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A journey to exchange cups with the torii gate of peace: Enjoy the entirety of Hakone Shrine, Lake Ashi, and Ashigara Gozo!

　table of contents

1. What kind of sake can you enjoy at Lake Ashi and Ashigara Sake Road in Hakone?
2. Hakone Lake Ashi and Ashigara Sake Road“Recommended sake brewery”
3. Hakone Lake Ashi and Ashigara Sake Road“Recommended Sake Selection”
4. Touring Hakone, Lake Ashi, Ashigara Sake Road, and Sake BreweriesRu“Model course”

Introduction

The Hakone/Ashigara area, where two water veins intersect, the soft water of the sacred mountain nurtured by the Hakone volcano, and the medium-hard water polished in the mountain village of Tanzawa, is dotted with five breweries along a road of just 30 km.Each brewery uses Gin no Sato and flower yeast derived from Kawazu cherry blossoms to circulate “water, rice, and yeast” locally, creating a unique flavor. From the surface of Lake Ashinoko where the torii gate shines, to the Ashigara Plain where rice terraces line up

–This journey through the gradation of water quality is a story told through the glass, where “gentleness” and “sharpness” intersect with each sip. Now, let’s go to the sake road that connects the lake and the mountains to draw a picture of the sake time.

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1. What kind of sake can you enjoy at Lake Ashi and Ashigara Sake Road in Hakone? 

　1 | What kind of sake can you enjoy at Lake Ashi in Hakone and the Ashigara Sake Road?

The underground water that permeates from the Hakone somma to the Tanzawa Mountains and springs out over a long period of time is “medium hard water” with a hardness of around 120 mg/L. Combining the mellowness of soft water with the minerality of hard water, it gives Ashigara’s sake a “crisp structure” that powerfully stimulates the action of yeast without leaving any unpleasant aftertaste.

The rice that accompanies the water is Gin no Sato, a sake rice that was revived by local residents and Inoue Sake Brewery in the Takao rice terraces of Oimachi. It is easy to grow in terraced rice fields as it is short and difficult to lodge, and its large grains comparable to Yamada Nishiki support ginjo preparation.

The yeast challenger is “flower yeast” isolated from Kawazu cherry blossoms by Nakazawa Sake Brewery in Matsuda Town. It produces a sweet and sour top note reminiscent of strawberries and cherries, while finishing with a refreshing aftertaste due to its strong acid-regulating power.

 

　2 | Half-day tour of Hakone Shrine, Lake Ashi & Ashigara Gozo with a sake tasting pass

Early in the morning, standing on the shore of Lake AshiTorii of peaceAfter capturing the moment when the red color falls on the water mirror, we climb the stone steps of the cedar grove.Hakone ShrineI wish you a safe journey. When the fog on the lake clears, we board a pirate ship from Moto-Hakone to Togendai. The wind across the deck carries the sulfur-laden smoke of Owakudani, making us feel the story of the water nurtured by the Hakone volcano.

Transfer to a bus at Togendai and enjoy the view of the tea plantations and rice terraces of Ashigara Plain.Ashigara stationfart. At the tourist information center in front of the stationAshigara Gozo sake tasting passOnce you have this, your sake-tasting journey will begin.

Start with a 5 minute walkInoue Sake BreweryCool the slightly foaming junmai “SweetHeart” and serve it. ContinueIshii JozoAt this time, we serve a four-tiered dark sake that ripens with the fragrance of the plum grove.Seto Sake BreweryThen, we drank a 300ml bottle in front of the Japanese garden on the veranda. In the afternoon, I went to Yamakita Town,Kawanishiya Sake BreweryCompare the different types of rice at Takashi and finish off the meal.Nakazawa Sake BreweryPair Kawazuzakura Yeast’s limited edition sake with the famous local confectionery, Yokan.

If you stand on the observation deck of Matsudayama Herb Garden in the evening, the light of the Ashigara Plain and distant Sagami Bay illuminated by the setting sun will illuminate the lingering sounds of the day along with the warmth of the choko in your palm.

 

　3 | “Lake Ashi x Ashigara” collaboration ─ The future created by underground water and revived breweries

Ashigara Gozo will be held for the third time in 2025.Sake Bar in Matsuda Sakura FestivalWe are co-hosting this event to promote the “hanami x local sake” culture where the brewers themselves pour sake during the full bloom of Kawazu cherry blossoms.

In the summer, at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse’s **〈YOKOHAMASAKESQUARE〉**, we competed with 22 other breweries inside and outside the prefecture, delivering the story of “from the water source to the sea” to the port town.

Seto Sake Brewery, a revived brewery, ranks 8th in the world, and Inoue Sake Brewery uses terraced rice.All Ashigara preparationA recycling-oriented project is underway to bring all water, rice, and yeast back to the local area.

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2. “Recommended Sake Breweries” in Hakone/Lake Ashi and Ashigara Sake Road

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3. “Recommended Sake Selection” from Hakone/Lake Ashi and Ashigara Sake Road

The rain and snow that falls on the Hakone somma and the Tanzawa mountain range filters through porous volcanic rock and granite layers over several decades, and on the shores of Lake Ashi, it becomes hard. 37mg/LIt springs out as soft water.The yeast was isolated from Kawazu cherry blossoms by Nakazawa Sake Brewery.flower yeastis shared with Kenucha, producing a gorgeous aroma reminiscent of green apples and cherries and refreshing acidity.

