Sip wine on a winery terrace above the vines
Japan grows its own wine grapes in the cool hills of Yamanashi, Nagano and other regions, and some wineries let you taste by the glass on a terrace facing the vineyard. Sit with a glass in the afternoon light, then walk among the vines or peek into the cellar. Most are far from stations and drinking and driving is strictly banned, so come by train and take a taxi or bus for the last stretch.
A hillside winery in Yamanashi whose Fujimi Terrace looks over the vineyards to the Kofu Basin and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji. Try the wines one glass at a time at the tasting counter; there is no restaurant. It is closed on Wednesdays and is about 30 minutes by car from Kofu Station, which is about 90 minutes from Shinjuku by limited express train.
A winery in Azumino, Nagano, where a terrace looks straight out over its own vineyard, at its best on a sunny day. Pick a wine at the tasting counter, and you can also look around the vineyard and the barrel cellar. Hitoichiba Station on the JR Oito Line is about 15 minutes away by car, so take a taxi from there.
A winery in the hills of Ashikaga, Tochigi, north of Tokyo, surrounded by vineyards on slopes so steep they rise like a wall. Its cafe serves the winery's own wines with seasonal food, but you cannot book a cafe seat on its own, so allow time for a wait. From JR Ashikaga Station it is about 18 minutes by taxi, or take a local bus to the Coco Farm entrance stop and walk about 7 minutes.