Miyako-en is the name of the Miyazaki Winery and vineyard founded by Kotaro Miyazaki, a pioneer of the Japanese wine industry. Japan’s first private winery, the “Dainippon Yamanashi Wine Company, was established in Iwaimura-Shita-Iwasaki (present-day Shita-Iwasaki, Katsunuma-cho, Koshu City) in 1877. However, it was dissolved in 1886. Kotaro Miyazaki acquired the equipment and began producing wine with Ryuken Tsuchiya, who had learned winemaking in France, at Kotaro’s parents’ home, which had been remodeled for wine production.
Miyako-en is now a museum that displays the roots of wine production in Japan. It exhibits photos that show wine production and Imperial visits, and many documents and other materials regarding the winery at that time. Precious videos and old wine labels are also shown. This is one of six Industrial Modernization Heritage Sites in Koshu City.