Breweries in Japan
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Welcome to Hama-cho: Bizen Hamashuku Brewery Street in Saga
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- Welcome to Hama-cho, a quiet town with a laidback vibe and a history of sake brewing situated close to the city of Kashima in Saga Prefecture. During the Edo period the area was home to several wealthy samurai families, whose beautiful white-terraced period homes still line the main street of the town to this day. During the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods the area then went on to become well known for its production of high-quality sake (Nihonshu), at its peak there were more than ten sake breweries in Hama-cho, although the majority of these have long since closed their doors. Due to its somewhat out-of-the-way location, and decline in sake brewing, Hama-cho is often overlooked as a travel destination for both domestic and international tourists alike, but a handful of dedicated and creative locals are now working hard to put the town firmly back on the map. In this article we will meet these people and discover the ways in which they are contributing to their community and the town of Hama-cho today. The main street through Hama-cho, also known as Brewery Street due to its long history with local Sake Breweries An Edo period farmhouse in Hama-cho A Soy Sauce Brewery set iside the house of a former Samurai family Nabeshima Brewery With a history of roughly one hundred years, Nabeshima Brewery is a family business currently in its third generation. While many of the towns other sake breweries that prospered in times-past, fell by the wayside for one reason or another, Nabeshima seems to have gone from strength to strength maintaining the towns image of the home of high-quality sake brewing, picking up a host of international awards along the way. The current owner of the business, Mr Iimori is gradually transforming the business into much more than just a brewery, with visions of how to not only attract visitors to the town but also keep them entertained and comfortable. Nabeshima Brewery is situated at the entrance of the town Hayato Hyuga, one of the brewers at Nabeshima Although we didn’t get to chat with Mr. Iimori himself, upon a recent visit to Nabeshima brewery we met with Hayato, one of his top brewers, who talked us through the process of brewing and introduced us to their range of drinks that currently numbers at over twenty different varieties. His passion for his job and for the town was glaringly obvious as he guided through the premises, showed us some of the drinks he is currently brewing and explained Nabeshima’s vision for the future. Hayato explains the various stages of the brewing process at Nabeshima Matatabi (Yua Candles) Located just minutes from the planned guesthouse mentioned above is what looks like an unassuming bar from the outside, but is actually a cove of creativity once you step foot inside. Matatabi doubles up as a café-bar and studio for candle maker and artist Yuki Ura. Yuki Ura outside her studio in Hama-cho Yuki has been hand crafting candles for years and she is now offering workshops teaching others how to do the same Yuki’s studio space in Hama-cho Iroha Two doors down from Matatabi, and run by a good friend of Yuki the candle maker, is Iroha.Iroha is a community space operated by Hide Kinoshita, it is essentially a free space that members of the community can use to gather, share ideas, put on events, exhibit work and listen to good music. Hide also sells drinks at his events, but he is quick to say that Iroha isn’t simply another bar – as mentioned above it’s a space for the community, and that’s where the focus of the place should remain. Hide Kinoshita at the door of Iroha community event space in Hama-cho The interior of Iroha feels a lot like the inside of a local’s living room, and that’s no great surprise as that’s exactly what this place is! Hide moved into this nearly-century-old former Geta shop (traditional Japanese footware) a few years ago, leaving behind his former life as a hair stylist in the neighboring prefecture of Fukuoka. He now works nearby to Hama-cho as an organic farmer, growing a wealth of vegetables. When evening falls, he heads back home and puts on events at Iroha, mostly on weekend nights. These events include DJ nights, live music and the “Hama-cho sake hashigo” - a bar crawl event taking place on every fourth Saturday of the month, allowing punters to sample a range of locally produced sakes. Other establishments involved in the bar crawl event are Matatabi (mentioned above) and Kurabito (mentioned below). Inside Iroha, a burning stove keeps the water boiling and patrons feeling nice and cozy to a soundtrack of live music as records spin Iroha doesn’t put events on according to a regular schedule, but if you’re in Hama-cho its well swinging by to see if Hide has anything planned during your stay, it’s a great way to meet other locals in a relaxed and comfortable setting. Events