Are you curious how sake is made? Find out at this factory dating back from 1767!
The first item that will pop into sight is a ball made of branches of the Japanese cedar tree. When new sake has been produced (this will be in winter), the brewery will hang a new ball to notify that new sake is ready and to wish for safety of the employees.
The tour takes you around the tanks where the sake is stored. Note that production takes place mainly in the winter, so you will not be able to see the actual sake making in spring to autumn. However, you will be taken to some of the central production areas.
One impressive section is the upper floor of a building constructed in the Edo period. This elevated section is where men used to use long sticks to mix the sake while fermenting took place.
There is also an array of sake-related material on display. For example, you will find cups with blue lines within. These blue lines are used to test the gloss of the sake when reflected in the cup. There are also containers filled with various types of rice. The rice is shaved, and there is a number in the sake industry that measures how much the rice grain has been shaved. A higher percentage means that more has been shaved, and thus the sake of a higher quality. Meanwhile, a lower number points to a lower quality sake.
At the end of the tour, you will be given a chance to sample the sake that is produced at the Imaitsukasa Brewery. The staff will kindly bring out the various types – you will have the opportunity to test the various flavours and pick out your favourite. Try to sample at least one from each grade of sake, if not more. For people who don’t drink and for children, there is the non-alcoholic option too. Unfortunately, there is only one non-alcoholic choice, but it gives you a taste of their produce.
More information
Address: 1-1 Kagamigaoka, Chuo-ku, Niigata 950-0074
Access: 10 minute walk from Niigata station
Admission: Free
Tours: Start at 9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm (reservations made through the website)
Website: http://www.imayotsukasa.com/
Map:
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