Tokyo Weekender - December 2017 - January 2018

experiences FOOD & DRINK
TOUR TOKYO’S
SAKE BREWERIES
FOR FREE
Check out a traditional shuzo
and enjoy free tastings to find
your new favorite sake
It’s an open secret that Tokyo has sake
breweries – nine of them, in fact. Tucked
away on the outer edges of the city where
the water is clearer and the air is fresher,
breweries that have been around since
the Edo period still ply their craft. Here are
our top three breweries with free tours and
tastings in Tokyo...
OZAWA
Founded in 1702, Ozawa Shuzo in Ome is the
oldest brewery in Tokyo. Surrounded by lush
green mountains and with the Tama River
flowing past, it’s in a picturesque location
that’s perfect for a whole day out. The brewery
complex consists of a sake shop, two tofu restaurants,
and a barbecue area. Nearby there
are two museums – one about Gyokudo Kawai,
a master of Nihonga (Japanese-style painting),
and one featuring kanzashi (traditional
Japanese hair accessories). Nature trails in the
area will take you past shrines and temples
to Mitake Gorge. For hardcore hikers, one of
Tokyo’s tallest mountains, Mount Mitake, is
just a stone’s throw away.
Sake brand: Sawanoi
Tour details: Free tours are available in
Japanese, with English information provided.
The tour ends with a sake tasting session.
Reservations are required.
More info: www.sawanoi-sake.com/en
ISHIKAWA
This Brewery first opened in
1863, but moved to its current
location in Fussa in 1881. The
brewery area features beautiful
traditional architecture that
remains in excellent condition,
including the hongura (production
building), where Tamajiman,
the main sake brand, is
still produced. If sake leaves
you thirsting for more, Ishikawa
also brews its own beer, Tama no Megumi.
To try some, stop by Fussa no Birugiya, an
Italian restaurant located in the brewery complex
and featuring local fare and beer. You’ll
also find a soba restaurant here, as well as a
museum detailing the history of sake-making
from the Edo period onwards.
Sake brand: Tamajiman
Tour details: Free tours are available in English
and French on weekdays. Reservations
are required in advance. Free sake tasting
experience included.
More info: www.tamajiman.com/english
TAMURA
The Tamura family used to be village heads
of Fussa city, and established Tamura
Brewery in 1822. The business is still owned
and managed by the family, with its 16th
generation CEO currently at the helm. Some
buildings in the brewery complex are Cultural
Properties, including the well that was dug
out almost 200 years ago – the water inside
is still used for sake production. Their sake
brand Kasen means “spring of joy,” referring
to this vital source. Also in the complex, a
pair of almost 800-year-old zelkova trees
– auspicious symbols of harmony – offer
shade and protection to the property. Tamura
Shuzojo has always been small, and it
intentionally limits its production. Most of its
customers are based in Tokyo.
Sake brand: Kasen
Tour details: Free tours and tastings are
available from Tuesday to Saturday, but only
in Japanese. Reservations of 10 people or
more are required. Bring an interpreter if
possible to make the most out of the experience.
Free tasting experience included.
More info: www.seishu-kasen.com
For an extended list of sake breweries in Tokyo,
visit www.tokyoweekender.com
42 | DEC 2017 - JAN 2018 | TOKYO WEEKENDER