A rare opportunity to taste Japan’s finest sake

Traditional sake brewing in Japan is a precious art that dates back centuries. Evolving from ancient techniques passed down through generations, modern sake brewing plays a vital role in Japanese culture—in fact, according to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it may soon become the country’s newest UNESCO UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

This December, three highly regarded sake breweries will offer visitors the rare opportunity to brew and taste sake on site. Sumikawa Sake Brewery in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Mitsui Hisaru Brewery in Fukuoka Prefecture, and Niizawa Sake Brewery in Miyagi Prefecture are usually closed to the public, making the experience even more exciting.

Taking place over three consecutive days, each tour will offer a sake brewing experience, sake tasting and lunch at a local restaurant (with an English-speaking guide). Due to limited space, interested visitors are advised to Reserve a spot As soon as possible.

Read on for a brief introduction to sake brewing in Japan and learn about three of the best breweries in the country.

Oriental Beauty “OMOYA” (main building), provided by Sumikawa Sake Brewery

The Art of Japanese Sake Brewing

Historians generally agree that the first alcoholic beverages made from rice originated during the Yayoi period, when rice-growing technology was transferred from China to Japan. Sake produced in breweries began to flourish during the Edo period. Today’s sake masters are known as thatintegrating classic brewing methods and modern science and technology to produce high-quality sake for domestic and foreign customers.

Miyagi Prefecture Nissawa Sake Brewery

Sake brewing requires precision, creativity and care. It starts with carefully polished rice, prepared and steamed to perfection, then passed through WHO Shaped into fermentable sugars. Professional brewers guide the fermentation process, balancing temperature and time to create the exquisite flavor of sake: sweet, dry and rich in umami. The three breweries on this tour have been practicing this art for centuries, each with their own unique techniques and history.

Toyobijin Ichibanmai Junmai Daiginjo, provided by Sumikawa Sake Brewery

Sumikawa Sake Brewery

Located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Sumikawa Sake Brewery Famous for producing the classic sake Toyo Bijin, which is loved for its crisp, fruity aroma. The brewery was founded in 1921 and the current director is Sumikawa Takafumi. Junkawa’s impeccable technique and respect for sake brewing as an art form is a tribute to his training under the tutelage of Takagi Akitsuna, head of the renowned Takagi Brewery.

The Sumikawa family were rice wholesalers before taking over a relative’s sake brewery and transforming it into the household name it is today. “Toyo Bijin” translates to “Beauty of the East”; the brewery’s first director chose the name in honor of his late wife. Combining time-honored craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, the family’s three-story brewery continues to pass on the culture of sake brewing from generation to generation.

The Sumikawa Sake Brewery Tour will be held on Saturday, December 21st.

MII NO KOTOBUKI JUNMAI GINJO +14 Extra Dry by MII NO KOTOBUKI BREWERY

Mitsui Noju

Located in the peaceful rice fields of Mitsui-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture, Mitsui Noju The tradition of sake brewing has been preserved since 1922. The brewery’s proximity to Kyushu’s longest Chikugo River allows it to utilize locally harvested rice for the brewing process. More than 90% of the sake produced in the brewery is junmai Sake: Junmai sake without any additives. It was a pioneer in junmai sake production in the early 1980s.

You may also recognize slam dunk The label on the brewery’s Junmai Ginjo +14 pays homage to the uniforms of fictional shooter Tsune Mitsui from the legendary basketball manga. Takehiko Inoue, author of the popular 1990s manga series, derived the character’s name from another interpretation of the brewery. Chinese character figure.

Sumikawa sake brewery tour will be held on Sunday, December 22nd.

White Lexing Junmai Daiginjo, provided by Ninzawa Sake Brewery

Ninzawa Sake Brewery

historic Ninzawa Sake BreweryCo., Ltd. was established in 1873 and is headquartered in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. The current chief brewer, Nanami Watanabe, took office in 2018 when he was only 22 years old. Cang people (Brewers) rather than subscribing to the typical strictly hierarchical environment.

The brewery also pioneered a groundbreaking rice polishing technology – the “Diamond Roller” machine – to maximize the retention of the grain’s original umami flavor. Flat rice polishing, also known as half-baked ricebrewing a more refreshing and delicate sake. Ninzawa’s award-winning Shirakoshi sake is not only widely available in star-rated restaurants, but has also been served at international events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Grammy Awards.

The Sumikawa Sake Brewery Tour will be held on Monday, December 23rd.

How to book a sake tour

Interested visitors can now book English-language guided tours of three breweries KKday.