Japan is best known today for its cultural exports, such as video games, J-rock, and anime. It’s also known for its unique accommodation options, ranging from love hotels to capsule hotels. However, unbeknownst to most people, it is one of the earliest settled countries in the world. Some of the earliest settlements date back to 30,000 BC based on a Paleolithic study. Tourists interested in history and culture can choose to go for an immersive experience by staying in a temple. Over the years, Japanese culture has simultaneously evolved but maintained its traditions and customs. One of these customs is the national beverage of the country: sake. Sake, or Japanese rice wine, is made by polishing rice to varying degrees and then fermenting the product. It is a relatively simpler process than the production of other forms of alcohol, but in order to make good-quality sake, you need good-quality ingredients. Would you like to learn more about sake or get to know where to go in Japan for the highest-quality sake? Keep reading to learn about the must-visit sake breweries in Japan.
1. Suehiro Sake Brewery, Fukushima
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
A family-owned business running since 1850, Suehiro Sake Brewery rose to the top ranks as a trusted name in sake production in the Tohoku region. Their collection of spirits has gained critical acclaim, amassing several awards locally and internationally. It’s all thanks to the traditional ‘yamahai’ process that they have used for generations, which significantly helps in developing their sakes’ signature flavours.
The company has connections with Japan’s few celebrated personalities, a notable example of which is Dr Hideyo Noguchi, whom their original owners were close with. You can find some of his letters, along with many other historical items, at the brewery today. Also inside the brewery is a speciality cafe that serves a menu of sake-infused desserts.
Suehiro Sake Brewery
Address: 12-38 Nisshinmachi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima 965-0861, Japan
Website: Suehiro Sake Brewery
Opening hours: 9:30am - 4:30pm (daily)
2. Fujioka Brewing Company, Kyoto (from USD 159.0)
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Among Kyoto’s many sake breweries, Fujioka Brewing Company bears quite a rollercoaster ride of a history. They began production in 1902, expanded into multiple factories by the turn of the following decade, and peaked with a whopping 8,000 koku (1.4 million litres) production until the sudden passing of the founder’s grandson triggered their closure in 1995. Renewed interest in sake-making among the Fujioka family’s newer generations brought the brewery back to its former glory by its 100th year.
Today, their sake collection is a testament to their unchanging ethos, which involves creating classic flavours using the two best local materials - underground water from the wells of Fushimi and homegrown rice from nearby prefectures.
Fujioka Brewing Company
Address: 672-1 Imamachi, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-8051, Japan
Website: Fujioka Brewing Company
Opening hours: Thu - Tue: 11:30am - 6pm (closed on Wed)
byFood experience
1) Sake brewery tour in Fushimi sake district
Fujioka Brewing Company is just one of several brands that you can find while visiting the ever-illustrious sake district of Fushimi in Kyoto. How Fushimi came to be as a top sake-producing hub is a remarkable story. Sake aficionados from within the country and beyond flock to the district to unearth what it has to offer. On this tour, you can delve deep into the world of sake, from the traditional production processes to the many types of sake variants being sold. You’ll get to witness how Kyoto’s best sake is made from scratch at Gekkeikan, one of its oldest sake breweries.
Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour in Fushimi Sake District
Duration: 3hours
3. Daimon Brewery, Osaka
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Daimon Brewery started producing sake in 1826 and they have been run by six generations from the same family. Initially, their brewing methods were all about experience and intuition. However, as time went on, they began updating the process to ensure fermentation control while still maintaining as much of the handmade nature they could. They use regional rice and fresh mountain spring water to ensure the production of quality sake. When you visit their brewery, you are seated in a small, intimate attic that is the perfect place to spend hours drinking sake with your friends or family.
Daimon Brewery
Address: 3 Chome-12-1 Moriminami, Katano, Osaka 576-0031, Japan
Website: Daimon Brewery
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
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4. Sawanoi Ozawa Brewery, Tokyo (from USD 130.0)
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Ozawa Sake Brewery on Thursday, December 3, 2020
Sawanoi Ozawa Brewery has been brewing for over 300 years, making them one of the oldest sake breweries in Tokyo, Japan! They started in 1702, having drilled deep holes through the Chichibu Rock Formation to harvest the fresh spring water. It was named for the crystal clear waters that are found in the Sawai area in western Tokyo. They host free, daily brewery tours where you can walk around their facility, watch the spring water flow through the rock formations, and of course, taste-test their sake. All of the tours are subject to availability and are conducted in English. It is only a short walk from the Sawai train station.
