5 places to enjoy the Art of Sake in Hokkaido

14/03/2019   1.111  4.96/5 trong 11 rates 
5 places to enjoy the Art of Sake in Hokkaido
Sake, the national alcoholic drink of Japan. Enjoy drinks sourced from local Hokkaido breweries. Hokkaido is also one of the best places in the country to partake in the art of sake, Japan’s national beverage.

 
Similar to Japanese foods like sushi and ramen, sake has also been steadily gaining popularity across the globe. For travelers curious about Japanese culture, it is an eye-opening experience to learn about the local traditions through discovering how sake is made and participating in tastings to gain an insight on your own preferences.
  • Kobayashi Brewery

    Kobayashi BreweryKobayashi Brewery

    Another well-established brewery to visit is Kobayashi Brewery, home to the grand winner of the 2014 edition of the Hokkaido Sake Contest. A 45-minute drive away from New Chitose Airport, Kobayashi Brewery is situated in the quaint countryside of Kuriyama, where the small-town vibes make the town feel homely and warm. But before you get into the sake tasting here, take a moment to admire the brewery grounds, itself an attraction for even non-drinkers to visit.

    With 18 warehouses over a 30,000-square metre space, Kobayashi Brewery’s historic buildings are some of the largest brickwork structures in the region, beautifully designed with both local and western influences, certainly a sight to behold, especially in the autumn. What makes Kobayashi Brewery’s sake unique is that they are differentiated according to their source regions in Hokkaido, fermented with rice grown in different parts of Hokkaido.

    The resulting sakes have slightly varied flavours, making the tasting sessions even more interesting. For the first-time taster, a safe bet would be a brew with a relatively mild flavour profile, which will help bring out the fragrance and fruitiness of the sake.

  • Hokkaido Sake Bar Kamata

    Hokkaido Sake Bar KamataHokkaido Sake Bar Kamata

    To experience a truly local flavour, visit Hokkaido Sake Bar Kamata, the perfect place for people who want to learn about and enjoy drinking sake made in Hokkaido. This premium pub located in the bustling capital of Sapporo was founded by Takashi Kamata-san, a sake and shochu master who specialises as a Hokkaido sommelier.

    Serving over 300 types of sake, shochu, wine, and beer, Hokkaido Sake Bar Kamata specialises in Hokkaido-made sake and carries some exquisite rare drinks that are a must-try for connoisseurs. Besides the selection of alcohol, the bar also prides itself on its carefully curated food menu, wherein all ingredients, except its olive oil, are grown or produced in Hokkaido.

  • Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery & Nikka Bar Rita

    Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery & Nikka Bar RitaNikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery & Nikka Bar Rita

    With dozens of distilleries found in Hokkaido, you simply have to go for the best. The first-ever Japanese distillery is founded by the father of Japanese whisky himself, Masataka Taketsuru. Yoichi Distillery, as its name suggests, is established in the quaint town of Yoichi, a neighbouring town of Otaru.

    The creator of Nikka Whisky was the first Japanese to master the art of making whisky, after moving to Scotland in 1918 to learn the craft once he became captivated by the western alcoholic beverage. Some years after returning to Japan, the son of a sake brewer handpicked the location of Yoichi to set up his distillery, as its cool climate, crisp air, ideal humidity and fresh water resembled the conditions of the Scottish Highlands. To this date, Yoichi Distillery still stands at where it first started, continuing to produce top-grade Japanese whisky using traditional coal-fire distillation methods. This tedious but worthwhile process creates an exquisite toasty, burnt flavour that is absent from most commercial distilleries today.

  • Chitosetsuru Sake Museum

    Chitosetsuru Sake Museum Chitosetsuru Sake Museum

    For those interested in walking through the history of sake in the region, you definitely have to make a trip to the Chitosetsuru Sake Museum, which is owned by Chitosetsuru – the first brewery in Hokkaido, established over a century ago.

    Located in the city centre of Sapporo, Chitosetsuru taps directly on the underground sources of pristine clear water found here, quintessential to producing the freshest sake available. The purity of the water creates a drier-tasting sake which balances nicely with its sweetness. The museum is also right next to the Nijo Market, where delicious seafood can be bought to go with the sake for a pairing that’ll leave you wanting more.

  • Kikkogura by Tanaka Brewery

    Kikkogura by Tanaka BreweryKikkogura by Tanaka Brewery

    Nestled in the heart of Otaru, a short day trip from Sapporo and a five-minute walk from JR Minami Otaru Station, Kikkogura by Tanaka Brewery offers some of the finest sake, conveniently located right in the tourist district where the beautiful Otaru Canal runs through the town.

    The collection of stone storage units that laid the foundation for Kikkogura were built in 1905 and has since been recognised as an official historical structure, adding to the rustic atmosphere of the town of Otaru. Established in 1899, the brewery produces their beverage using time-honoured methods, selecting only rice that is locally cultivated in Hokkaido and water sourced directly from Mt. Tengu in Otaru to ensure utmost freshness and quality of the sake.

Source Tripzilla

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QuynhNhu

QuynhNhu


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