![[Kanazawa x Sake] Enjoy local sake on a sake brewery tour! A trip to enjoy Kanazawa and sake](https://article.bespes-jt.com/wp-content/uploads/hubfs/0303e838df117fe71d994dbe03ed3042.jpg)
- A Kanazawa Journey: Refreshing the Soul in a Historic Castle Town and Savoring Kaga’s Local Sake
- What Is the Sake of Kanazawa?
- 1 | The Four Seasons of Kenroku-en and the Sake of Kaga Nurtured by Hundred-Year Water
- 2 | Walking Higashi Chaya District and Feeling the Pulse of Local Sake at a Kaku-uchi
- 3 | Cups Reflecting the Aesthetics of the Million-Koku Domain: The Many Faces of Kagatobi
- [ Kanazawa Castle / Higashi Chaya District Area – Overview ]
- Around Kanazawa: “Recommended Sake Breweries”
- 1. Fukumitsuya Co., Ltd. | A Long-established Brewery Founded in the Kan’ei Era, Brewing Only Junmai Sake
- 2. Yachiya Shuzo Co., Ltd. | A Machiya Brewery and Cultural Property, Purveyor to the Maeda Family
- 3. Around Kanazawa: “Recommended Sake Selection”
- 1. Kagatobi Junmai Daiginjo 46 Hyakumangoku no Shiro | Fukumitsuya (Kanazawa City)
- 2. Kagatsuru Junmai “Ishikawamon” | Yachiya Shuzo (Kanazawa City)
- 3. Tengumai Yamahai Junmai | Shata Shuzo (Hakusan City)
- 4. Tedorigawa Junmai Daiginjo Honryu | Yoshida Shuzoten (Hakusan City)
- 5. Chikuha Noto Junmai | Kazuma Shuzo (Noto Town)
- 4. Touring Kanazawa and Its Sake Breweries: “Model Courses”
- ① | Enjoy Kenroku-en and Sake Tasting to the Fullest! Classic Stroll & Tasting Course
- ② | Kanazawa + Hakusan Local Sake! Tengumai & Tedorigawa Course
- ③ | A “Quick Drink” Inside the Station! Light Sake Tasting Plan
- Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
A Kanazawa Journey: Refreshing the Soul in a Historic Castle Town and Savoring Kaga’s Local Sake
Table of Contents
- What Is the Sake of Kanazawa?
- Around Kanazawa: “Recommended Sake Breweries”
- Around Kanazawa: “Recommended Sake Selection”
- Touring Kanazawa and Its Sake Breweries: “Model Courses”
Introduction
Kanazawa, the former castle town of the Kaga Domain of one million koku, has a well-rooted local sake culture alongside its latticed teahouse districts and gold-leaf crafts.
This article introduces breweries you can visit, places to taste local sake, recommended bottles, and model courses in and around Kanazawa.
What Is the Sake of Kanazawa?
Kanazawa, which flourished as the castle town of the Kaga Domain of one million koku, is a town where you can stroll through samurai residences and teahouse districts that retain the atmosphere of the Edo period and taste sake from breweries across the prefecture. High-quality water such as Fukumitsuya’s brewing water “Hyakunen-sui” (hundred-year water) — rain that fell at the foot of sacred Mt. Hakusan and spends a hundred years passing through underground shell layers — supports sake brewing in this area.
1 | The Four Seasons of Kenroku-en and the Sake of Kaga Nurtured by Hundred-Year Water
About 20 minutes by bus from Kanazawa Station. Fukumitsuya (founded 1625) brews only junmai sake using “Hyakunen-sui” drawn up from 150 m underground and contract-grown rice. The brewery course, held during the brewing season (November-March), consists of a video screening, an introduction to the brewing water “Hyakunen-sui,” a brewery tour, and a sake tasting, while the year-round tasting courses let you sample premium sake.
2 | Walking Higashi Chaya District and Feeling the Pulse of Local Sake at a Kaku-uchi
In Higashi Chaya District, lined with latticed facades, there is a kaku-uchi (standing sake bar) called Higashiyama Shuraku, which stocks over 120 kinds of Ishikawa sake and has a standing tasting corner (open 10:00-17:00), so we recommend stopping by during your daytime stroll. In the evening, head to Nihonshu Bar Kanazawa Shushu near Oyama Shrine. You can compare some 80-100 kinds of sake with a tasting set, and enjoy them with food. At the beginning and end of your trip, visit Kanazawa Jizakegura inside “Anto” at Kanazawa Station for vending-machine tastings and bottle purchases.
3 | Cups Reflecting the Aesthetics of the Million-Koku Domain: The Many Faces of Kagatobi
Fukumitsuya’s flagship brand “Kagatobi” follows a stylish dry line named after the “Kaga Tobi,” the firefighters of the feudal domain era. With a diverse range including the Junmai Daiginjo “Kissho,” “Sennichi Kakoi” aged at low temperature for 1,000 days, and the Yamahai-brewed junmai daiginjo “Ikazuchi,” its appeal lies in its depth: sharp when served chilled and with swelling umami when warmed.
