Sake is one of the most popular drinks in Japan. Different rice and water are used in different regions, resulting in sake with different flavors depending on regions.
The relationship with the snow country culture can also be seen in the background of sake.
For example, some sake breweries make good use of the heavy snowfall in their brewing process, such as using melt water and Yukimuro (a insulted room that store massive amount of snow to mature and chill sake).
Rice, an important ingredient in sake brewing, also grows well thanks to the melt water from the snow that accumulates in the winter and melts in the spring. Therefore, some sake breweries benefit indirectly from the snow.
Even if snow is not directly involved in sake brewing, some breweries name their sake after snow-related words. Whether directly or indirectly, snow has an impact on sake culture.
Let's take a look at some of the breweries in Okitama area, Yamagata prefecture, Japan.
Where is Okitama Area?
The Okitama area is located in the southernmost part of Yamagata Prefecture and is surrounded by mountains. It is surrounded by the Ou Mountains in the east, the Asahi Mountains in the west, the Azuma and Iide Mountains in the south, and the Asahi Mountains and Shirataka Mountains in the north.
How much snow does it get?
All of the Okitama area is included in the special heavy snowfall zone. The area is surrounded by mountains and has a climate on the Sea of Japan side, so it snows a lot.
Learn more about heavy snowfaall areas below.
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Japan and Unique Snow Culture - One of the Major Snowest Place in the World
Japan is one of the major snowiest place in the world. In order to survive in this snowy region, various wisdoms have been developed to coexist with the snow since ancient times, and a very unique snow country culture has been formed today. How much does it snow in Japan? Data from JICE shows that compared to the snowfall of cities around the world, Japan has many cities that receive more snowfall. The graph below shows the total depth of snowfall in one year, with Asahikawa City in Hokkaido, Aomori City in Aomori Prefecture, and the Takada district of Joetsu ...
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Nagai City
The city is sandwiched between the Asahi Mountains in the west and the Dewa Hills in the east. From spring to summer, cherry blossoms, azaleas, and irises are at their best.
Naganuma (長沼合名会社)
Established in 1916. Water from the Asahi mountain range is used as brewing water.
The sake brewery and store are recognized as historical buildings and are designated as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan.
Phone: 0238-88-2007
URL : https://www.soumura.com/
E-mail: mail@soumura.com
Suzuki Shuzoten - Nagai brewery (鈴木酒造店長井蔵)
Established in 1931. Uses snow melt water from the Mogami River as brewing water.
Phone: 0238-88-2224
URL : http://www.iw-kotobuki.co.jp/
E-mail : kouhuku@e.jan.ne.jp
Iide Town
Iide Town is located in the southwestern part of Yamagata Prefecture, at the headwaters of the Mogami River, in an area with a beautiful view of the Iide mountain range. The water flowing from the mountains of the Iide mountain range moistens the land, forming a fertile rice farming area and fostering a farming culture.
It is also a place where the culture of living in a snowy country remains because of the heavy snowfall.
It is registered as one of the regions of the NPO "The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan", which is working as a model for the "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" movement to introduce the most beautiful villages in France.
The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan : https://utsukushii-mura.jp/?hl=en
Wakanoi Shuzo (若乃井酒造)
Established in 1890. The Nogawa River flows by Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine, the village's guardian deity, and when a well was dug downstream, fresh water gushed out.The water was of a quality that suited sake brewing well, and that is the origin of the company name and brand name (若乃井 / 若 comes from 若宮八幡宮 [Wakamiya Hachimangu] and 井 comes from 井戸[ido = well]
Phone: 0238-72-2020
URL : http://www.wakanoi.jp/
E-mail: wakanoi@sky.plala.or.jp
Yonezawa City
The Azuma mountain range, which stretches to the south of the city, is mostly designated as Bandai-Asahi National Park, where visitors can enjoy mountain climbing in summer and skiing in winter.
There are many hot springs in the Azuma mountains, including Shirabu Onsen, Ubayu Onsen, Odaira Onsen, Namegawa Onsen, Shintakayu Onsen, Goshiki Onsen, and Yunosawa Onsen.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of hot springs in the Azuma mountains.
Kosaka Shuzo (香坂酒造)
Founded in 1923. The company is actively developing new products, such as wine-type sake made by fermenting glutinous rice with wine yeast, and junmai-zake, which is freshly squeezed junmai sake frozen at minus 30 degrees Celsius.
