Mt. Fuji has long been a popular destination for visitors from overseas. The area around the foot of the mountain deserves a closer look, as well, for its rich natural features and outstanding food culture. For this two-part installment of Cook Around Japan, our host Yu Hayami will be visiting Yamanashi and Shizuoka, the prefectures that border Mt. Fuji. In this first episode, we’ll be visiting Yamanashi, the heart of the Japanese wine industry, which has come to be known for world-class wine in recent years. We’ll learn about the history and evolution of Japanese wine culture, including a trip to a unique temple that makes wine, for an exclusive look at shojin-ryori Buddhist cuisine that pairs well with wine. If you’re a wine lover, you won’t want to miss this episode!