[ Kanazawa Castle / Higashi Chaya District Area – Overview ]
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture (around Kenroku-en, Kanazawa Castle Park, and Higashi Chaya District) |
| Access | Kanazawa Stn. → Hokutetsu Bus to “Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa-jo,” about 10 min. / About 10 min. by taxi from the station (Fukumitsuya) |
| Main Sights | Kenroku-en, Kanazawa Castle Park, Higashi Chaya District, Omicho Market, Nagamachi Samurai District, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art |
| Sake Spots | Fukumitsuya (brewery tour & sake tasting), Kanazawa Jizakegura (station kaku-uchi), Nihonshu Bar Kanazawa Shushu, Higashiyama Shuraku (kaku-uchi), SAKE SHOP Fukumitsuya Kanazawa |
| Events | Seasonal light-ups at Kenroku-en and Kanazawa Castle Park (check official sites for dates) / Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival (1st week of June, Hyakumangoku Parade) / Fukumitsuya tasting courses (year-round, reservation required) and brewery course (November-March) |
Around Kanazawa: “Recommended Sake Breweries”
Brewed by the Legacy of the Samurai Town and “Hundred-Year Water” — A Brewery Tour to Savor Million-Koku Culture
Kanazawa, where the latticed doors of the Nagamachi Samurai District and Higashi Chaya District still remain, is a sake region blessed with good water. Here we introduce two breweries in Kanazawa City that offer tours and tastings.
1. Fukumitsuya Co., Ltd. | A Long-established Brewery Founded in the Kan’ei Era, Brewing Only Junmai Sake
Founded in 1625 (Kan’ei 2), this brewery brews only junmai sake using “Hyakunen-sui” drawn up from 150 m underground and contract-grown rice alone. Tours, which you can choose from video viewing to a brewery tour and premium sake tasting, take 45-90 minutes. The flagship brand “Kagatobi” is stylishly dry, and other brands include “Fukumasamune” and “Kuroobi.”
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Fukumitsuya Co., Ltd. |
| Year Founded | 1625 (Kan’ei 2) |
| Main Brands | Kagatobi, Fukumasamune, Kuroobi, liqueurs made with Hyakunen-sui |
| Tours | ○ Reservation required – Premium tasting course, 45 min., ¥3,300 – Grand Premium tasting course, 45 min., ¥11,000 (private) – Brewery course, 90 min., ¥3,300 (November-March only) |
| Tastings | ○ Paid, 3-5 varieties (included in tour) |
| Direct Sales | SAKE SHOP Fukumitsuya (Kanazawa shop / Higashi Chaya District shop) |
| Access | Kanazawa Stn. → Hokutetsu Bus, alight at “Kodatsuno,” 1 min. walk / About 15 min. by taxi |
2. Yachiya Shuzo Co., Ltd. | A Machiya Brewery and Cultural Property, Purveyor to the Maeda Family
The brewery traces its origins to 1583 (Tensho 11), when its founder moved from Owari with Maeda Toshiie, founder of the Kaga Domain, to brew sake for the lord; in 1628 (Kan’ei 5) it was granted the trade name “Yachiya” and the sake name “Kagatsuru.” The brewhouse, built in the mid-Edo period, still shows the rough “chona-kezuri” adze finish, and the main house along the Hokkoku Kaido road is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. The approximately 40-minute brewery tour (reservation by phone, ¥1,500) is held twice a day, and you can taste sake such as “Kagatsuru Junmai Ishikawamon” at the tasting corner. The fee includes a ¥1,000 discount voucher for the shop.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Yachiya Shuzo Co., Ltd. (brand: Kagatsuru) |
| Year Founded | 1583 (Tensho 11) |
| Main Brands | Kagatsuru Junmai, Daiginjo, Ishikawamon series |
| Tours | ○ Reservation by phone, twice daily (13:30 / 15:00; closed Sundays and holidays) About 40 min., tour fee ¥1,500 (includes ¥1,000 discount voucher) |
| Tastings | ○ Included in tour fee / additional paid tastings available |
| Direct Sales | Jizake Yachiya (shop attached to the brewery) |
| Access | Kanazawa Stn. → JR / Hokutetsu Bus, alight at “Narawa,” 5 min. walk / About 10 min. by taxi |
3. Around Kanazawa: “Recommended Sake Selection”
Here are five local sakes: from the two Kanazawa breweries, plus breweries in Hakusan City and Noto Town.
Focusing on bottles available at brewery shops and the specialty shop inside the station, we summarize their flavor, brewing, and ways to enjoy them.