are set to increase from 2020. Hide says events at Iroha are set to increase during the year 2020, make sure you swing past when you’re in town, if you’re lucky you may catch a live show or even the local bar crawl event! Hamashuko Kurabito Our final stop in Hama-cho today is at Hamashuko Kurabito, or simply Kurabito, as the locals like to call it. Established in 2015, Kurabito is a café and art gallery run by ceramic artist Yasuhito Kawasaki. He makes sculptures in the morning alongside his wife who is also a potter, and then operates a café/bar in the afternoon into the evening. Yasuhito and his wife, artists and owners of Kurabito gallery and café Yasuhito hard at work on one of his sculptures A finished piece by Yasuhito on display inside the gallery ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Saga
- 27. January. 2020
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Visiting Japan: Top 43 Things to Do in Kyoto
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- Kyoto, also known as Japan’s Cultural Center is famous for its traditional festivals, old wooden tea houses and historical Buddhist temples. Founded in the year 794, Kyoto has centuries of history and culture in its name. This is the best place to go to if you want an authentic Japanese experience. What to Do in Kyoto? What to Do in Kyoto? We did some research looking for cool places and sightseeing spots in Kyoto and have come up with our top 39 places we think are the must-visit locations in Kyoto . If you’re looking for the best things to do in Kyoto to add to your travel itinerary this year, check out one of the 39 places we’ve selected below. Amanohashidate: The Renowned Iconic Landscape of the Historic Bridge to Heaven Amanohashidate Also known for its moniker, “Bridge to Heaven”, Amanohashidate is a 3.6km long natural sandbar sprawling with nearly 8,000 pine trees. It has mountains on both ends housing some ancient temples, a park and the Amanohashidate View Land which is a mini amusement park where the famous “Matanozaki” position started. No wonder it is part of the Three Famous Scenic Views, would you believe this world-renowned iconic landscape is just two-hours from Kyoto by bus or train? Experience World-class Specialty Coffee at % Arabica Coffee % Arabica Coffee Coffee Lovers unite! The world famous % (Percent) Arabica Coffee now has not one, not two, BUT THREE locations in Kyoto. The first shop opened in Higashiyama, then came the one in Arashiyama, and the latest one blessing us with freshly brewed coffee near the Nishiki Market.Before taking the world by storm, this is where this specialty coffee shop planted its roots. Serving coffee harvested from its own coffee farm in Hawaii, the coffee shop climbed its way to fame and now has 43 branches in 11 countries. Coffee addict or not, this is definitely a must-try when you go to Kyoto. Find Tranquility in Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Around a 20-minute ride from Kyoto Train Station, take a step into serenity at Arashiyama’s Sagano Bamboo Forest which is hailed as one of the “100 Soundscapes of Japan”. Listen to the relaxing sound of tall bamboo stalks swaying left and right while walking on the uphill trail leading to the magnificent Okochi-Sanso Villa. The bamboo grove is open 24 hours a day, but the best time to visit is in the morning or sunset to avoid the flock of locals and tourists. Have a Thrilling Joyride with a View by the Sagano Romantic Train and Hozugawa River Boat Tour Sagano Romantic Train See the scenic Arashiyama-Kameoka countryside in a different view by taking the Sagano Romantic Train. The archaic train also known as “Sagano Torokko Ressha” runs along the Hozugawa River. Heading back to Arashiyama, you can either take the Sagano Romantic Train or go and have a thrilling boat ride through the Hozugawa River. The two hour boat ride travels through 16 kilometers of stunning views from Tanba-Kameoka back to Arashiyama.Read more: 20 of the Best Things to Do in Kyoto with Kids Boat Ride through the Hozugawa River Go Train Watching for Free While Lounging at the Public Arashiyama Foot Bath Public Arashiyama Foot Bath Kimono Forest After a tiring day of visiting the wide array of temples, shrines and parks that Kyoto has to offer, drop by the Randen Arashiyama Station’s foot bath. For only 200 yen, you can have a calming foot bath from Arashiyama’s own natural hot spring while watching trains go by, and the fee also comes with your own free foot towel. After a relaxing dip, visit the Kimono Forest that features almost 600 cylinder-shaped pillars covered in brightly colored Kyoto’s very own Yuzen Kimono textile which are also illuminated at night for a more dream-like effect. Arashiyama’s Hidden Gem: The 1,200 Enchanting Rakan Statues of Otagi Nenbutsuji Otagi Nenbutsuji On the fringes of Arashiyama, you’ll come across the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple which is home to nearly 1,200 eccentric Buddhist statues called “Rakan” meaning Buddha’s disciples. These