Nagano, One of Japan's Top Fruit-Growing Prefectures, Puts Grapes Center Stage in Autumn
Nagano Prefecture is a "fruit kingdom" known for apples, grapes, peaches, pears, and more, and it ranks second nationwide in grape production, a crop that is now coming into season.
Nagano has also been active in developing its own grape varieties, giving rise to homegrown cultivars such as Nagano Purple, a favorite across the country, and Queen Rouge®, a promising red-skinned grape drawing growing attention.
Black, Green, and Red — Tasting Shinshu's Three Signature Grapes
Nagano Purple
Nagano Purple is a black-skinned grape developed in Nagano. Its large, plump berries are seedless and can be eaten skin and all. Bite into one and a burst of juice arrives together with a rich aroma, delivering a deep, full-bodied flavor.
It's harvested from late August to late September, making it a signature variety of Shinshu's autumn grape season.
Queen Rouge®
Also worth seeking out is Queen Rouge®, a red-skinned grape bred in Nagano.
Seedless and eaten skin and all, it stands out for its vivid red color and pronounced sweetness — a variety with a flavor as showy as its "Queen" name suggests.
It's harvested from mid-September to late October. Between Nagano Purple's black, Shine Muscat's green, and Queen Rouge®'s red, the three varieties offer distinct colors and flavors worth comparing to find a personal favorite among Shinshu grapes.
Shine Muscat
Shine Muscat, the now-familiar green grape, is another variety Nagano is known for. Its berries are large and sweet, seedless and eaten skin and all, with a refreshing aroma that makes it easy to enjoy.
In Nagano, it's harvested from early September to late October, coming into season a little after Nagano Purple and remaining an autumn favorite for weeks.
There's More to Discover Among Shinshu's Grapes
Beyond these three signature varieties, Ginza NAGANO carries a range of other Nagano-grown grapes depending on availability. Sunny Rouge, for instance, is high in sugar and low in acidity, giving it a pronounced sweetness and aroma, and its skin comes away easily, making it simple to eat.
Kyoho, Pione, Queen Nina, and other varieties also come into season one after another from late August through October, with some lasting even later depending on the cultivar. Each variety carries its own aroma, sweetness, acidity, and texture — even among grapes, tasting several side by side reveals just how varied they can be.
Nagano Is Actually Japan's Top Prune Producer — Have You Tried Fresh Ones?
Alongside grapes, this is also the season to try Nagano-grown prunes. Prunes are often thought of as a dried fruit, but fresh, in-season prunes are juicy and full of moisture — and Nagano is Japan's largest producer.
Ginza NAGANO sells a range of varieties over the course of the season.
Summer Cute
An original Nagano variety in season from late August to early September. Plenty of sweetness and juice balanced with a touch of acidity make it a refreshing choice for the lingering summer heat, and its reddish, slightly large berries have an appealing look.
Autumn Cute
Another original Nagano variety, in season toward the end of the prune season, from late September to early October. While typical prunes weigh around 30 to 60 grams, each Autumn Cute berry weighs about 80 grams. Juicy with pronounced sweetness, it's a standout variety that closes out Shinshu's autumn.
Sun Prune, Kurashima, President, and other varieties are also expected to arrive.
On October 1, a Collaboration Event With Shinjuku Takano Puts "Autumn Cute" in a Mini Course
A special event is also planned for anyone who wants to fully experience the taste of prunes. As the fifth installment of Ginza NAGANO's collaboration with fruit specialty shop Shinjuku Takano, "Tasting the Autumn's Large, Fully Ripe 'Autumn Cute' Prune — From Sakuho, Shinshu" takes place on Thursday, October 1.
Large, fully ripe Autumn Cute prunes from Sakuho, Nagano take center stage in a roughly four-course mini menu that finishes with a special parfait. A fruit-cutting demonstration and a parfait plating demonstration are also planned.
Event Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Thursday, October 1, 2026 — Session 1: 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM; Session 2: 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM |
| Venue | Ginza NAGANO, 2nd floor event space |
| Price | ¥5,000 (tax included) |
| Capacity | 24 people per session |
| Comment | Discover a new side of prunes and savor fully ripe fruit alongside a course from Shinjuku Takano, normally available only in its own shop. |
| Reservations | Apply through the Ginza NAGANO event page: https://www.ginza-nagano.jp/collections/10/products/261001event |
From September to October, Something New Arrives Every Week at Ginza NAGANO's Fruit Corner
Both grapes and prunes stay in season for only a few weeks per variety. Nagano Purple gives way to Shine Muscat and then Queen Rouge®; Summer Cute gives way to Autumn Cute.
From September into October, the fruit on display at Ginza NAGANO keeps changing as each variety takes its turn at peak flavor. Rather than the same selection every day, whichever variety appears on a given day or week reflects what's currently in season in Shinshu.
Visitors to Ginza NAGANO can enjoy Shinshu grapes in their many colors, aromas, sweetness levels, and textures, along with fresh prunes whose juiciness can only be experienced outside of their dried form.
Sales Overview
- Sales period: September to October 2026 (availability varies by variety)
- Sales location: Ginza NAGANO, 1st floor shop
- Grapes: Nagano Purple, Queen Rouge®, Shine Muscat, Sunny Rouge, and others
- Prunes: Summer Cute, Autumn Cute, Opal, Santasu, and others
Availability, varieties in stock, and quantities may change due to weather and harvest conditions, since these are agricultural products. Some varieties have especially short sales windows, so check in store for the latest availability.