1. Kagatobi Junmai Daiginjo 46 Hyakumangoku no Shiro | Fukumitsuya (Kanazawa City)
A junmai daiginjo made from “Hyakumangoku no Shiro,” a sake rice developed by Ishikawa Prefecture, polished to 46% and brewed with “Kanazawa yeast” and “Hyakunen-sui” drawn from 150 m beneath the brewery. The brewery describes it as an “all-Ishikawa” sake.
Aromas reminiscent of white peach and pear lead into soft rice umami and the crisp finish typical of Kagatobi. It pairs easily with sweet Hokuriku seafood such as sweet shrimp and gasu-ebi shrimp, and we recommend serving it chilled at around 10°C.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Junmai Daiginjo (polishing ratio 46%) |
| Flavor | Aromas of pear and white peach / clean and dry, with a crisp finish |
| Serving Style | Chilled ◎ / Room temperature ○ |
| Food Pairings | Salt-grilled gasu-ebi shrimp, jibuni stew, kobako crab |
| Where to Buy/Drink | SAKE SHOP Fukumitsuya (brewery / teahouse district), Kanazawa Jizakegura (Anto at the station) |
2. Kagatsuru Junmai “Ishikawamon” | Yachiya Shuzo (Kanazawa City)
A junmai brewed by the machiya brewery, once purveyor to the Maeda family of the Kaga Domain, using “Ishikawamon,” a sake rice developed in Ishikawa Prefecture. The brewery’s water comes from the Iozen mountain water system and is fairly soft. It has rice umami at its core with a crisp, dryish finish; after a gentle rice aroma, acidity pulls the flavor together, making it easy to pair with rich dishes such as nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) or duck jibuni stew.
The brewery’s “Maeda Toshiie-ko” Tokubetsu Junmai won a Platinum Award in the Junmai category at Kura Master 2024.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Junmai (polishing ratio 65%) |
| Flavor | Swelling umami / crisp, dry |
| Serving Style | Room temperature ◎ / Lukewarm ◎ / Chilled ○ |
| Food Pairings | Salt-grilled nodoguro, duck jibuni stew, grilled shiitake |
| Where to Buy/Drink | Yachiya Shuzo direct sales shop, Kanazawa Jizakegura, Higashi Chaya District |
3. Tengumai Yamahai Junmai | Shata Shuzo (Hakusan City)
The standard junmai of Shata Shuzo, a brewery known for Yamahai brewing. Rice polished to 60% is brewed with a Yamahai starter that makes use of natural lactic acid bacteria. It has a golden-yellow hue, an aroma reminiscent of ripe banana, and umami and robust acidity that blend into one; its depth grows when served lukewarm. It won the IWC 2011 Junmai Trophy and, at Kura Master 2024, the Jury Prize (Classic Moto category) and the Alliance Gastronomy Award.
Paired with Noto beef sukiyaki or rich sweet-shrimp shiokara, you can enjoy a long finish.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Yamahai Junmai (polishing ratio 60%) |
| Flavor | Aroma like ripe banana / rich umami and acidity, long finish |
| Serving Style | Room temperature ◎ / Lukewarm ◎ |
| Food Pairings | Noto beef sukiyaki, sweet shrimp shiokara, Hakusan maitake tempura |
| Where to Buy/Drink | Kanazawa Jizakegura, kaku-uchi at Omicho Market, many izakayas in the prefecture |
4. Tedorigawa Junmai Daiginjo Honryu | Yoshida Shuzoten (Hakusan City)
A junmai daiginjo made from 100% Yamada Nishiki polished to 45%, brewed slowly at low temperature with a yeast developed by the Kanazawa Regional Taxation Bureau and cultured in-house. Its calm, honey-like aroma does not overpower food, and its wide range, from sashimi to meat dishes, is its hallmark.
As a lightly chilled sake at around 14°C its aroma rises, and as a lukewarm sake at 40°C it gains roundness and goes well with Kanazawa oden. It conveys the flavor of Yoshida Shuzoten, founded in 1870 and in business for more than 150 years.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Junmai Daiginjo (polishing ratio 45%) |
| Flavor | Calm, honey-like aroma / clean finish |
| Serving Style | Chilled ◎ / Room temperature ○ |
| Food Pairings | Yellowtail sashimi, Kanazawa oden (kurumabu wheat gluten, baigai whelk), Kaga lotus root hasu-mushi |
| Where to Buy/Drink | Kanazawa Jizakegura |
5. Chikuha Noto Junmai | Kazuma Shuzo (Noto Town)
A flagship sake under the banner of “All Noto,” brewed from 100% contract-grown Noto Yamada Nishiki with very soft spring water from the mountains of Noto Town. Citrus-like acidity peeks out behind a gentle rice aroma, and while light on the palate, it is a balanced type in which umami, astringency, and bitterness overlap just right.
