Akita Prefecture is one of Japan's leading rice- and sake-producing regions. The rich soil is ideal for rice cultivation, and the long, snowy winters are ideal for low-temperature, long-term fermentation of sake. The sake produced in Akita Prefecture is of high quality, with a rich sweetness and an exquisite flavor that is neither too light nor too heavy, and many brands are famous nationwide.

Akita Prefecture is perfect for a sake trip, but the prefecture is large from north to south, and residents mainly travel by private car, so there are places where it is difficult to get around by public transportation, and many people who visit for the first time have trouble figuring out transportation.
So, this time, I, a writer living in Tokyo who is a huge fan of Akita sake, would like to introduce you to a tour of Akita's sake breweries that can be reached using only public transportation. Depending on how you combine your trips, it's even possible to visit multiple locations in one day. You can enjoy sake without having to worry about driving, so I hope you'll find this information useful.

No driving required! Starting from Akita Station, explore Akita's sake scene using public transportation

This time, we will introduce sake spots that are easily accessible by public transportation, starting from JR Akita Station, the center of Akita Prefecture, where the Shinkansen also stops. The places we will introduce this time will mainly be traveled by train on the Uetsu Main Line. However, as the number of trains is limited, please be sure to check the timetable and transfer connections carefully.

1: Akita Shuzo: The best place to get to from the station! A sake brewery in a traditional brewing area

[Access]
JR Akita Station (8 minutes on the Uetsu Main Line towards Sakata)
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JR Araya Station (approximately 10 minutes walk from the station)
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[Akita Sake Brewery]

Araya Station is the second station on the Uetsu Main Line from Akita Station. Araya in Akita City once flourished as a brewery for soy sauce, miso, and shottsuru, a fish sauce that is a specialty of Akita Prefecture.

Akita City Araya Glass Studio, built on the site of the former Aramasa Sake Brewery bottling factory

There are also other attractions such as Omoriyama Zoo and Akita City Araya Glass Studio, which is located on the site of the former Aramasa Sake Brewery bottling factory. Akita Sake Brewery is the only remaining sake brewery in this area, which is perfect for strolling and sightseeing.

Sake breweries are usually located in places that are not particularly well-connected, but Araya Station is close to Akita Station, and Akita Shuzo is only about a 10-minute walk from Araya Station. It's extremely accessible for a sake brewery, and it's open to the public, making it one of my top picks.

Its predecessor, Kunibanzai Sake Brewery, was founded in 1908. Akita Sake Brewery, which took on its current form in 2012, focuses on the smooth and clear sake Suirakuten and Akita Hare, which is made with ingredients sourced from Akita Prefecture. Kodate Iwao, who became the head brewer in 2021, is passionate about creating sake that ranges from traditional flavors to new ventures.

On this day, President and CEO Nomoto Sho gave us a tour, just like a regular tour of the brewery. During the actual tour, staff members, including Nomoto, take turns guiding us around.

Sho Nomoto, President and CEO of Akita Shuzo Co., Ltd.

During the tour, you can see how traditional sake brewing methods are still being preserved, including the use of traditional Japanese kettles and steamers. The retro ceiling seen from the kettles room is a must-see.

The koji room where koji is made is a delicate place that requires strict control of temperature, humidity, and microorganisms. Normally, this is a place that is not open to the public at most sake breweries, but Akita Shuzo's brewery tours are held outside of the peak sake brewing season, so you can see the koji room as well. Here too, the traditional tool "koji lid" is used.

However, they have also incorporated modern systems, and the brewery has an attached water quality plant, which shows their commitment to producing delicious sake.

Originally, Araya was a brewing town, and was well-known for its water quality. According to Nomoto, he is focusing on water as well as rice, with the desire to preserve the town and its water culture.

There is a shop at the entrance where you can sample and purchase alcohol after your tour. You can buy the one you like best after tasting, or you can buy alcohol that you can't usually buy, as there are also series that are only available at authorized dealers and locally distributed alcohol.

