With the formal registration of “Washoku” as an UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, Japanese sake is becoming increasingly popular in other countries. Visit Kobe to enjoy strolling around the area of sake production.
The coastal region of Osaka Bay that comprises Nada-ku and Higashi-Nada-ku in Kobe City and Nishinomiya City is called Nada-Gogo (literally, five villages of the Nada area), and has been famous for good sake for 600 years. This area has prospered as a Japanese sake producing region because of its renowned high-quality rice and mineral water from the Rokko mountains, which is called miyamizu, rich in minerals that are perfect for sake production, and its convenient port. The sake produced in this area is rich in flavor yet has a refreshing aftertaste.
This area has large storage tanks and you may notice a slight aroma of sake. Facilities for sake production include typical black-walled breweries, white plaster wall breweries, and redbrick breweries, which you can see all around this area. There are some museums exhibiting sake producing history and traditional tools for sake production. Different kinds of sake from different producers taste very different, so enjoy sampling and find your favorite one.
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
This museum uses a renovated old sake brewhouse which was built in the early 20th century and used for sake brewing until about 1970. Life-sized dolls, equipment, and tools that used to be used for sake brewing show you realistic sake production processes. The museum has a space for sake sampling and a shop along with the exhibit area.
Admission free
Address
4-5-5 Sumiyoshiminami-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe City
Fukuju-gura Brewery in the Mikage-go Area produces Fukuju sake, which was served at a Nobel Prize Banquet. This sake is sophisticated and rich in flavor. Enjoy unfiltered fresh sake, which is only available at the site of production, with delicious dishes with local fresh ingredients. The soba set: 1,950 yen (tax included)
With a history of more than 400 years in business, Sakura Masamune has been given many awards for the quality of its sake. The sake is semi dry with a smooth taste. It is recommended to make a reservation for lunch. Hangiri bento lunch set (limited to 20 serving per day): 1,905 yen (tax excluded)
Address
4-3-18 Uozakiminami-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe City
Access
Hanshin Uozaki Sta.
Telephone number
0784363030
Business hours
Lunch: 11:30-15:00,
Dinner: 17:00-22:00 (L.O. 1 hour before the closing times)
Founded in 1862 and widely known as a producer of Ise-jingu Shrine Goryo-sake, which is offered to the gods, Hakutaka also produces affordable yet delicious sake. Hakutaka Rokusui-en is in a building that was recreated into a residence of the Tatsuma Family, the kuramoto brewer of Hakutaka, exhibiting old livingwares of the kuramoto and selling sake which is available only there. Hirusagari-no-ippai set (sake and 3 snacks): 1, 000 yen (tax included)
Hanasakari is a Japanese restaurant located at an antenna shop, “Sakagura Dori Rengakan,” which opened in commemoration of the 111th anniversary of Nihon Sakari Co., Ltd. The restaurant offers freshly-pressed sake as well as the renowned sake Dassai from Asahi Shuzo Brewery (Yamaguchi Prefecture). Seasonal shokado-style bento set is 2,100 yen (tax included).
Address
4-28 Yogai-cho, Nishinomiya City
Access
Nishinomiya Sta. on JR and Hanshin Lines, Imazu Sta.
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