Kazuma Shuzo has won awards at competitions in Japan and abroad, including the IWC and the Fine Sake Awards (Delicious Sake in a Wine Glass). This sake is sharp when chilled, and the richness of rice stands out when lukewarm. It is a bottle to enjoy with Noto dishes such as oysters and ishiru hot pot.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Junmai (polishing ratio 55%) |
| Flavor | Citrus-like acidity / balance of umami and crispness |
| Serving Style | Chilled ◎ / Lukewarm ◎ |
| Food Pairings | Fried Noto oysters, ishiru hot pot, fugu ovary pickled in rice bran |
| Where to Buy/Drink | Kazuma Shuzo’s own shop (Noto Town), teahouse district bars, online shops |
4. Touring Kanazawa and Its Sake Breweries: “Model Courses”
Walk through teahouse districts lined with latticed doors and taste Kaga’s local sake brewed with “Hyakunen-sui” — in Kanazawa you can plan a sake trip in half a day or a full day. We suggest three model courses to choose from according to your travel style.
① | Enjoy Kenroku-en and Sake Tasting to the Fullest! Classic Stroll & Tasting Course
🕒 Time required: approx. 4-5 hours ｜ 🧭 Difficulty: ★☆☆ ｜ 🍶 Tasting spots (approx.): 2 places
A half-day course from Kanazawa Station that combines a stroll through Kenroku-en with sake shopping at the station and a long-established brewery’s shop. Walk Kenroku-en in the morning, have a seafood lunch at Omicho Market, then choose sake brewed with “Hyakunen-sui” at Fukumitsuya’s shop. If you join a tasting course (reservation required), adjust the order to match its start time.
| Time | Stops & Experiences |
|---|---|
| 9:30 | Kanazawa Station: Kanazawa Jizakegura for a pre-party tasting |
| 10:00 | By bus to Kenroku-en & Kanazawa Castle Park for a stroll |
| 11:30 | Omicho Market seafood bowl lunch |
| 12:45 | Fukumitsuya SAKE SHOP Kanazawa (shopping at the direct store; tasting courses start at 11:00 and 15:00, reservation required) |
| 14:00 | By bus to Kanazawa Station / can be extended to Higashi Chaya District |
② | Kanazawa + Hakusan Local Sake! Tengumai & Tedorigawa Course
🕒 Time required: approx. 7-8 hours ｜ 🧭 Difficulty: ★★☆ ｜ 🍶 Tasting spots (approx.): 1 brewery + station
A plan to visit Shata Shuzo (Tengumai) in Hakusan City by taxi. After a tasting flight at “Tengumai SAKE SHOP mau.” next to the brewery, visit Shirayama Hime Shrine, and finish at Kanazawa Station with Tedorigawa (Yoshida Shuzoten) and other local sake. Yoshida Shuzoten does not offer brewery tours, so enjoy Tedorigawa at the station or at shops in the city (as of September 2026).
| Time | Stops & Experiences |
|---|---|
| 9:30 | JR Kanazawa Stn. → by taxi to Shata Shuzo (Tengumai) |
| 10:00 | Tengumai SAKE SHOP mau. three-sake tasting flight (10:00-16:00, closed Sundays, as of September 2026) |
| 11:30 | Roadside Station Megumi Hakusan (local lunch) |
| 13:00 | Shirayama Hime Shrine visit |
| 15:30 | Kanazawa Station: Kanazawa Jizakegura for comparison tasting & souvenirs |
③ | A “Quick Drink” Inside the Station! Light Sake Tasting Plan
🕒 Time required: approx. 2-3 hours ｜ 🧭 Difficulty: ★☆☆ ｜ 🍶 Tasting spots (approx.): 1 place + light bites
A quick local sake experience while waiting for a transfer or before your shinkansen. Compare sake at Kanazawa Jizakegura’s automatic tasting machines or sake bar, then snack on Kanazawa oden near the station.
| Time | Stops & Experiences |
|---|---|
| Any time | Kanazawa Station: Kanazawa Jizakegura tasting machines and sake bar (8:30-20:00, as of September 2026) |
| +30 min. | Near the station: Kanazawa oden |
| +60 min. | Tsuzumi-mon Gate photos & souvenir browsing → to your train |
Summary
Kanazawa’s local sake draws on good water such as Fukumitsuya’s “Hyakunen-sui,” Ishikawa sake rice, and brewing histories of more than 400 years. Paired with walks through Kenroku-en, the teahouse districts, and the Nagamachi Samurai District, it makes for a sake trip rooted in the history of this castle town.
On a first visit, get a feel for the town and its sake with the half-day course; next time, plan around the Hakusan breweries or seasonal sake. At the end of your trip, pick out a favorite bottle at “Kanazawa Jizakegura” in Kanazawa Station.