Araya Glass Studio has also developed an original glass called "Arayashu Gray," a rare gray color, made by carbonizing the sake lees from "Akitabare" sake and fusing it into glass. They sell glass sake vessels both at the studio and through direct sales. We recommend the ultimate way to drink sake: matching sake vessels with "Akitabare" sake.

Tours (including tastings) are available on weekdays only and require a reservation.
Book onlinehttps://www.akitabare.jp/tour/

Sake cup made from sake lees-filled glass "Arayash Gray"

Akita Hare Sake, Akita Shuzo Co., Ltd.
Address: 23-28 Arayamotomachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture, 010-1631
TEL: 018-828-1311
10:00 - 17:00
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
Brewery tours: 13:15-14:00 (Reservation required, once a day, excluding weekends, public holidays, Obon holidays, and sake brewing season)
Brewery tour fee: 1,100 yen per person (tax included)
Official HP:https://www.akitabare.jp/

2. Talk with the Brewers and Tasting at Tenju Brewery, Famous for Tenju and Chokaisan

[Access]
JR Akita Station (approximately 1 hour on the Uetsu Main Line towards Sakata)
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JR Ugo-Honjo Station (approximately 40 minutes after changing to the Chokai Sanroku Line)
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Chokai Sanroku Line Yajima Station (approximately 3 minutes walk from the station)
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[Tenju Sake Brewery]

From Akita Station, the journey takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes, excluding transfers. At JR Ugo-Honjo Station, transfer to the Chokai Sanroku Line, a third-sector railway. Tickets on the Chokai Sanroku Line are hard-ticketed. There are five types of carriages, each with its own unique exterior and interior. From the retro Showa-era interior, you can enjoy views of the countryside and Mt. Chokai, making this a very picturesque train. The journey itself will get you excited.

Tenju Sake Brewery is about a 3-minute walk from Yajima Station, the terminus of the Chokai Sanroku Line.
Tenju Sake Brewery was founded in 1830. Yajima is located at the trailhead of Mount Chokai, a sacred mountain in the Tohoku region. Their "Chokaisan" and "Tenju" sakes, which are brewed using underground water from Mount Chokai and the Akita-style cold brewing method, have won numerous awards, and the brewery can be said to be one of the key players in bringing Akita sake to a national level.

Rather than a tourist brewery, they offer tours where you can see the actual sake brewery, and the tours will be renewed from October 2024. The tour includes a tasting, and you can take home a commemorative sake cup and the brewery's brewing water (in a plastic bottle) as a souvenir.

You check in at the direct sales store at the entrance, and a staff member will guide you into the brewery. On this day, we were accompanied by Yosuke Ichinoseki, the master brewer responsible for the flavor of Tenju Sake Brewery.

We were greeted by Tenju Shuzo Co., Ltd. Managing Director Masaki Oi (left) and master brewer Yosuke Ichinoseki (right).

The staff member in charge changes each time, and the explanations and talks about sake brewing vary depending on the staff member, so even repeat visitors can find something new to enjoy. If you're lucky, you might even be guided by the master brewer.

The tour begins with a discussion of water. Just a few minutes' walk outside is Tenju Sake Brewery's well, from which the water travels underground to the brewery. The well water comes from melted snow from Mt. Chokai and is extremely soft. Even when trying to make a sharp, dry sake, the result is a milder drink, and the brewery strives to make the most of the water's quality. The brewery produces enough water to cover all the brewing, diluting (adding water), and washing steps, so it is also sold as mineral water.

Afterwards, you will pass through the No. 1 Brewery, which is currently used as a warehouse for storing bottles, before heading to the area where the actual brewing process takes place. You will need to change into shoes, so we recommend wearing shoes that are easy to put on and take off.

The yeast starter room is where the yeast starter, the base of sake, is prepared. Tenju Brewery uses a variety of methods for making yeast starter, including fast fermentation, high-temperature saccharification, and kimoto, but what makes it unique is that when adding yeast, they often use "flower yeast" in addition to Kyokai yeast. They apparently choose the yeast starter production method depending on the strength of the yeast added.