Phone: 0238-23-3355
URL : http://www.ko-bai.sakura.ne.jp/
E-mail: ko-bai@abeam.ocn.ne.jp
Hamada Co. (浜田株式会社)
Established in 1866. The company uses subsoil water from the Azuma mountain range as its brewing water. The Yonezawa Basin in Yamagata Prefecture is an ideal environment for the production of grapes for wine, and the company also produces wine.
The brewery is also open to the public, and in the boutique, visitors can buy Hamada's sake, as well as wines and chocolates from the group companies.
Phone: 0238-37-6330
URL : http://www.okimasamune.com/
Tour : https://okimasamune.com/boutique.html
E-mail : okimasamune@mmy.ne.jp
Kojima Sohonten (小嶋総本店)
Established in 1597, Kojima has a long history.
The company uses abundant snow melt water flowing from Mt. Azuma.
In addition, Kojima Honten has established the Yonezawa Sake Rice Research Association and is working with contract farmers to grow rice. Many of the members of the contracted farmers are also winter employees of Kojima Sohonten, so they are deeply involved with the raw materials in a cycle of rice farming in summer and sake brewing in winter.
Just a few minutes walk from the Kojima Main Store is one of the largest sake brewing museums in Tohoku. There is also a store under the direct management of the brewery, where visitors can enjoy tasting and shopping.In addition to sake, there are also original goods such as the brewery's homemade kasuzuke (preserved fish and vegetables pickled in sake lees), koji, sake lees, snacks that go well with sake and rice, and cosmetics.
Phone: 0238-23-4848
URL : https://www.sake-toko.co.jp/en/
Tour : https://www.sake-toko.co.jp/en/sakagura/
E-mail : info@sake-toko.co.jp
Takahata Town
Surrounded by the Ou Mountains, Takahata town is a beautiful, fertile town on a fan-shaped area of the Wada River.
Yonetsuru Shuzo (米鶴酒造)
Established in 1688. Sake brewery tours are available from April to September. (Sake brewing begins in October.)
They also hold events such as a rice planting festival in May, a rice harvest festival in October, and a brewing experience in February.
Phone: 0238-52-1130 URL : http://www.yonetsuru.com/ Tour : http://yonetsuru.com/tour/ E-mail : info@yonetsuru.com
Goto Shuzoten (後藤酒造店)
Established in 1788. Uses subterranean water from the Mogami River as brewing water.
The brand name "Benten" is derived from "Bensaiten", the goddess of music and entertainment among the Seven Gods of Good Fortune.
Phone: 0238-57-3136
URL : http://www.benten-goto.com
E-mail : gotobenten@gmail.com
Kawanishi Town
Kawanishi-cho is a place rich in nature and is known as a "rice-growing area" like the Shonai Plain in the prefecture. It is also known for its dahlia gardens and herb gardens.
Taruhei Shuzo (樽平酒造)
Founded in 1695. The sake brewery is a nationally registered cultural property. The website says that reservations can be made for a tour of the brewery, and that contact is required.
Phone: 0238-42-3101
URL : http://www.taruhei.co.jp
E-mail: host-mail@taruhei.co.jp
Nakaoki Shuzo (中沖酒造店)
Established in 1923. Uses water from the Mogami River as brewing water.
Phone: 0238-42-4116
URL : https://uyo-ikkon.co.jp/en_home/
E-mail: info@uyo-ikkon.co.jp
Nanyo City
Nanyo City is a town with a long history and tradition, including the Akayu Onsen, which has been in use for over 920 years, and the Miyauchi Kumano Taisha Shrine.
The cherry blossoms of Eboshiyama are in full bloom from mid to late April, the roses of Futamatsu Rose Garden from early June to early July, and the chrysanthemums from mid October to mid November.
Grapes, cherries, and other fruit trees are grown in the area, and wine brewing is also popular.
Azumano Humoto Shuzo (東の麓酒造)
Established in 1896. With the hope that young people will become familiar with sake, the company is developing a new brand "Tenkyu" in collaboration with students from Tohoku University of Art & Design.
Phone: 0238-47-5111
URL : http://www.azumanofumoto.co.jp/en/
E-mail : info@azumanofumoto.co.jp
