Golden Week is almost in the second half. If you haven't decided where to go yet, why not visit a sake brewery in Niigata Prefecture, which boasts the largest number of sake breweries in Japan? There are many different styles of sake brewery tours.10A guidebook introducing all sake breweries in Niigata Prefecture, published on the 1st of each month, "Sake Day"CushuBased on the information on visiting sake breweries in the "Niigata Sake Breweries & Town Tours" handbook, we will introduce you to different types of tours. Make visiting a sake brewery one of the things to do on your trip to Niigata, not just during Golden Week.

Visit the sake brewing site

There are many sake breweries where you can enter the actual sake brewing process.

Sado CityHokusetsu Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Northern Snow")Henmi Shuzo Co., Ltd.(“Mainryo” “To”)・Tenryohai Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Tenryohai" "Gagakudai"), Gosen CityKondo Shuzo, Inc.("Mt. Suganadake"), in Aga TownKirinzan Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Kirinzan")Kaetsu Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Kirin", "Homare Kirin", "Kambara"), Niigata CityImayo Tsukasa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Imayotsukasa")Shiokawa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Petitioner")Takano Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Koshijifubuki")Sasaiwai Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Sasa Iwai")Takarayama Brewery("Takarayama"), Nagaoka CityAsahi Shuzo Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.("Asahiyama" "Kubota")Ofuku Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Ofukumasamune")Ikeura Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Warakugoson"), Ojiya CityTakanoi Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Takanoi" and "Denyu"), Uonuma CityTamagawa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Tamafuumi")Midorikawa Sake Company("Midorikawa"), Tokamachi CityUonuma Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Tenjinbayashi"), in Joetsu CityJouetsu Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Echigo Bijin" "Young Bamboos of Echigo")Takeda Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Katafune")Musashino Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Sukimasamune")Yoyogiku Brewery Co., Ltd.("Chibitagawa")Tanaka Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Noutaka")Myokoshuzo Co., Ltd.("Myokosan"), Myoko CityChiyonohikari Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.Among these, Tamagawa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., whose symbol is the snow storage facility "Yukikura," is open all year round without a reservation. You can enjoy a tour of Yukikura, the "washing area" where sake rice is washed, the "steaming area" where rice is steamed, and the storage facility, as well as tastings at the shop.

When entering a sake brewery, be sure to follow the rules to ensure a pleasant visit, such as avoiding strong-smelling items such as perfume and hair products, wearing comfortable shoes, and not touching the tools and machinery used in the brewery. Some breweries also have rules about food, such as not eating natto for breakfast, so be sure to check.

The only place where you can see the sake brewing process through glass is Sado City.Obata Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Manotsuru"), Niigata CityLagoon Brewery("Shoku"), which is also a roadside station.Yoshikawa Touji no Sato Co., Ltd.("Yoshikawatoji" "Tenkeiraku"), Itoigawa CityKaganoi Sake Inc.Of these, Obata Shuzo Co., Ltd., Lagoon Brewery, and Yoshikawa Touji no Sato Co., Ltd. are adjacent to cafes and direct sales stores, so you can use them without making a reservation during their opening hours.

Depending on the brewery, tours may not be available during peak seasons, may only be available on brewery business days, or may be open on irregular holidays. There are several types of tastings, some free, some paid, and some included in the tour fee. Many breweries have a closing date. On the other hand, there are many breweries within walking distance (about 15 minutes) of Niigata Station.Imayo Tsukasa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.You can apply on the day if there are spaces available.

Imayo Tsukasa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. was founded in 1767 (Meiwa 4).

You can tour the museum while listening to explanations from the staff.

Enjoy tastings and shopping at the entrance to the main house and at the direct sales shop.

Although you cannot observe the sake brewing process, you can visit the entrance to the brewery, including the sales area and the earthen floor of the main building, and listen to explanations about the history of the brewery and sake brewing.Miyao Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.("Shimeharitsuru") and Myoko CityKiminoi Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Kiminoi"). No reservation is required for either. It is also interesting to see the building, which has the beams of a historic sake brewery and is full of wisdom unique to snow country.

Miyao Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.'s sake brewery entrance space

There is also an illustration on display of the late Mizumaru Anzai, who was a friend of Miyao Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.