　1. Inoue Sake Brewery <Hakoneyama> “Junmai Yume Takao”｜Oimachi, Ashigarakami-gun

Founded in 1789. An “all-Oi” local sake made with medium hard water drawn from a well on the left bank of the Sakawa River and “Gin no Sato” revived in the Takao rice terraces. Fermented at a low temperature, it retains a scent reminiscent of white melon, while the sharp acid with a sake content of +3.5 and an acidity of 2.3 enhances dishes.

 

　2. Ishii Jozo (Soga no Homare) “Junmai 4-stage preparation” | Sogawara, Odawara City

Founded in 1870. In a brewery adjacent to the Soga plum grove, we maintain the traditional four-step process of adding “glutinous rice” at the end of the preparation process. It has the sweetness and richness of the rice, while the acidity from the plum grove and the sharpness from the hard water give it a refreshingly dry aftertaste. It goes well with pickled plums and dried fish.

 

　3. Seto Sake Brewery Store <Sakata Nishiki> “Junmai Raw Storage” | Kaisei-cho, Ashigarakami-gun

Founded in 1865. After being closed for 38 years, the brewery restarted in 2018 and brews 22 brands in 22 small tanks. Made with 60% Yamada Nishiki koji rice and 67% Ginnosato rice, it combines a gentle ginjo aroma with a sharp flavor and spiciness. World sake brewery ranking 20248th placehas made great progress.

 

　4. Nakazawa Sake Brewery (Matsumi Tori) “Ryo Junmai Ginjo Kawazu Sakura Yeast Preparation” | Matsuda Town, Ashigarakami District

Founded in 1825. A spring-limited sake made by combining soft water from the Tanzawa Mountains, 55% Wakasui rice, and Kawazu Ohka yeast isolated in-house. It has a green apple aroma, light sweet acidity, and a fresh gas feeling, and goes well with sakura shrimp kakiage and cheesecake.

 

　5. Kawanishiya Sake Brewery Store <Takashi> “Special Junmai Omachi 60”｜Ashigarakami-gori Yamakita-cho

Founded in 1897. Pursuing “alcohol that complements food” with Nishi-Tanzawa’s medium-hard water. Made with 60% polished Omachi grapes from Okayama Prefecture, it has a dry flavor with a sake content of +6.5 and an acidity of 1.5. It is distributed for a limited time as “White Label Takashi” and goes well with smoked meat and red fish.

 

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4. “Model course” around Hakone/Lake Ashi and Ashigara Sake Road

The rain and snow that falls on the outer rim of Hakone Volcano and the Tanzawa Mountains is slowly filtered through a composite layer of volcanic rock and granite, and then reaches the shores of Lake Ashi. Hardness 37mg/L Soft water in the Sakawa River Fan 60~90mg/L It gushes out as medium-hard water.

This sake trip that takes you around Lake Ashi’s Shu Torii and Ashigara Gokura in a single stroke consists of a light course (1) where you can enjoy a half-day cruise and two breweries, and a full course (2) which covers historical sites, the sea, and hot springs. Since it’s mainly public transportation, you can enjoy sake to your heart’s content without the need for a driver.

　①｜Hakone Shrine and Nizo Tasting Sacred Mountain & Lakeside Light Course

🕒Summary 4.5 hours | 🧭Difficulty ★★☆ (slope + stone steps) | 🍶2 breweries for tasting

Visit the Torii of Peace and Hakone Shrine on Lake Ashi, and enjoy the spectacular scenery on the lake on a pirate ship cruise. After moving to Ashigara, enjoy tasting sake at Nakazawa Sake Brewery (Matsumi Tori) and Seto Sake Brewery (Sakata Nishiki), and finish with lunch and a view at Matsudayama Herb Garden.This is an easy course where you can enjoy the lake and local sake in half a day.

 

　②｜Hakone Checkpoint and Ashigara Sake Road Historic Sites & Shikura Full Course

🕒Distance summary 7 hours | 🧭Difficulty ★★☆ (walk + train + short distance taxi) | 🍶Tasting easy 3-4 breweries

After touring the Hakone Sekisho ruins, where the history of the Edo period is still alive, we visited Inoue Sake Brewery, Ishii Jozo, Kawanishiya Sake Brewery, and Seto Sake Brewery to sample and compare a variety of Ashigara sake. Along the way, you’ll have a local fish lunch at Odawara/Hayakawa Fishing Port, and end with a relaxing soak in the sake lees bath at Hakone Yuryo, making this a full-day plan to the fullest.

 

 

 

 

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 Finally 

The sacred lake of Hakone and the rice terraces of Ashigara – the journey through the earth that a single drop of water takes is also a story of the sake making of each of the five breweries. The soft water of the lake gives it a silky texture, the medium-hard water of the mountains gives it a strong crispness, and the gorgeous flavor created by Gin no Sato and flower yeast.

Every time you tip your glass, the volcano, the rice terraces, and the activities of people overlap, and a new landscape emerges with every sip – that is the real pleasure of “Hakone/Lake Ashi and Ashigara Sake Road”.

On this site, we will update the latest trends of breweries, seasonal sake, and model courses that will brighten up your sake trip. In order to make you think, “I wanted this kind of information,” we plan to thoroughly introduce the business situation confirmed locally, transportation methods, and pairing dishes.