Sawanoi Ozawa Brewery
Address: 2-770 Sawai, Ome‐City, Tokyo
Website:
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 8am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
byFood experience
1) Tour one of Tokyo’s oldest sake breweries
If you want to go more in-depth than simply touring the brewery, this sake and food tour offers just that. The trip takes you to the Sawai area, one of Tokyo’s more rural parts. Captivating garden landscapes, traditional temples, and the formidable Tama River surround much of the place - it’s no wonder that Sawanoi Ozawa Brewery set up shop here. Not only will you get to taste its different sake variants on offer. You’ll also discover flavourful vegetarian and pescetarian delights at some of the village’s eateries. Get a feel of nature as you explore much of the serene Sawai on foot.
Tasting and Tour at One of Tokyo’s Oldest Sake Breweries
Duration: 8hours
5. Ishikawa Brewery, Tokyo
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Ishikawa Brewery uses only pure mineral water from a local source. Their drinks are lovingly named ‘Tamajiman’ which translates to ‘the pride of Tama,’ a touching tribute to the area. In addition to their sake, they also produce other types of alcohol. They’ve been producing different types of beer since 1998: pale ale, pilsner, and Munchener dark. They also have made the ‘Tokyo Blues’ collection: a series of drinks with complex tastes inspired by the blues music genre.
Throughout the years, the brewery has maintained its traditional architecture which grants an authentic feel when you’re walking around. They even offer sake brewery tours for those exploring Tokyo’s rich spirit-making industry. Ishikawa Brewery is 110 minutes by train from Haneda airport and 150 minutes by train from Narita airport.
Ishikawa Brewery
Address: 1 Kumagawa, Fussa, Tokyo 197-0003, Japan
Website: Ishikawa Brewery
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 5:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
6. Oishi Sake Brewery, Kyoto
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Oishi Sake Brewery has been around for more than 300 years! They employ the Kimoto technique. First, microorganisms are used to grow the yeast. Then the steamed rice and water are mixed together and ground for a few hours in cold temperatures, following which it is aged at low temperatures for a few days then heated slowly to purify the solution. The entire process does not use machines at all. The brewery’s motto is to make customers happy, one sip at a time, and it surely does that!
Oishi Sake Brewery
Address: Kakiuchimata-13 Hiedanocho Saeki, Kameoka, Kyoto 621-0033, Japan
Website: Oishi Sake Brewery
Opening hours: 8:30am - 6pm (daily)
7. Tamura Sake Brewery, Tokyo
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Tamura Shuzou/Kasen on Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Tamura Sake Brewery is located on the banks of the Tamagawa Josui, where it has been since the late 1600s. Over 16 generations of family members have run this brewery, and to date, they have 24 stores around the country selling their carefully made sake. All this time has led them to constantly improve on their sake brewing techniques. They believe that to make sake, they need good ingredients and reliable technology, but that the human technique is the foundation of the process. Sometimes, when you visit, you can witness the uniformed brewers singing their customary sake brewing song.
Tamura Sake Brewery
Address: Fussa 626, Fussa 197-0011 Tokyo Prefecture
Website: Tamura Sake Brewery
Opening hours: 8:30am - 5pm (daily)
8. Nakamura Brewery, Tokyo
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by on Friday, May 14, 2021
Nakamura Brewery has been making sake since 1804! Over 18 generations have managed this company splendidly, which is why they have won national awards for brewing sake for 20 years in a row. It gets its name from the cranes that fly into the basin of Akikawa. Water is pumped out from 170m (558ft) underground for use in sake production. The water in this basin is so pristine even after all these centuries which is evident by the still-thriving fish that habit the area.