adorable statues are made by the previous head priest Kocho Nishimura’s sculpture students, so no two statues look the same. Each one have their own pose or facial expression, there’s a Rakan making a cheeky face behind a Hanya mask, another is holding what seems to be a cassette tape player and a pair is drinking sake together. Take a Spiritual Hike at the Fushimi Inari Shrine Fushimi Inari Shrine Fushimi Inari Shrine is dedicated to the God of Rice and Sake, Inari Okami. It is famous for its “Senbon Torii”, literally meaning “thousands of torii gates”. Stone foxes are scattered throughout the shrine, as they are depicted as the messenger of the Gods. The hike up takes about 3 hours back and forth including quick stops to the iconic parts of the trail and is about an hour and a half to get to the summit where you can have a refreshing drink at the Purification Fountain. Enjoy a Teahouse Experience with a Maiko or Geisha Teahouse Experience with a Maiko or Geisha Geisha and Maiko are meticulously trained artists who possess skills of dance, music and conversation.Although the Maiko and Geisha experience at teahouses has been strictly limited to customers recommended by a regular client, some places have started to loosen their restrictions to welcome a diverse range of visitors, with experiences easily arranged online. Have a Nihonshu Brewery Tour at Fushimi Sake District Nihonshu Brewery One of the biggest and most famous brewery district in Japan, Fushimi has nearly 40 different nihonshu breweries. The district offers tourist-friendly English guided brewery tour which includes the historical Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum that was founded way back the early 1980s. You can also take the Jikkokubune Canal Cruise, which is an hour cruise through the Horikawa River on a quaint wooden boat with a stop by the Misunokomon Sake Museum. ©NAVITIME JAPAN. 旅行ガイド 楽しい旅をサポートする、便利なお役立ち情報をお届けします。
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- Kyoto
- 10. January. 2020
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The Sake Breweries of Nada
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- Not a lot of tourists are aware of the fact that Kobe is home to the top-producing sake region in Japan. With over 40 breweries spread out around Nada, or Higashinada Ward to be precise, a sake tour is definitely on the cards during a visit to this bustling city. Not all breweries are open to the public and some are now museums rather than production facilities, but at those which are accessible to the public, you can learn about their history, their production methods, and best of all try out a wide variety of Nihonshu. Here are some of the best sake breweries to check out in Kobe. Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum With Nada being the top sake-producing region in Japan, Kiku-Masamune Brewery has been consistently earning the status of No. 1 overall sake both among Tokyo and Osaka liquor stores from 1984 to 2011. Their pride and joy is their dry sake, which they have focused on all throughout their history. The highlight at the museum is the old sake brewery equipment which is considered “important tangible folk cultural property”, equipment that not only survived the passage of time but also the massive destruction of the Great Hanshin Earthquake. After taking all the history in, head over to the tasting area and witness for yourself what the fuss is all about. Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum Sakuramasamune Sakuraen Museum Sakuramasamune Sakuraen Museum Due to the Great Hanshin Earthquake, not much of the original sake brewery remains here and thus the exhibits are quite small. Thanks to a video though, visitors get a glimpse of what life inside the brewery used to be like. As you walk around the exhibition space, the vintage bottles on display are a nice touch but even nicer is the sake tasting set available for free. After trying out the Daiginjo, the Junmai Ginjo, and Junmai Genshu, it will be hard to resist not buying their colorful bottles. An in-house restaurant offering traditional Japanese dishes is the perfect place to put the sake to the real test. Sakuramasamune Sakuraen Museum Hamafukutsuru Ginjo Brewery Hamafukutsuru Ginjo Brewery Hamafukutsuru is another one of the award-winning breweries in the area and as the name implies, it is recognized for its Ginjo sake. Here you can actually have a look at part of the production process from the second-floor exhibition room. And although you cannot enter the brewing area there’s an interactive showcase where with the push of a button you can smell the sake being brewed. If you visit in winter, you might even get a peek at the action inside the Koji production room where malted rice is produced. Hamafukutsuru Ginjo Brewery Kobe Shushinkan Kobe Shushinkan Shushinkan is famous for its Fukuju sake which they have been brewing in Kobe for over 260 years using a type of water called Miyamizu. Here you will get one of the most complete sake experiences