🕓 2025/7/06
#Sake
Savor Aizu Sake Brewed with Pure Spring Water and Locally Grown Rice at Tsurugajo Castle
Table of Contents
- Sake to Enjoy at Tsurugajo Castle and Aizu Breweries
- Tsurugajo Castle and Aizu “Recommended Breweries”
- Tsurugajo Castle and Aizu “Recommended Sake Selection”
- Tsurugajo Castle and Aizu Brewery Tour “Model Course”
Introduction
The red-tiled castle keep reflects the sky, with snow-capped Mt. Bandai embracing the distant backdrop
— Aizu-Wakamatsu is a land where the stately elegance of castle architecture intersects with the rich flavors of a premier rice-growing region. The silky softness brought by underground spring water, the robust umami produced by Fukushima Prefecture’s original sake rice, and the craftsmanship honed by generations of brewers.
Starting from the historic Tsurugajo Castle, as you trace the stone-paved paths of the castle town and raise cup after cup, each sip unravels memories of the Boshin War and the breath of the four seasons.
In this article, we present carefully selected breweries and notable sake along with model courses that connect castle, town, and sake in a single journey. Consider this your prelude to experiencing the current state of “Aizu Seishu” — the region that has earned the most gold medals in Japan.
- Sake to Enjoy at Tsurugajo Castle and Aizu Breweries
- 1 | What Is Aizu Sake?
- 2 | Touring Castles and Breweries by Haikara-san Bus & Rental Bicycle
- 3 | “Aizu x Minami-Aizu” Collaborative Brewing — The Power Behind the GI and Gold Medal Breweries
- Recommended Breweries near Tsurugajo Castle and Aizu
- Frequently Asked Questions
Sake to Enjoy at Tsurugajo Castle and Aizu Breweries
1 | What Is Aizu Sake?
Aizu sake greets you with a gentle rice sweetness that softly spreads across the palate on the first sip, then finishes with a clean, crisp cut like snowmelt water — a sake that balances both “softness” and “sharpness.”
The secret lies in three factors. First, the ultra-soft water born from snow that falls on Mt. Iide and Mt. Bandai and slowly travels underground. With a hardness of just 0.8-30 mg/L, this extremely soft water promotes gentle fermentation and produces a silky smooth mouthfeel. Second, the sake rice varieties “Yume no Kaori” and “Fuku no Ka,” developed by Fukushima Prefecture. Yume no Kaori dissolves easily and releases aroma readily, while Fuku no Ka has large grains that withstand high-precision polishing — both supporting a clean, impurity-free flavor.
Finally, the addition of “Utsukushima Yume Kobo (F7-01)” yeast, which produces sweet aromas reminiscent of banana and melon, brings together both drinkability and elegance. Thanks to this trifecta of water, rice, and yeast, Fukushima Prefecture reclaimed the title of most gold medal-winning breweries (16 breweries) at the 2025 Annual Japan Sake Awards, with Aizu breweries prominently among them.
2 | Touring Castles and Breweries by Haikara-san Bus & Rental Bicycle
In the morning, gaze up at Tsurugajo Castle’s red-tiled keep, then pedal a rental bicycle along the moat. Feel the castle town breeze as you take the Haikara-san city loop bus to the Nanukamachi district. Enjoy the aroma of yamahai sake during a tour of Kaei-gura, a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, then savor a daiginjo chiffon cake at the adjoining cafe before hopping back on your bicycle to head to Miyaizumi Meijo.
After sampling Sharaku with its refreshing melon aroma, wind through the back streets to Tsurunoe Shuzo and finish with Aizu Chujo, which unfolds with white peach notes. In the evening, enjoy a tasting flight at a kaku-uchi (standing bar) on Noguchi Hideyo Seishun-dori Street. When the one-day bus pass takes you back to your inn, the lingering warmth of a half-day blending history and local sake will quietly linger.
3 | “Aizu x Minami-Aizu” Collaborative Brewing — The Power Behind the GI and Gold Medal Breweries
In addition to the 12 breweries in Aizu-Wakamatsu, four breweries in Minami-Aizu obtained GI (Geographical Indication) designation in 2024. This is a “terroir declaration” restricting ingredients to locally sourced rice and water, brewing only junmai-style sake.
The “Kanpai with Minami-Aizu Local Sake!” event (June 20), which also serves as the GI Minami-Aizu certification unveiling, is popular for its complimentary sake and limited-edition T-shirts.
In the castle town, the “Aizu New Sake Tasting Event” in February and the “Homare Spring Brewery Festival” in April are annual traditions where brewery owners personally serve their sake in the “ora-ga sake” (our local sake) culture.
This region-wide commitment to refinement is the driving force behind the rush of gold medal wins — the true “power of Aizu Seishu.”
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Aizu-Wakamatsu City and Minami-Aizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture |
| Major Attractions | Tsurugajo Castle, Mt. Iimoriyama (Byakkotai graves), Aizu Buke Yashiki (samurai residence), Nanukamachi-dori Street, Noguchi Hideyo Seishun-dori Street |
| Sake Spots | Suehiro Shuzo (Kaei-gura: brewery tour + cafe), Miyaizumi Meijo (Sharaku), Tsurunoe Shuzo (Aizu Chujo), Nagurayama Shuzo (Tsukiyumi), Aizu Seishu History Museum |
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Recommended Breweries near Tsurugajo Castle and Aizu
Snowmelt from the Iide and Bandai mountain ranges travels underground over many years to emerge as spring water with a hardness of just 14-23 mg/L — “ultra-soft water.” Combined with Fukushima Prefecture-bred rice varieties Yume no Kaori and Fuku no Ka, and the aromatic Utsukushima Yume Kobo (F7-01) yeast, this water gives birth to “Aizu Seishu” — sake that balances both sharpness and rice umami.
