- Food
- Hokkaido
Kunimare Sake Brewery
Kunimare Sake Brewery is the northernmost brewery in Japan, established in the port town of Mashike which has thrived since the Edo period (1603-1868). The flagship brand Hokkai Onikoroshi takes advantage of the land's pure water and cool climate, and is known for its rich flavor unique to Japanese sake. Visitors can take a tour of the brewery and taste its 16 different varieties of sake free of charge. The souvenir shop offers sweets and rare delicacies using sakekasu, the lees left over from sake production, and bottles of sake exclusively sold at the brewery.
Archive Room and Sengokugura preserve the brewery's rich history
The Archive Room gives a glimpse of Kunimare Sake Brewery's long history and its sake production, displaying actual sake production equipment and an entire wall covered with antique-labeled bottles. At the center of the building is a huge pillar made from Todomatsu fir tree over 100 years old, solidly supporting the entire warehouse. The Sengokugura, another warehouse that was used to store fishing equipment, displays Darumahagi, a herring fishing boat with a structure unique to Mashike region, as well as other informational materials free of charge (closed during the winter).
Taste and compare different Japanese sake
The Tasting Corner of the brewery is always bubbling with visitors, where they can try 16 different varieties of sake all brewed in the traditional method. In addition to limited-quantity sake, depending on the season there may be freshly pressed sake available as well. Enjoy the tasting to the fullest while learning about sake rice and production from the brewery staff. The best part is that it is all free of charge, so taste them all and find your favorite bottle!
Don't miss the limited quantity and local exclusive Japanese sake
At the souvenir shop, visitors can purchase various types of sake including the brewery's flagship brand Hokkai Onikoroshi, known for its light yet rich flavor. Other varieties include the limited-edition sake with a fruity flavor made from the local Hokkaido sake rice Ginpu, and special jyunmai sake you can never get enough of. Try them all and experience for yourself the different flavors. Also, the shop's original delicacies and sweets made using fragrant sake lees are popular souvenirs. Duty-free transactions are available for purchases over 5,000 yen.
Location
| Name | Kunimare Sake Brewery |
|---|---|
| Web Sites | http://kunimare-world.jp/ |
| Address | 1-17 Inaba-cho, Mashike-cho, Mashike-gun, Hokkaido |
| Access | From JR Asahikawa Station, transfer at Fukagawa Station and arrive at Rumoi Station (Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes) From JR Rumoi Station, take the Engan Bus and arrive at Kyu Mashike Station bus stop, and walk approximately 5 minutes |
| Business Hours | 9:00 to 17:00 Sake brewery tour finishes at 16:30 |
| Closed | Year-end and New Years |
| Inquiries | TEL: 0164-53-1050 TEL:0164-53-9355 (Reservations for brewery tour) |
| Admission | Free |