TOKACHI Winery / IKEDA Wine Castle
This project is a renovation of the Wine Castle, the iconic headquarters of Tokachi Wine, a municipally operated winery with over 60 years of history in Ikeda, Hokkaido. Originally completed in 1976, the facility was inspired by a mountaintop restaurant in the outskirts of Tbilisi, Georgia, and was designed as a combined wine production and restaurant complex perched on a hill with sweeping views of the Tokachi mountain range. Its castle-like appearance earned it the affectionate nickname “Wine Castle,” and it has since become a popular tourist destination, attracting 250,000 visitors annually.
With the opportunity presented by aging infrastructure and the need for seismic reinforcement, the facility has been comprehensively renewed as a space for sharing the full appeal of Tokachi Wine. As most wine production functions—except for barrel aging and brandy distillation—had already been relocated to a new adjacent facility, the vacated areas were repurposed to accommodate a wine shop, bar, library, and museum. The formerly closed main entrance was reopened, and the circulation through the building was reconfigured to offer a smoother and more memorable visitor experience.
At the heart of the renovation is the former fermentation room, a double-height space reimagined as the central hall. This grand area now serves as the main public zone, hosting a wine shop, tasting bar, and local foods store featuring cheeses and other regional specialties. Along the full length of the hall, curved walls—hollowed out from former cylindrical fermentation tanks—have been repurposed to house a concierge, wine shop, and bar, creating a unique architectural feature that recalls the site's industrial past.
To offer a vivid and engaging tour experience, the winery and brandy distillation areas were each given clear spatial identities, with distinctive bars installed at key points throughout. The renovation carefully stitches together the contrasting atmospheres of “castle” and “factory,” breathing new life into the facility as a place that fully conveys the depth and charm of Tokachi Wine.
Photos by Daichi Ano
Basic design & design supervision: TAKAHITO MIYAGISHIMA ARCHITECTS.
Execution design: YAMASHITA SEKKEI INC.
With the opportunity presented by aging infrastructure and the need for seismic reinforcement, the facility has been comprehensively renewed as a space for sharing the full appeal of Tokachi Wine. As most wine production functions—except for barrel aging and brandy distillation—had already been relocated to a new adjacent facility, the vacated areas were repurposed to accommodate a wine shop, bar, library, and museum. The formerly closed main entrance was reopened, and the circulation through the building was reconfigured to offer a smoother and more memorable visitor experience.
At the heart of the renovation is the former fermentation room, a double-height space reimagined as the central hall. This grand area now serves as the main public zone, hosting a wine shop, tasting bar, and local foods store featuring cheeses and other regional specialties. Along the full length of the hall, curved walls—hollowed out from former cylindrical fermentation tanks—have been repurposed to house a concierge, wine shop, and bar, creating a unique architectural feature that recalls the site's industrial past.
To offer a vivid and engaging tour experience, the winery and brandy distillation areas were each given clear spatial identities, with distinctive bars installed at key points throughout. The renovation carefully stitches together the contrasting atmospheres of “castle” and “factory,” breathing new life into the facility as a place that fully conveys the depth and charm of Tokachi Wine.
Photos by Daichi Ano
Basic design & design supervision: TAKAHITO MIYAGISHIMA ARCHITECTS.
Execution design: YAMASHITA SEKKEI INC.
TOKACHI Winery / IKEDA Wine Castle
This project is a renovation of the Wine Castle, the iconic headquarters of Tokachi Wine, a municipally operated winery with over 60 years of history in Ikeda, Hokkaido. Originally completed in 1976, the facility was inspired by a mountaintop restaurant in the outskirts of Tbilisi, Georgia, and was designed as a combined wine production and restaurant complex perched on a hill with sweeping views of the Tokachi mountain range. Its castle-like appearance earned it the affectionate nickname “Wine Castle,” and it has since become a popular tourist destination, attracting 250,000 visitors annually.
With the opportunity presented by aging infrastructure and the need for seismic reinforcement, the facility has been comprehensively renewed as a space for sharing the full appeal of Tokachi Wine. As most wine production functions—except for barrel aging and brandy distillation—had already been relocated to a new adjacent facility, the vacated areas were repurposed to accommodate a wine shop, bar, library, and museum. The formerly closed main entrance was reopened, and the circulation through the building was reconfigured to offer a smoother and more memorable visitor experience.
At the heart of the renovation is the former fermentation room, a double-height space reimagined as the central hall. This grand area now serves as the main public zone, hosting a wine shop, tasting bar, and local foods store featuring cheeses and other regional specialties. Along the full length of the hall, curved walls—hollowed out from former cylindrical fermentation tanks—have been repurposed to house a concierge, wine shop, and bar, creating a unique architectural feature that recalls the site's industrial past.
To offer a vivid and engaging tour experience, the winery and brandy distillation areas were each given clear spatial identities, with distinctive bars installed at key points throughout. The renovation carefully stitches together the contrasting atmospheres of “castle” and “factory,” breathing new life into the facility as a place that fully conveys the depth and charm of Tokachi Wine.
Photos by Daichi Ano
Basic design & design supervision: TAKAHITO MIYAGISHIMA ARCHITECTS.
Execution design: YAMASHITA SEKKEI INC.
With the opportunity presented by aging infrastructure and the need for seismic reinforcement, the facility has been comprehensively renewed as a space for sharing the full appeal of Tokachi Wine. As most wine production functions—except for barrel aging and brandy distillation—had already been relocated to a new adjacent facility, the vacated areas were repurposed to accommodate a wine shop, bar, library, and museum. The formerly closed main entrance was reopened, and the circulation through the building was reconfigured to offer a smoother and more memorable visitor experience.
At the heart of the renovation is the former fermentation room, a double-height space reimagined as the central hall. This grand area now serves as the main public zone, hosting a wine shop, tasting bar, and local foods store featuring cheeses and other regional specialties. Along the full length of the hall, curved walls—hollowed out from former cylindrical fermentation tanks—have been repurposed to house a concierge, wine shop, and bar, creating a unique architectural feature that recalls the site's industrial past.
To offer a vivid and engaging tour experience, the winery and brandy distillation areas were each given clear spatial identities, with distinctive bars installed at key points throughout. The renovation carefully stitches together the contrasting atmospheres of “castle” and “factory,” breathing new life into the facility as a place that fully conveys the depth and charm of Tokachi Wine.
Photos by Daichi Ano
Basic design & design supervision: TAKAHITO MIYAGISHIMA ARCHITECTS.
Execution design: YAMASHITA SEKKEI INC.