1. Suehiro Shuzo Co., Ltd. | The Power of Yamahai at the Registered Tangible Cultural Property “Kaei-gura”
Founded in 1850 (Kaei 3). Its three-story wooden storehouse topped with onigawara demon tiles and brick chimney are designated as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties, and ultra-soft water flows abundantly from five wells within the brewery.
The brewery upholds its “Three Principles of Local Sake: (1) Natural water (2) Aizu toji craftsmanship (3) Local rice,” operating both Kaei-gura, which preserves traditional handmade processes, and Hakase-gura, equipped with state-of-the-art temperature control. The flagship brand Suehiro, made with yamahai brewing, features a pear-like acidity and rich body.
Free tours are held six times daily during regular season (three times in winter). The brewery cafe “An,” which was named Japan’s No. 1 “Most Enjoyable Brewery to Visit” by Nikkei Plus One, is popular for its daiginjo chiffon cake and brewing-water coffee.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Suehiro Shuzo Co., Ltd. |
| Founded | 1850 |
| Main Brands | Suehiro / Kaei-gura |
| Tours | Available (walk-in / 3 times daily in winter) |
| Tasting | Available (free at shop + brewery cafe) |
| Direct Shop | 12-38 Nisshinmachi, Aizu-Wakamatsu City |
| Access | 5-min walk from JR Tadami Line Nanukamachi Station |
2. Miyaizumi Meijo Co., Ltd. | The Innovative Brewery Behind the Fruity “Sharaku”
Source: Miyaizumi Meijo Co., Ltd.
Established in 1954 (Showa 29) as a spinoff from Hanaharu Shuzo. The Mt. Bandai underground water is a moderately soft water similar to Nada’s “Miyamizu,” which highlights fruity aromas. In 2007, fourth-generation head Miyamori Yoshihiro took over as production director and, together with a young team largely in their 30s, carried out major equipment investments and thorough temperature management.
The flagship brand Sharaku, with its ginjo aroma of banana and melon and crisp sweetness, has swept domestic and international competitions and become one of the “most difficult-to-obtain brands.” Tours are currently suspended, but seasonal limited-edition sake can be sampled for free at the shop.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Miyaizumi Meijo Co., Ltd. |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Main Brands | Sharaku / Aizu Miyaizumi |
| Tours | Not available |
| Tasting | Available (free at shop) |
| Direct Shop | 8-7 Toeimachi, Aizu-Wakamatsu City |
| Access | From Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, bus to “San-no-cho” stop, 5-min walk |
3. Tsurunoe Shuzo Co., Ltd. | “Aizu Chujo” and “Yuri” Woven by a Mother-Daughter Toji Team
Source: Tsurunoe Shuzo Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1794 (Kansei 6). At this white-walled brewery on Nanukamachi-dori Street, ninth-generation head brewer Hayashi Yuri toji and her mother embody the spirit of “wa-jo ryo-shu” (harmonious brewing makes good sake). Aizu Chujo, brewed with F7-01 yeast and Aizu-grown rice, is known for its firm umami and clean finish. The junmai daiginjo Yuri, developed for women, has been praised for its delicate flavor profile and has won multiple international competitions including the IWC.
Tours are currently suspended, but the tasting counter offers a rotating selection from standard to draft sake daily.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Tsurunoe Shuzo Co., Ltd. |
| Founded | 1794 |
| Main Brands | Aizu Chujo / Yuri |
| Tours | Suspended |
| Tasting | Available (free at counter) |
| Direct Shop | 2-46 Nanukamachi, Aizu-Wakamatsu City |
| Access | 5-min walk from JR Tadami Line Nanukamachi Station |
4. Nagurayama Shuzo Co., Ltd. | A Taisho-era Brewery Pursuing “Beautiful Sweetness”
Source: Nagurayama Shuzo Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1918 (Taisho 7). With “kirei na amasa” (beautiful sweetness) as its brewery motto, it focuses on brewing with locally contracted Yume no Kaori and Fuku no Ka rice. Using ultra-soft water from their own well and thorough low-temperature bottle storage, the brewery suppresses off-flavors to achieve a mellow sweetness balanced by refreshing acidity.
Achieving an extraordinary 11 consecutive years of gold at the Annual Japan Sake Awards and 17 consecutive years at the Tohoku Regional Awards, the flagship brand Tsukiyumi has also won the IWC Junmai Division trophy. Brewery tours are by reservation; free tasting is available at the shop on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Nagurayama Shuzo Co., Ltd. |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Main Brands | Nagurayama / Aizu Shikon |
| Tours | Not available |
| Tasting | Available (free at shop) |
| Direct Shop | 2-46 Sengokumachi, Aizu-Wakamatsu City |
| Access | 10-min drive from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station / City loop bus to “Aizu-Wakamatsu Godo Chosha-mae” stop, 3-min walk |