in Nada and depending on your preferences you can get access to informative videos, a tour of the fermentation area, the usual tasting, a sake shop, and a Japanese restaurant where the Fukuju is paired with the finest of ingredients. Certain activities require a prior reservation so make sure to check their website before your visit. https://www.navitime.co.jp/poi?spt=02301.13000375 Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum Hakutsuru (white crane) has been around since the mid-1700s and all throughout its history has been producing high-quality Dai Ginjo sake among other delicacies. The company turned their old brewhouse into a museum which is now open to travelers who can learn about its history and production methods through life-size exhibits showcased around the former production facility. At the end of the exhibition, visitors can turn into brewers themselves and grab a memorable photo in traditional uniforms. ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Hyogo
- 10. April. 2019
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Sake
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- Nozawa’s potent sake, or nihonshu, is another product of the town’s fertile land and fresh water, together with some diligent craftsmanship. Revered as some of the finest in all Japan, Nozawa sake hails from two main breweries; Tanakaya and Kadoguchi. The former is noted for its Mizuo-branded variety, made with pure water from a spring at the foot of the mountain of that name. A smooth, easily drinkable brew, it can be purchased directly from a shop at the Tanakaya brewery, and is also served at many local bars and eateries.
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- Nagano
- 8. March. 2019
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The City that Sake Built: A Trip to Fushimi in Kyoto
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- You could almost tell the history of Fushimi without mentioning the city that would later absorb it. It was here that Toyotomi Hideyoshi built his Momoyama Castle, transforming the area into a political center, home to samurai served by a community of artisans, merchants and, even more important to the history of Fushimi, sake brewers. The rivers met at Fushimi, the canals began there, and it served as a waypoint for travelers on their way into the capital and those headed down to Osaka or up to Edo. Start your rediscovery of this riverside trading port with a trip out on one of the flat-bottomed riverboats that ply the Uji Canal through Fushimi. Although the tour doesn’t head that far west, boats like those used for cruises today could have run slipped onto routes headed to Osaka, and rice grown as far away as Niigata could be shipped down across Lake Biwa and into Fushimi. The cruise takes about fifty minutes and provides a behind-the-scenes look at Fushimi, skimming along the infrastructure that built this town, and providing glimpses of sake breweries, warehouses and former merchant districts. Since this was a town built on the water, the canals are the best way to explore it. The Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum sits, of course, right alongside the canal. ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Kyoto
- 19. January. 2019
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Taketsuru Brewery
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- With all of the architecture of Takehara, there are signals and symbols that can be difficult for modern visitors to the old town to fully read and appreciate. What was being signaled by the architecture of the Taketsuru Brewery, for example? The latticework is beautiful but its subtleties are probably lost on most. The Morikawa Home, a mansion constructed in the Taisho but built in the Meiji style, would have been a statement that is hard to interpret more than a century on. Every aspect of these homes, warehouses, shrines and temples was carefully considered. To get a full appreciation for the old town is perhaps impossible, but a good place to get an introduction is the Takehara City Historical Folk Museum, occupying a building constructed in 1929 for the Takehara Shoin Library.
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- Hiroshima
- 7. January. 2019
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Nakao Brewery
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- Sake became a fine way for merchants to store and flaunt their wealth, but it took a scientific advance to pave the way for the local brew: it was down the coast in Akitsu that Senzaburo Miura pioneered new methods to brew ginjo sake from the soft water found locally, which was nearly impossible up to then to make sake from. Rice was milled down beyond the husk and bran to leave only starchy translucent pearls that could be fermented without mineral-rich hard water. The crisp yet complex ginjo sake made at breweries like Takehara were born, first, out of necessity. Nakao is one of the breweries that keeps that tradition alive.
