14 Best Japanese Umeshu Plum Wines

Suntory Umeshu Smoky 2023

Released in October 2023, Suntory's Umeshu Blend offers a special smoky twist. Aged in barrels of the Yamazaki Distillery, which were formerly used for smoked whisky, it carries unique woody notes and a bolder flavor. With just the right 16-degree alcohol content, it's perfect for mixing with soda, poured over ice, or sipping straight.

Kumo wo Tsukamu Youna Umeshu

The Kumo wo Tsukamu Youna Umeshu, with its petite bottle adorned with charming illustrations of Tokyo’s cityscape by Japanese illustrator Chaykov, made its debut in the latter half of 2021 as an official souvenir of Tokyo Tower. The series comprises two flavors and packaging varieties: the golden "Tasogare ni Tokeru Kajitsu" made with ripe plums, and the cyan "Sora ni Kakeru Aoume," featuring sweet and tender young plums.

Mume Pink

The Mume Pink umeshu is characterized by its transparent texture and elegant rose-pink color. The stunning color of the product comes from the plum juice of the tsuyu-akane variety, which not only gives it a beautiful baby pink hue but also enhances its freshness and sweetness, making it a perfect pairing for desserts.

Kokutou Umeshu Yamanishi

The Kokutou Umeshu Yamanishi is a premium umeshu made from three varieties of plums sourced from Minabe in Wakayama Prefecture, a small village renowned for being the nation's leading plum-producing area.

Crafted by local plum farmers rather than a conventional brewery, it is free from artificial additives, offering rich aromas and the natural tartness of fresh plums, as well as a distinctive flavor enhanced by the addition of black sugar.

Oyama Sakuya Konohana

Oyama Sakuya Konohana is a collaboration between Noshiume Honpo Satoya, a renowned confectionery shop established in 1821, and the Kato Kahachiro Brewing Company founded in 1872, both located in Yamagata Prefecture. The umeshu combines the subtly sweet Ohyama Tokubetsu Junmai sake with aromatic plums, resulting in a delicately balanced and refreshing flavor profile.

Suntory Umeshu Taru Shiage

Suntory's Umeshu Taru Shiage is notable for its innovative approach to production, utilizing whisky barrels from the Yamazaki Distillery for maturation. This technique infuses the umeshu with not just woody aromas but also a complex flavor profile.

Moreover, this blend of umeshu is crafted from a variety of original spirits and complemented with brandy, resulting in a high alcohol content of 20 percent. Even when mixed with sparkling water, it retains its rich and delightful taste.

Choya Kokuto Umeshu

Choya is a well-known Japanese umeshu brand, with its Kokuto Umeshu being crafted solely from Nanko plums, black sugar syrup, alcohol, and black rum. With no artificial acidity regulators or flavorings added, it's versatile—perfect for enjoying over ice, mixed with sparkling water, or even poured over vanilla ice cream as a post-dinner treat.

Dassai Umeshu

Asahi Shuzo, a popular sake manufacturer in Japan and abroad, crafted an umeshu in collaboration with the national Umeshu Study Group. Using premium Nanko plums from Wakayama Prefecture and the brand’s classic Dassai sake "Junmai Daiginjo Migaki Niwari Sanbun" as the base, this limited-edition plum wine is exclusively available at Asahi Shuzo's directly-operated stores and the annual National Plum Wine Festival.

Kaldi Torori Umeshu

You can find the Torori Umeshu, made with Nanko plums from Wakayama Prefecture, at Kaldi stores, known for their diverse wine offerings. What sets it apart is the inclusion of plum pulp in every sip, lending it a richer texture compared to other plum wines. Plus, its low alcohol content of just 8 percent makes it easy to drink.

Kanjuku Nanaore Koume Umeshu

Hailing from the small town of Tobe in Ehime Prefecture, the Nanaore Koume plum variety is prized for its traits of pale yellow hue, plumpness, rich aroma, and mild acidity. The Kanjuku Nanaore Koume Umeshu is crafted by soaking the plums in rice shochu, with no added artificial colors, flavorings, or acidity regulators, ensuring a wholesome and delightful drinking experience.

Shuwa Shuwa Kiuchi Umeshu

In Japanese, shuwa shuwa refers to the fizzing sound of tiny bubbles, inspiring the name of this drink. This lightly carbonated plum wine is made by blending plums into Hitachino Nest Beer's fizzy brew and sweetening it with natural fruit sugars. The blend of floral aromas and the tangy sweetness of plums delivers a refreshingly unique and sweet sensation with every sip.

Uji Matcha × Aodani Umeshu

This green tea plum wine by Itoh Kyuemon features Joshuhaku plums from Kyoto's Aodani Plum Grove. With its rich flavor and fragrant aroma, it can be enjoyed over ice, mixed with sparkling or hot water, or frozen for a refreshing summer treat with added fruits or ice cream.

Best places to buy and sample umeshu

If you're looking for umeshu to take home as a souvenir from your trip to Japan, you can find many varieties in supermarkets, department stores, or specialty liquor shops.

For liqueur lovers, visit the annual Umeshu Festival, which has been held in various cities including Ibaraki, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Hyogo, Kyoto, Nagasaki, and Kanagawa. Taste and compare 70 to 180 different types of umeshu, and try different fusion drinks and dishes that pair perfectly with the liqueur. The 2025 edition will be held at Kairakuen Tokiwa Shrine in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture in early March.

Umeshu Festival
Official website: http://umeshu-matsuri.jp/ (in Japanese only)

Visit Japan's sake breweries and sample different liqueurs

Visiting a sake brewery or factory in Japan offers a unique sensory journey through centuries of tradition, where the artistry of rice fermentation intertwines with cultural heritage. Click the button below for sake brewery and factory tours across Japan.

Discover your favorite umeshu drink during your trip to Japan

Umeshu, a delightful Japanese liqueur, is crafted by steeping unripe plums in alcohol and sugar, allowing the flavors to meld and mature over several months, resulting in a sweet and tangy beverage that is usually lower in alcohol content compared to whiskies and spirits. During your trip to Japan, make sure to try different Japanese umeshu types.

Buy more alcoholic beverages at WAmazing Shop, including a large selection of Japanese sake.

Explore more of Japan by using one of the many different transportation passes.

*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.

*Consuming alcohol under the age of 20 is prohibited by Japanese law, and these regulations also apply to international visitors and foreign residents in Japan. Please enjoy alcohol responsibly and don’t drive after drinking. Please also check the alcohol import allowance of your country before bringing them back into your country.