Sake is one of the most popular drinks in Japan. Different rice and water are used in each region, resulting in sake with different flavors depending on the region.
Some sake breweries make the most of the heavy snowfall in their brewing process by using melt water and Yukimuro (a insulted room that store massive amount of snow to mature and chill sake).
Let's take a look at four breweries in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, a region with heavy snowfall.
Where is Joetsu city?
Joetsu City is located in the southwestern part of Niigata Prefecture.
Joetsu City is designated as a special heavy snowfall area under the Act on Special Measures Concerning Heavy Snowfall Areas, and receives a lot of snow every year.
After winter, cherry blossoms are in full bloom in spring. The cherry blossoms at night in Takada Park are especially famous. The cherry blossoms in Takada Joshi Park are one of the three most famous night cherry blossom viewing events in Japan.
Joetsu City is also the birthplace of skiing in Japan.
On January 12, 1911, Major Lerch, a soldier of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, gave the first ski instruction in Japan. From this point on, Japanese skiing spread from Joetsu to the rest of Japan.
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Skiing is a popular activity in Japan, and is now enjoyed by many people as a winter leisure activity. Many ski resorts have been built as leisure activities, and the economy revolves around them, including hotels, restaurants, and entertainment in Japan. Japan's natural environment provides high quality powder snow known as JAPOW (Japan Powder), which has attracted the attention of overseas ski enthusiasts to skiing in Japan. Skiing in Japan has also become a sporting event, and many Japanese skiers are now active in the sport. What was the trigger for the spread of skiing in Japan? The beginning of ...
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Joetsu City is also well known for its rice and sake, and produces delicious sake.
4 Sake brewery in Joetsu city
Here's 4 sake breweries in Joetsu city.
Myoko Shuzo (妙高酒造)
The Myoko Sake Brewery has a history dating back to its establishment in 1815.
Myoko Shuzo uses subsoil water from the Myoko mountain range for its brewing water. In addition, Myoko Shuzo uses two types of yeast in one brewer to bring out a unique taste.
The brewery has won many awards, including the International Wine Challenge (IWC).
Website (Only Japanese) : https://myokoshuzo.co.jp/
Musashino Shuzo (武蔵野酒造)
Musashino Shuzo produces a unique sake named "Ski Masamune". (The name "Masamune" is common in Japanese sake, but it is not common to find a sake with the name "Ski".
The town of Takada was known as the birthplace of skiing, when the Austrian soldier Major Lerch introduced skiing to the area.
As a result, the former Takada City encouraged local industries to create products with skiing in their names in order to revitalize the town.Various products such as ski rice, ski soup, and the folk song "Ski Song" were created. In the same vein, Ski Masamune was also created.
More information & Tour : https://www.musashino-shuzo.com/wp2/?page_id=521
Takeda Shuzo (竹田酒造)
Takeda Sake Brewery was established in 1866. Takeda Sake Brewery's representative brand is "Katafune (潟舟)".
The sake is made from a tradition that has been maintained since the company's founding, and has won numerous awards including the IWC.
The name Katafune(潟舟) comes from the "lagoons (潟)" that dot the sand dunes and the "boats (舟)" in the Kamikofunazu(上小舟津) area of Joetsu City.
More information : https://www.katafune.jp/sake.html
Tour : https://www.katafune.jp/brewery.html
Yoshikawa Toji no Sato
Yoshikawa area is known as a place that has produced many toji (master brewers). From 1857 to 2003, Niigata Prefecture's Yoshikawa High School had one of the few brewing courses in Japan for training master brewers.
Yoshikawa Toji no Sato uses spring water from the beech forests of Mount Ogamidake.
In addition to the sales floor, there is a space for history and materials, and a tasting area in their facilities.
Website (Japanese Only) : https://www.yoshikawa-touji.co.jp/
