Nikka Whisky in Yoichi

If you’re fan of whisky, you’re probably already familiar with several Japanese brands that have become popular in the past few decades. Nikka Whisky produces several products that have become quite popular at home and abroad. Its Nikka Black is a local favorite in Japan, but its best single-malt whiskies are distilled at their Yoichi location. Visiting the distillery gives you a chance not only to learn about the rich history of the Yoichi distillery but also to sample some of their most famous products.

Nikka Whisky in Yoichi

Masataka Taketsuru founded the Nikka Yoichi distillery in 1934 after he spent years in Scotland learning about the whisky making process. While in Scotland, he studied organic chemistry at the University of Glasgow and married a local woman. They returned to Japan and Masataka helped establish the distillery for what is now Suntory, another well-regarded Japanese whisky label, before establishing his own. This is one of the many reasons he’s considered to be the father of Japanese whisky. He built the Yoichi distillery in Hokkaido to better match the environment of Scotland in order to make his process as authentic as possible.

Nikka Whisky in Yoichi

Nikka Whisky in Yoichi

The Yoichi distillery offers free tours of its various facilities so you can get a look at the manufacturing process. Nine of the buildings at the Yoichi distillery are designated as tangible cultural properties by the Japanese government. There is an option for self-guided tours with an informative map for people who can’t speak Japanese. Reviewers often mention that the history aspect of the museum is much more engaging than they anticipated.

Nikka Whisky in Yoichi

After the tour, you can head over to the tasting room to enjoy some free samples. They give you three different types of whisky to try and let you know what order you should drink them in. In the gift shop, you can even purchase exclusive whiskies only available at the distillery. It’s important to note that you should not drive to the distillery, as they will not let you sample the products if you’re driving. In addition, they ask guests to fill out an application at the beginning of the tour if you wish to consume any alcohol on the premises. Though Japan’s official drinking age is 20 years old, guests must be at least 21 years old to sample the whiskies on offer. Visitors also have the option of stopping by Rita House, a tearoom named after the founder’s wife, to enjoy traditional British-style tea and scones.

Nikka Whisky in Yoichi

The distillery is located in a small town, which is basically built around the distillery itself. The buildings of the distillery feature architecture unique to Japan and are surrounded by the rich foliage of trees growing throughout the area. Even if you’re not a fan of whisky, it’s a beautiful place to visit and is sure not to disappoint. To get to the Nikka Yoichi Distillery, take the Hakodate Main Line to Yoichi station. From there, it’s just a short walk west. From central Sapporo, it will take about an hour by train, so be sure to plan ahead.

Nikka Whisky Hokkaido Factory Yoichi Distillery

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4-123,Kurokawa Otaru Hokkaido

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