There is a direct sales store in a separate building from the brewery, where you can shop, sample the sake, and even see displays introducing the brewery.Taiyo Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Taiyouzakari")'s "Nagomizokura" in Niigata CityDHC sake brewery("Kazan")'s "Kazan-tei" in Kashiwazaki CityHara Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Koshinohomare")'s "Shusaikan"Abe Shuzo Co., Ltd.("Abe" "Koshinootokoyama")'s "Direct Sales Store and Cola Building", Itoigawa CityWatanabe Shuzoten("DOMZAINE WATANABE")'s "Toyojozo" is one example of this.

DHC Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. "Kazan-tei" shop corner

A tasting snack set is also available for you to enjoy comparing different drinks.

Theme park-like facilities also appear

Shibata CityKikusui Sake Co., Ltd.(Kikusui) houses a reference room where you can see documents and tools related to sake, as well as the Kikusui Sake Culture Research Institute, which houses the Setsugorozura brewery, where handmade sake is brewed. You can also see the inside of Setsugorozura through glass.

Nagaoka CityYoshinogawaYoshinogawa is a renovated warehouse called "Tsunekura" that was built in the Taisho era and is a nationally registered tangible cultural property.2019The Yoshinogawa Sake Museum Brewery opened in 2013. It offers Yoshinogawa's standard sakes as well as special limited edition sakes that can only be tasted here.SAKEThere is a bar, an exhibition of sake brewing equipment, a craft beer brewery, and you can also enjoy shopping and play a sake brewing simulation game.

Yoshinogawa SAKE Museum Brewery

A retro-modern space that makes use of the beams of a storehouse built in the Taisho period

Minamiuonuma CityHakkaisan Brewery Co., Ltd.("Hakkaisan") is developing the area around the Satoyama area where the Daini Kowagura sake brewery (not open to the public) is located, which was built to apply Daiginjo brewing techniques to regular sake, into "Uonuma Village."

It is a popular tourist facility that brings together the Hakkaisan Yukimuro, which can be visited, unique shops and restaurants such as a confectionery shop and a specialty aged meat shop, as well as a craft beer brewery. Tickets for the Yukimuro snow storage tour are sold on the day, but it is recommended to make a reservation in advance on the official website.

More and more opportunities to experience unique Niigata sake are appearing

In recent years, new direct sales stores and experience facilities have been opening one after another. Facilities such as the "Koji Classroom" at Sasaiwai Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. and the "Cola Building" at Abe Shuzo Co., Ltd. are enjoyable for both adults and children, and some are intended to convey the appeal of sake to the next generation.

An experience facility where everyone from children to adults can learn about koji

At the Koji class at Sasaiwai Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., you can make shio-koji (salt koji), soy sauce-koji (soy sauce koji), and other types of koji by reservation.

Obata Shuzo Co., Ltd. has opened a new cafe where you can enjoy fermented dishes in a closed school brewery. They also offer courses where you can enjoy a tour of the school and tasting.

A school storehouse created by utilizing an abandoned school on a hilltop with a panoramic view of the sea

There is also a course where you can enjoy a school tour and a tasting.

At Kikusui Sake Co., Ltd.2025Years4Month29On Sunday, the facility will be a fermentation base with a lab, shop, cafe, garden, and more.KIKUSUIKura Garden was opened.

KIKUSUI Kura Garden Cafe

Various events are held at the KIKUSUI Kura Garden Lab

 

6In May, Yuzawa TownShirataki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.("Jouzen Mizunogotoshi") will be hosting a "Shop & Taproom'flowWe are also looking forward to the new facility, which will be located just a few minutes' walk from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line.

 

 

*Even if no reservation is required, please check the official website orSocial MediaPlease call to confirm opening days and hours.

*Although reservations are not required for individuals, they are often required for groups.

Photo courtesy of Obata Shuzo Co.,Ltd. Brewery, Miyao Sake Brewing Co.,Ltd., Kikusui Sake Co.,Ltd., Imayo Tsukasa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., Sasaiwai Sake Brewery Co.,Ltd., Lagoon Brewery, DHC Sake Brewery Co.,Ltd., Yoshinogawa, Tamagawa Sake Brewery Co.,Ltd., Hakkaisan Brewery Co.,Ltd., Shirataki Sake Brewery Co.,Ltd.

 

 

 

Neil

("CushuNotebook ""From NiigataR"issue)

Mariko Takahashi