There are two koji rooms, one for Daiginjo sake to be submitted for brewing and small batches, and one for regular sake. The koji room is extremely delicate and cannot be visited, but you can see the dry-down area where the koji is cooled. Here you can learn about the difference between rice for eating and rice for sake, as well as information about the koji mold used for sake, and you can also see the work area where the ingredients are processed, including the koshiki steamer where the rice is steamed and the cooling machine that cools the steamed rice.

Rice is also milled in-house whenever possible. Although a rice milling machine is installed, there is a risk of bacteria being brought in when moving rice from the mill to the work area, so tours are not always possible. With the exception of Yamadanishiki rice, which is used for sake submitted to the National New Sake Tasting Competition, the brewery primarily uses locally grown rice.

We then went to the brewery where the tanks are located. There are three breweries in total. There is a dedicated room for pressing the sake.

Due to the nature of this interview, the actual work process was out of order, but for general brewery tours, the tour and explanations are given in order, starting from rice polishing, so that even those new to sake can easily understand the brewing process.

After the tour, you can sample the sake at the direct sales store (the sake available for tasting may vary depending on the season), and if you find a sake you like, you can purchase it on the spot.

This time, the master brewer, Mr. Ichinoseki, was in charge of the tour and tasting.

The store carries a wide variety of products, including a wide selection of gift-worthy boxed daiginjo sake and sets. Original goods such as masu sake cups and choshi sake cups are also available for purchase.

Tours are by reservation only. The sake brewing season from autumn to spring is a particularly rare opportunity to see the actual process up close. During sake brewing, brewing generally takes place in the morning, with raw material processing taking place in the afternoon, so choosing a time slot depending on the process you want to see may be a more enthusiastic way to enjoy the brewery.

Book online
https://tenju.co.jp/pages/tour

Tenju Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
Address: 117 Yamorishita, Jonai, Yajimacho, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, 015-0411
TEL: 0184-55-3165
8:00 - 17:00
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
Brewery tours: 10:00~/14:00~ (two times a day, reservation required, Monday to Friday)
Brewery tour fee: 1000 yen per person (tax included)
Official HP:https://tenju.co.jp/

3. Find a precious souvenir from your trip at Sato Sake Brewery in Dewa-no-Fuji

[Access]
JR Akita Station (approximately 1 hour on the Uetsu Main Line towards Sakata)
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JR Ugo-Honjo Station (approximately 40 minutes after changing to the Chokai Sanroku Line)
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Chokai Sanroku Line Yajima Station (5 minutes walk from the station)
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[Sato Sake Brewery]
*About a 5-minute walk from Tenju Brewery

There is actually another sake brewery at Yajima Station. A five-minute walk from Tenju Brewery takes you to Sato Sake Brewery, which brews "Dewa no Fuji." Sato Sake Brewery was founded in 1907. Their flagship brand is "Dewa no Fuji," named after the beautiful shape of the famous Mount Chokai in this region, formerly known as "Dewa Province." The sake has a balanced sweetness and umami that are typical of Akita sake, with a refreshing aftertaste.

As they produce sake with a small but elite team, unfortunately they do not accept tours of the brewery to the general public, but they do sell their standard sake and seasonal limited edition sake directly at the entrance, so you can purchase them. "Dewa no Fuji" is mainly distributed locally in Akita, and is a brand that is rarely found in Tokyo and other places. According to CEO Sato, not only local residents but also "Dewa no Fuji" fans often come directly to the brewery to buy sake.

They carry everything from casual alcohol that can be enjoyed at the dinner table every day to premium alcohol that can be given as gifts, so if you make the trip to Yajima, we hope you'll take home a precious "Dewa no Fuji" as a souvenir and enjoy the memories of your trip at home.