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- Hiroshima
- 3. January. 2019
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The Hometown of Ginjo Sake: Takehara’s Breweries
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- The salt trade that built the wealth of the town had a hand in the development of a unique local sake, as well. The salt business fell by the wayside, but the smooth, complex ginjo sake brewed in Takehara is still appreciated by connoisseurs at home at and abroad. The defunct breweries preserved in the old town are a testament to the history of Takehara, and the operations that still bottle the local brew definitely deserve a visit. Taketsuru Brewery Taketsuru Brewery Taketsuru Brewery has seen renewed fame since the broadcast of an NHK drama about the brewer and scientist Masataka Taketsuru, the local son that learned the secrets of distilling scotch while a student in Glasgow in the early-1900s. He married a Scottish lass and brought her, along with plenty of distilling knowledge, back to his hometown of Takehara. Taketsuru went on to found Nikka Whisky and bring a still-vibrant love of fine whiskey to his hometown, and Takehara still remembers the family legacy. Taketsuru Brewery Nestled in an alley in the preserved historical district, the brewery has welcomed a steady procession of pilgrims. Although usually closed to visitors, the attached Ozasaya Sake Museum, is open briefly during the weekend, and there’s also a statue of Masataka Taketsuru located close by. Even if you’re not a fan of NHK dramas, this is a key piece in understanding the history of Takehara. Nakao Brewery Nakao Brewery Sake became a fine way for merchants to store and flaunt their wealth, but it took a scientific advance to pave the way for the local brew: it was down the coast in Akitsu that Senzaburo Miura pioneered new methods to brew ginjo sake from the soft water found locally, which was nearly impossible up to then to make sake from. Rice was milled down beyond the husk and bran to leave only starchy translucent pearls that could be fermented without mineral-rich hard water. The crisp yet complex ginjo sake made at breweries like Takehara were born, first, out of necessity. Nakao is one of the breweries that keeps that tradition alive. Nakao Brewery Founded in the 1870s, the brewery bottles some of the finest examples of the local sake. Although usually closed to visitors, connoisseurs are advised to pick up a bottle of the Seikyo-branded ginjo, a trapped-in-amber recreation of Nakao’s original brew, still made about the same way it was in 1871. Fujii Sake Brewery Fujii Sake Brewery Fujii Sake Brewery in the preserved historical district is a different kind of operation than Nakao but it, too, operates much as it always has. The brewery’s range of ginjo and daiginjo (the premier cru of sake, using rice milled down to at least half its size) are truly special, representing the finest of the region’s liquor. And, unlike Nakao, the brewery is happy to welcome visitors to tour the brewery and warehouse. Fujii Sake Brewery Stop by the Sakagura Koryu Kan, the attached museum and cultural center, to sample the sake and see something of the history of the operation, still housed, for the most part, in a well-preserved historical building, and then visit the attached dining room where the specialty is handmade soba, the perfect accompaniment to pours of the brewery’s ginjo sake. ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Hiroshima
- 3. January. 2019
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Taketsuru Brewing
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- Pay a visit to the preserved homes open now to visitors, and make sure to stop by and pay your respects to Masataka Taketsuru and his wife Rita Cowan. The scion of the Taketsuru brewing family went to Scotland at the turn of the last century and brought back with him secrets of Scottish distilling that he used to found Nikka Whisky. The NHK miniseries Massan about the couple’s romance brought renewed interest in the story of the Nikka Whisky founder and his Scottish bride—and, as a result, visitors to his hometown of Takehara.
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- Hiroshima
- 29. December. 2018
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Very well-organised tour. The guide spoke mostly in Japanese but they have prepared slides in English to explain the processes. The VR experience in the end was pretty good too. The free beer were...
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- Taketsuru Sake Brewery
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竹原町並み保存地区のメインストリートに面した１７３３年から続く古い造り酒屋さんです。日本酒らしさをあるがままに追求した、ある意味で媚びない、ちょっと個性的な純米酒を送り出されています。これは、竹鶴政孝の「良い物は必ず売れる」の信念に通じるものを感じました。 作り手のこだわりを理解しつつも、家族へのお土産に少し飲みやすい純米吟醸の生酒を選びました。 是非、酒蔵に足を運んで、好みの１本を選んでみてくだ...
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