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Sep 14 2010 21 Comments

Yamanashi grape vines and wines

Samuel Johnson’s famous adage that, “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life” is also equally true when talk turns to Tokyo, although at the same time, extricating oneself from the Japanese capital every now and again is not only nice, but occasionally necessary.

And, as it’s not much more than an hour away — from west Tokyo at least — Yamanashi offers a genuinely convenient contrast to the concrete and crowds.

Yamanashi grapes and wine

Well, the grape growing region of the prefecture does anyway, as the flavoursome fruit can found almost everywhere.

Yamanashi grapes and wine

Even on vines above vehicles.

Yamanashi grapes and wine

And now is the perfect time to go and pick some.

Yamanashi grapes and wine

The only trouble is, it’s really hot. Really horribly hot in fact. However, all is not lost, as even though the wine found in them isn’t very nice,

Yamanashi grapes and wine

and taking note of it,

Yamanashi grapes and wine

let alone tasting it,

Yamanashi grapes and wine

isn’t what I would call wise, the region’s cellars are, unlike the Chardonnay, really quite refreshing.

And, as an added bonus of sorts, they may also offer up a brief glimpse of a young boy’s burgeoning love affair with booze.

Yamanashi grapes and wine

Categorized: Food and Drink, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jamaipanese says

    9/14/2010 at 11:42 am

    interesting photos as usual, that last one (including the captioning) was hilarious

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/14/2010 at 5:55 pm

      Thanks! Yes, the young lad looks quite a character, doesn’t he?

      Reply
  2. Patten says

    9/14/2010 at 7:30 pm

    Great post. Not what I was expecting. The little guy made my day!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/15/2010 at 7:55 am

      Cheers Patten. Yes, he was the highlight (along with the temperature) of the wine cellar for me too.

      Reply
  3. Lizzy says

    9/14/2010 at 11:54 pm

    Very nice set. That first pic reminded me of some places I visited in Germany. With different rooftops, of course.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/15/2010 at 7:56 am

      Thanks Lizzy!

      Reply
  4. Matt says

    9/15/2010 at 12:25 am

    Great shots. I like the car under the grapes. Very unusual…as i’m getting used to in your shots. Your photos have really re-ignited my enthusiasm for photography and finally made me jump into the DSLR world.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/15/2010 at 7:57 am

      Thanks Matt! Excellent news. Glad to hear you got yourself a DSLR. If you get even a fraction of the pleasure I get from mine then you’ll be more than happy.

      Reply
  5. Pongy says

    9/15/2010 at 5:19 am

    Drinking is not healthy, let’s not romanticize the production of wine – it’s a filthy habit that creates many many problems in this world.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/15/2010 at 8:00 am

      That seems a bit harsh Pongy. Drunk in moderation, wine is regarded as beneficial. Or at the very least not harmful. And there are few more enjoyable things in life than sitting down with friends or loved ones for a meal and a nice bottle of wine.

      Reply
    • tadpoles says

      9/15/2010 at 12:29 pm

      On the contrary, Pongy, drinking wine can be extremely good for your health. Click here for greater detail:

      http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21478144/ns/today-today_health/

      Far better for your health, in fact, than ignorance and bigotry, wouldn’t you say?

      Reply
  6. ameiji says

    9/16/2010 at 4:13 am

    Beautiful valley and those grapes look amazingly good. Is it really that bad, japanese wine? Looks like no one like it 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/16/2010 at 7:40 am

      Yes, the grapes are as good as they look. And the wine quite the opposite!

      Reply
  7. ameiji says

    9/16/2010 at 4:23 am

    Btw, that little fellow reminded me one of these little cupids from some renaissance canvas – the same gamine pose he has. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Brandi Belle says

    9/19/2010 at 3:58 am

    Very unusual photos! That little fellow really made my day! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/23/2010 at 12:11 am

      Thanks Brandi!

      Reply
  9. akapalamy says

    9/22/2010 at 6:48 pm

    Would like to taste wine, can’t be so bad. Japan beer is very nice. Beautiful photos the people very cute.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/23/2010 at 12:13 am

      It can akapalamy. Yes, Japanese beer is very good, but the wine is honestly quite the opposite.

      Reply
  10. Alain says

    10/17/2010 at 5:02 pm

    the light is magic

    Reply
  11. Emily18 says

    10/24/2010 at 3:32 pm

    The color of the sky is unbelievable!

    Reply
  12. mochtar says

    5/11/2011 at 1:32 pm

    Hi .. all
    It’s very nice table grapes. Where can I find and buy the plant or some cuttings ? anyone help me ??

    Reply

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