Sato Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
Address: 26 Nanakamachi, Yajimacho, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, 015-0404
TEL: 0184-55-3010
8:00 - 17:00
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
Brewery tours: Currently not available
Official HP:https://dewanofuji.co.jp/

4. Take a glimpse into the history of sake brewing at the headquarters of Takashimizu, a nationally popular sake

[Access]
From the west exit of JR Akita Station, take the bus (approximately 20 minutes), taxi (approximately 15 minutes), or walk (approximately 45 minutes)

Akita Sake Brewery is located about 3km from Akita Station. They brew Takashimizu, a standard sake well known throughout the country. Many people have probably seen it in supermarkets and convenience stores.

Takashimizu has three breweries, each of which produces sake according to its own concept, but the head office here has two breweries, Senakigura and Sake Brewery Dojo Senningura, as well as a shop called Kura//Kura, and it is said that approximately 80% of the sake under the Takashimizu brand is produced at the head office.

Tours are only available on weekdays and require a reservation. Tours of the "Sennin Brewery" are available, and staff from the Sales Planning Department will assist you. As the brewery is often included in cruise ship tours and attracts many inbound tourists, foreign language support is available. On this day, we were given a special tour by Kikuchi Itaru, the master brewer in charge of the two breweries at the head office.

The tour begins with a video showing the manufacturing process.

Senningura is a small storehouse that was restored in 2005 from a building originally constructed in 1953, with the pillars and beams still intact, and sake is brewed here during the winter.

Takashimizu was founded in 1944. Originally, the brewery was made up of 12 different breweries, but Senningura also displays old sake brewing tools. The brewery is apparently made up of well-maintained tools that were left over from each brewery, and each tool is from a different era. It is valuable as a historical document, and gives a glimpse into what things were like in the old days.

The way the exhibits are displayed is also ingenious. At first glance, you might not notice it, but the display counter is made of recycled wooden tanks that were used to press sake in the past, and there are many small details to discover and enjoy.

After the tour, you can sample the products and do some shopping at the shop "Kura//Kura."

In addition to tasting the sake at the server, you can also try the brewing water used in the sake brewing process.

Mr. Itaru Kikuchi, master brewer at Akita Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., checks the quality of the sake on the server.

The shop sells many types of Takashimizu brand sake, as well as a wide range of other products, including glasses, masu sake cups, and other merchandise, as well as skincare products containing sake and sake lees.

They also have amazake (sweet sake) and snacks, so it's nice that there are plenty of souvenirs suitable for women and people who don't like alcohol.

Access is by bus from the west exit of Akita Station (there are multiple routes, so please check each time). By car, it takes just under 15 minutes, so if you're traveling with a group, a taxi would be an option. By the way, if you walk, it takes about 45 minutes, so if you're confident in your walking ability, it might be fun to take a walk one way as if you were on an excursion.

Akita's Local Sake - Takashimizu - Akita Sake Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Address: 4-12 Mutsumi-cho, Kawamoto, Akita City, Akita Prefecture, 010-0934
TEL: 018-864-7331
10:00 - 16:00
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
Brewery tours: 10:30~/13:30~ (two times a day, reservation required, Monday to Friday)
Brewery tour fee: Free
Official HP:https://www.takashimizu.co.jp/

Enjoy your trip to sake breweries of various sizes and personalities!

The sake breweries introduced here all have different personalities, such as size and concept, even though they are all in Akita Prefecture. Although they are all called sake breweries, each offers different ways to enjoy them. Please check the tour reception times and reservation methods, and when you are traveling to Akita, be sure to visit them to experience delicious sake and create some memories.

Writer: Arika Mito
Living in Tokyo / Sake/Japanese writer, Japanese teacher, Sake taster
A writer and teacher who is active in the "two (Japanese) pillars" of Japanese and sake. Her favorite brand is ``Yamato Shizuku'' and she has a strong love for Akita Prefecture.
Other than alcohol, my hobbies are fashion and perfume. Qualifications: SAKE DIPLOMA, Sake Studies Instructor, Sake Master, Japanese Language Teaching Proficiency Test