With all the endless rice fields in Akita Prefecture, it comes as no surprise that some of the best tasting sake comes from this corner of the Tohoku Region. It won’t be difficult to get your hands on a bottle or two during your trip, but if you want go beyond the taste and learn about the way it’s produced then a sake brewery tour is a must.
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![Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen]()
Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen
In the city of Daisen about a 15-min walk from Ugo-Nagano train station, Suzuki Shuzoten is not only one of the oldest and most well known breweries in the prefecture, but also one whose sake tour is both entertaining.
![Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen]()
Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen
The tour takes you on a short trip back to the 1600’s thanks to the historical memorabilia housed within its walls. Legend has it that Suzuki Shuzoten was named “Hideyoshi” (as the brewery is commonly known) by the local daimyo and sake lover Satake, who praised Suzuki’s sake for its excellent taste and quality.
![Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen]()
Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen
Suzuki Shuzoten offers you the complete package; the tour of the whole brewery, sake tasting, and a chance to take home some of the best sake. The experience begins as soon as you step into the entrance hall. From here you can admire the Japanese garden with a pond which actually is created from a stream passing through the property. Back in the day, this water was so pure it was used to make the sake. In the middle of the garden a judas tree stands tall with a cherry tree growing inside of it, apparently from a seed blown by the wind.
![Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen]()
Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen
Pass the garden and into the brewing warehouse, the courteous guide takes you through the production step-by-step, from the steaming pits where the “koji” or yeast is produced, over to the huge tanks where aromatic sake is aged, and all the way to the rooms where the “kurabito” (the workers involved in the brewing process) massage the steaming rice to give the sake the high quality taste that customers get to enjoy. This massaging process was done in the past by shirtless men who couldn’t eat natto for a few months to avoid transmitting bacteria onto the yeast. Nowadays you can still see the kuraibito during the massaging sessions but now fully clothed.
![Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen]()
Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen
The tour then moves a Suzuki’s own gallery space set out for customers to get a close up look at the original samurai armor and other historic memorabilia exclusive to the brewery. From here on, a tasting session of the most popular sakes takes place, paired with mouthwatering japanese sweets made in-house.
![Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen]()
Sake Tour at Hideyoshi Sake Brewery in Daisen
Afterwards the unopened bottles of the best sake selection awaits to be taken home. Suzuki Shuzoten offers the tours all-year-round, yet to witness the complete production process it is best to visit the brewery during the winter months when the sake is actually produced.
Hotel Route Inn Oomagari Ekimae
3-14,Oomagaritori-machi,Daisen-city Daisen-shi Akita
- Suzuki Syuzo
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![rating]()
4.5
6 Reviews -
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- Akita Pref. Daisenshi Nagano Futsukamachi 9
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- 0187562121
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- 9:00-17:00
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