Sake Brewery

Utsunomiya Sake Brewery (Tochigi Prefecture)

Brewed with the spirit of "Magokoro Ikken"
Utsunomiya Shuzo's "Shikizakura" grown in the pure waters of the Kinugawa River

Tochigi's "Shikizakura" is the product of sake brewing techniques passed down since the Meiji era and the blessings of the region. The flavor of this sake, brewed using the pure waters of the Kinugawa River and locally grown rice, has won numerous awards both in Japan and overseas.

Utsunomiya Sake Brewery
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Shikizakura: A local sake nurtured by history

Utsunomiya Sake Brewery is located in the Yanagida district, close to the center of Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. Its history dates back to 4, when the first generation, Suikichi Imai, founded the Imai Sake Brewery in Hiraishi Village, Kawachi County, Tochigi Prefecture (present-day Utsunomiya City).
The representative brand is "Shiki Sakura." When the company was first established, the brand was "Shiki no Tomo" (Friend of the Four Seasons), but it was renamed to "Shiki Sakura" after the first generation's haiku, "Tsukiyuki no Tomo wa Nashi Shiki Sakura."
Not only do they brew a wide variety of sake, from designated name sake to regular sake, as Tochigi's local sake, they also produce seasonal limited edition sakes such as special junmai unpasteurized sake and nigori unpasteurized sake, which can be enjoyed with the flavors of each season.

Utsunomiya Sake Brewery

Sake brewed with underground water from the Kinugawa River

For over 150 years since its founding, the company has continued to brew a variety of sake in line with the times while continuing to pass down traditional sake brewing techniques, based on the deep belief that "A drink of sincerity. Sake reflects the attitude of the brewer."
The brewing water is from the underground water of the Kinugawa River that flows through the southeastern part of the city, and the rice used is from the sake-brewing rice varieties "Gohyakumangoku" and "Miyama Nishiki" that are carefully cultivated by the local Yanagida Sake Rice Research Association, as well as "Asahi no Yume" and "Yume Sasara" that are grown in the prefecture. The carefully selected ingredients are the key to the flavor of "Shikizakura," which has a rich aroma, a gentle mouthfeel, a sharp taste, and a subtle sweetness.

Utsunomiya Sake Brewery

Tochigi's local sake takes flight around the world

In recent years, Utsunomiya Sake Brewery has achieved many brilliant results in competitions both domestically and internationally. At the Australian Sake Awards held in Sydney, Australia in 2024, Shikizakura Manyohisai (Daiginjo Sake) won the Platinum Award and Shikizakura Tochigi no Hoshi Junmai Sake won the Gold Award.
Furthermore, in the food matching category of the same competition, Shikizakura Tochigi no Hoshi Junmai Sake won the highest award, the Best Food Matching Award, for pairing with Aussie beef, a typical Australian food.

Utsunomiya Sake Brewery

Shikizakura Junmai Ginjo ARUSHIROI, planned as a "junmai ginjo sake made by women for women," won the platinum award in the junmai sake category at the 2022 Kura Master, a French sake competition. The sake is made using Gohyakumangoku rice, a variety suitable for sake brewing, which was first cultivated at Momo Farm in Tochigi Prefecture, and was produced by women from product planning to brewing. It is a dry undiluted sake with a moderate umami acidity that is said to be popular with a wide range of drinkers, not just women.
Utsunomiya Sake Brewery, which brews the local sake "Shikizakura," is steadily spreading its name from Tochigi to the world. The brewery will continue to brew delicious sake with a global perspective while remaining rooted in the local area, opening up new horizons for Japanese sake culture.

List of brands of this sake brewery

Utsunomiya Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.

Utsunomiya Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.

Start a business
1871
Representative stock
Shikizakura
Address
248 Yanagidacho, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi PrefectureOpen with Googlemap
TEL
028-661-0880
HP
https://shikisakura.co.jp/
Opening hours
9: 00-12: 00/13: 00-17: 00
Closing days
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays *Saturdays are closed from April to October

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