stage performances by taiko drummers and bands
- Delicious food and sweets from shops and food trucks in the Funao and Mabi areas
- Freshly harvested vegetables
- Wine by the glass and soft-serve ice cream for sale
On the day, there will also be a prize drawing for every ¥2,000 spent on products at the winery shop. Prizes include wine, juice, jam, shopping discount vouchers, and more.
The programs and vendors differ between the first weekend (March 29–30) and the second weekend (April 5–6).
See the flyer images below for details.
“Cherry Blossom Wine” beneath the cherry trees
As a new product, Funao Winery is selling a dry “Cherry Blossom Wine” brewed with yeast collected from cherry blossoms.
It was developed jointly with Okayama University of Science and is the winery’s first wine made with natural yeast. The number of bottles is still limited, so it seems best to buy early.
The hills around the winery are also a birdwatching trail. You can enjoy delicious food and drinks beneath the cherry trees while listening to the songs of various birds.
Swallows had also come to the shop and were busy building a nest.
Lots of delicious food
Many popular shops and food trucks will come on the day, mainly from the local Funao and Mabi areas.
There will be a wide variety of items, changing daily, including filled rolls, okowa (sticky rice), bento, yakitori, okonomiyaki rolls, fruit sandwiches, and cookies. Check the flyer and plan your visit for the day your favorite items are available.
Of course, Funao Winery will also offer wine by the glass, as well as Muscat soft-serve ice cream and juice, popular with children and drivers. You can also sample the wine.
Celebrate hanami at Funao Winery this year
When I visited, the buds had just begun to open, but there were many cherry trees of different varieties and sizes around the winery. I’m sure many blossoms will welcome visitors on the day of the festival.
The cherry trees at Funao Winery are found not only around the buildings but also on the slopes of the surrounding hills.
You can relax under a tent in the winery garden, or sit on a bench on the hillside and look down through the cherry blossoms at the grape greenhouses and buildings. There seem to be many ways to enjoy the blossoms.
The festival gave me the feeling that more people will visit this spot as a new cherry blossom destination in Kurashiki.
Welcome to Funao Winery, a hidden cherry blossom spot
Nami Sokai, public relations representative at Funao Winery Co., Ltd., who planned the “Winery Cherry Blossom Festival,” told us:
Sokai
This is the only time of year when you can enjoy cherry blossoms and wine together.
Please enjoy Funao Winery’s wine and juice with some delicious food.
The blossoms will be at different stages depending on when you visit. The first week will be the start of the bloom, the second week will be full bloom, followed by a carpet of cherry blossoms covering the ground... The weather and wind direction can create a different atmosphere even in the same place.
Please come as often as you like, with your family or friends—or on your own.
From the Writer
I had visited Funao Winery many times, but had never realized there were so many cherry trees. I found myself eager to visit the festival, imagining how beautiful the mountain would be when the cherry trees were in full bloom.
The shop is open even on days when there are no events, and you can sample and purchase products.
Manager Jogo told me, “Bring a bento, find a spot you like, and enjoy the spring while taking in the cherry blossoms at your leisure.”
Why not visit the “Winery Cherry Blossom Festival,” a new cherry blossom destination in Kurashiki?
Winery Cherry Blossom Festival details
| Name | Winery Cherry Blossom Festival |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31, 2025 Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Location | 611-2 Mizue, Funao, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free admission ※Food and drink costs are extra |
| Website | Funao Winery Official Website |
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