Nakamura Brewery
Address: 63 Ushinuma, Akiruno-shi, Tokyo
Website: Nakamura Brewery
Opening hours: 12pm - 5pm (daily)
9. Kankiku Brewery, Chiba
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by on Thursday, April 15, 2021
Kankiku Brewery has been perfecting their brewing techniques for over 130 years! They have learned about processing time and the fluid required for brewing varies depending on the type of rice over the years. They emphasize daily checks to make sure that the fermentation process is progressing as planned. Each batch is also tested in order to ensure that everything is up to standard.
Kankiku Brewery
Address: 11 Matsuomachi Takenosato, Sammu, Chiba 289-1532, Japan
Website: Kankiku Brewery
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
10. Matsuoka Brewery, Saitama
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Matsuoka Brewery started out in 1851. Ogawamachi was selected as the location as it was in a key place between major cities and was right in between the rice fields and the city limits. Presently, it is only a 15-minute drive from the Ranzan Ogawa interchange. They offer guided tours every day but only after advance reservation. During these tours, they have free sake and spring water tasting. In addition to sake, they also have non-alcoholic products like the daiginjo ice cream.
Matsuoka Brewery
Address: 7-2 Shimofurutera, Oaza, Ogawa-machi, Hiki-gun, Saitama-ken 355-0326, Japan
Website: Matsuoka Brewery
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
11. Shichiken Brewery, Hokuto
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Shichiken Brewery is listed on the UNESCO Biosphere reserve list. It is located in the centre of Japan in Hokuto city amidst a number of mineral water factories. However, it is the only sake brewery in the area. The rice that is used to brew sake is grown by the people who live in the area as they know the land the best. It has been around for centuries, since 1750 and has been appreciated by Emperor Meiji during his travels. They host annual events like festivals that teach people about how to make sake.
Shichiken Brewery
Address: 2283 Daigahara, Hakusyu-cho, Hokuto-city, Yamanashi pref. Japan 408-0312
Website: Shichiken Brewery
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
12. Toshimaya Shuzo Sake Brewery, Tokyo (from USD 92.0)
Dating as far back as 1596, Toshimaya leads the way among Tokyo’s local spirit makers as one of the oldest sake shops. For many generations, their sake collection has been a favourite for many in Japan. Their famous ‘shirozake’ variant, in particular, is popular with women.
Toshimaya takes pride in using locally obtained raw materials to produce sake. One of those materials, water, is sourced from the springs of Mount Fuji. As a result, the final products gain a rich, complex, and distinct taste. They’re also best enjoyed with any type of food, whether fermented, grilled, or fried.
Toshimaya Shuzo Sake Brewery Tour
Duration: 3hours
13. Kobe Shushinkan Sake Brewery, Kobe (from USD 36.0)
Founded during the Edo period, Kobe Shushinkan Sake Brewery continues to keep the spirit-making tradition alive by keeping to the optimal process. This involves not only sourcing the region’s best rice and water but also timing the production according to the weather conditions. This painstaking technique has resulted in some of their award-winning varieties, most notably their highly popular ‘Fukuju’ product.
Their brewery in Nada, one of the country’s top sake hotspots, offers tours that give visitors a glimpse of their elaborate and ever-evolving sake-making process. You can sample some of their mainstay variants, as well as their limited-edition ones. Then, visit their souvenir shop, where you may find something to come home with!
Sake Tasting and Brewery Tour in Kobe
Duration: 1hours
14. Matsui Sake Brewery, Kyoto (from USD 57.0)
Matsui Sake Brewery is one of the oldest breweries in Rakunaka. In fact, it started in 1726! They produce different types of sake: ginjo (highly milled raw rice), gaigindo, junmai sake (rice koji), and honjoshu. What is commendable about their sake production is that it is not mass-produced at all. This ensures quality in each and every sip. They offer tours of their brewery but it is subject to availability as it is often full during the peak seasons. If you want to pick up gift items, you can get their sake bag and towel.
Kyoto Sake Brewery Small-Group Tour with Tasting
Duration: 45 minutes
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Enjoy the taste of sake in Japan
Whether you’re here for the sights or for the food, you’re sure to have your fill of fun. These breweries are certain to let you in on the processes involved in producing only the highest-quality sake Japan is known for. Check them out and enjoy the best sake in Japan!
Frequently asked questions about the must-visit sake breweries in Japan
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