Sake brewery that offers free guided tours between 11:00-14:00. You wait near the sake shop and restaurant across the street from the brewery. Someone will get you here. The tours are in Japanese but it was interesting to see how the sake was made. There are small samples of drinks offered during the tour to taste the different stages of fermentation. At the end of the tour we were given a small sake cup.
A stroll around Asahi Shuzo, a sake brewery famous for its Kubota sake.
Asahi Shuzo has been around for 200 years since 1830. Its founding site is truly the perfect place for sake brewing. The clear underground water that flows through the brewery, the foundation of sake brewing, boasts low hardness even within the prefecture. This soft water, ideal for sake brewing, promotes gentle fermentation during brewing. The water and rice are perfect. The brewery's appearance is incredibly modern and large. The 20-minute tour is listed as starting at 10:00, but it actually starts at 11:00. I couldn't waste an hour, so I gave up (some websites have now been updated). Be careful!
The 60-minute tour was excellent. I've toured sake breweries several times, but this was my first time at such a large brewery, and I learned a lot.
The tour guide was very good, and although I had to stand the whole time and there were stairs along the way, it wasn't too difficult (I'm in my late 40s and not very fit). The tasting at the end was also great.
If I have the chance, I'd like to try the 20-minute tour as well.
A sake brewery located in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture.
Asahi Shuzo (Asahi Sake Brewery)
The building resembles an art museum. The interior is beautiful, making it hard to believe it's a sake brewery.
I participated in a tour, but I thought it could be made a little more interesting.
At the very least, ending the tour at the gift shop would be a good idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
"Kubota" is Asahi Shuzo's flagship sake brand, recognized nationally and internationally, available in grades ranging from standard to premium daiginjo (highly polished rice sake).
Yes. Tours require advance reservation and typically cost 500 to 1,500 yen including tasting, though policies vary and should be confirmed when booking.
Tour the production facilities observing rice polishing, steaming, fermentation, and aging processes. Participate in guided tastings of Asahi Shuzo products, particularly Kubota varieties, and purchase bottles at the brewery shop.
Tours may be conducted primarily in Japanese, though English materials or interpretation may be available depending on arrangements. Confirm language options when making reservations.
Nearby attractions include the Nagaoka War Damage Museum, Yamamoto Isoroku Memorial Hall, and Yahiko Shrine. Niigata's sake brewery trail allows visiting multiple producers in the region.
