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.
First of all, 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 that offer tours of their breweries in Niigata City, the capital of Niigata Prefecture, which is home to many heavy snowfall areas.
Where is Niigata City?
Niigata City is the capital of Niigata Prefecture and has a population of about 800,000.
Niigata City has been designated as a “Center for Agricultural Reform in Large-Scale Farming” (an “Agricultural Special Zone”) under the National Strategic Special Zone policy, part of the growth strategy that forms the “third arrow” of the Abenomics economic policy.
Sado Island is accessible by ferry from Niigata City.
Being the capital of the prefecture, visitors can enjoy the city in an urban way, enjoying gourmet food, shopping, movies and other entertainment in a large commercial center, or they can enjoy nature, history, hot springs and other local attractions as Niigata City.
Typical ways to enjoy Niigata include visiting "Bandai City" to enjoy fashion and gourmet food, swimming at "Sasagawa Nagare", and visiting Niigata City Aquarium Marinepia Nihonkai.
There are also various seasonal events such as cherry blossom viewing at Hakusan Park and Hakusan Shrine, the Shinano River fireworks display in summer, and the "Yahiko Lantern Festival" at Yahiko Shrine.
Tourist information: https://www.nvcb.or.jp/multilingual/
Niigata City doesn't get that much snow.
Niigata Prefecture has many heavy snowfall areas and is famous for ski resorts such as Myoko and Yuzawa. In Niigata City, which is located on a plain along the coast of the Sea of Japan, snow does fall, but it does not accumulate much.
Even in Niigata Prefecture, the snowfall conditions are completely different depending on the region.
Sake Fair "Sake-no-jin (酒の陣)" in Niigata City
Every year in March, Niigata City holds a major sake event called "Sake no Jin(酒の陣)".
Modeled after Oktoberfest, a traditional beer festival held in Munich, Germany since 1810, the festival is said to be based on the concept of enjoying local food and local sake. 2019 saw more than 140,000 participants over two days.
You can enjoy more than 500 kinds of Niigata's sake, Niigata's local cuisine, and Niigata's sake through stage events and sake seminars.
More information from JNTO : https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1431/
5 Sake brewery in Niigata city
Here's 5 Sake brewery in Niigata city.
The Niigata Sake Brewers Association website is a good source of information for finding breweries that offer tours.
Website : https://www.niigata-sake.or.jp/en/
Imayotsukasa Shuzo (今代司酒造)
Imayotsukasa Shuzo was founded in 1767. The company has been conducting various trials and errors in order to create a way of enjoying sake that suits the current times.
Local sake is brewed by taking advantage of local resources such as rice, water, and climate. Based on the idea that to know local sake is to know the region, they are also making efforts to convey the charm of the region through local sake.
One of the ways they do this is through sake brewery tours. By opening up the brewery to the public, they feel it is their mission to provide an environment where as many people as possible can become more familiar with local sake. They also emphasizes the importance of conveying the appeal of the sake through concept and design.
More information : http://imayotsukasa.co.jp/en/
Tour : http://imayotsukasa.co.jp/en/brewery-en/
Shiokawa Shuzo (塩川酒造)
Established in 1912. The brewery is located in Uchino-cho, Niigata City, which is near the seaside and home to Niigata University.
The brewery is located in Uchino, Niigata City, near the seaside and home to Niigata University.
There are many products that are being released for overseas markets.
For example Shiokawa Shuzo launched Cowboy Yamahai, a new sake that goes well with steak, in the US.
There is also "Fisherman Sokujo," which was created with the European wine market in mind and goes well with dishes rich in flavorful ingredients such as shrimp and crab.
It was featured as an "excellent example of sake export" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
More information : https://www.shiokawa.biz/english.html
Featured products / About / Tour : https://www.niigata-sake.or.jp/en/kuramoto/shiokawa
Takano Shuzo (高野酒造)
Established in 1899. Nearby is the Sado Yahiko Yonezan National Park, a Ramsar wetland.
The brewing water is subterranean water from the Shinano River. The yeast is the focus of the brewery's efforts to develop homemade original yeast for a more distinctive taste.
Takano Sake Brewery focuses on the yeast and aims to create a more unique taste by developing its own original yeast.
Their famous sake is Koshiji Fubuki(越路吹雪).
Website (Japanese only) : https://www.takano-shuzo.co.jp/sakezukuri.html
Featured products / About / Tour : https://www.niigata-sake.or.jp/en/kuramoto/takano
Takarayama Shuzo (宝山酒造)
Takarayama Shuzo was established in 1885.
Hozan Shuzo is also known for its participation in a unique project to create a sake called "Nisai no Kamoshi (二才の醸)".
The sake called "Nisai no Kamoshi" was created in 2014 and started as a "sake project made only by people in their 20s". One of the features of the project is that before the brewer reaches his or her thirties, the entire brand is passed on to the next 20's sake brewer. The first brewery was Ishii Shuzo in Saitama, Takarayama Shuzo took over as the second, and Aoki Shuzo in Ibaraki took over as the third.
When Takarayama Shuzo took over as the second generation, Keita Watanabe, then in his twenties, was in charge of brewing the nisai-no-kamoshi
The Takarayama Shuzo also actively accepts tours. Visitors can talk directly with the brewer and enjoy original sake that is not available in stores.
Website (Japanese only) : https://takarayama-sake.co.jp/
Featured products / About / Tour : https://www.niigata-sake.or.jp/en/kuramoto/takarayama
Sasaiwai Shuzo (笹祝酒造)
Sasaiwai Shuzo was established in 1902. It is said that 90% of the production is consumed locally.
The brewery was renovated in the fall of 2017 with the intention of making it not only a sake brewery, but also a place where the history, culture, and food of the region can be communicated. Free tasting and purchase of Sasawai Shuzo's sake is available.
Website (Japanese Only) : http://www.sasaiwai.com/index.html
Featured products / About / Tour : https://www.niigata-sake.or.jp/en/kuramoto/sasaiwai
