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A sake trip for adults visiting sake breweries, liquor stores, and bars in Little Edo Kawagoe

　table of contents

1. Why Kawagoe is irresistible for sake lovers
2. 3 recommended spots for drinking sake while walking around
   
3. Kawagoe gourmet food and restaurant atmosphere that go well with local sake
4. A must-see souvenir selection for sake lovers
5. Enjoy sake in Kawagoe! Recommended model course
   
   

Introduction

Speaking of Little Edo, Kawagoe is famous for its warehouse-style streets full of Edo atmosphere and its gourmet food such as sweet potato sweets.

However, Kawagoe is actually an irresistible spot for sake lovers.An adult trip where you can slowly enjoy local sake while strolling through the historic streets has a special appeal.

This time, we will introduce Kawagoe’s only sake brewery, Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery, as well as recommended spots for drinking sake, gourmet food, souvenirs, and model courses. Discover a new way to enjoy sake in the traditional town of Little Edo.

 

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1. Why Kawagoe is irresistible for sake lovers

　・Kawagoe’s only sake brewery “Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery” miraculous revival

Currently, there is only one sake brewery left in Kawagoe. The only sake brewery is Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery, which brews Kawagoe’s local sake “Kagamiyama.” Kagamiyama has a long history and was founded in 1875. The sake brewery that once produced Kagamiyama went out of business once in 2000, leading to the disappearance of sake breweries from Kawagoe, the city of breweries.

However, due to the passion of local volunteers, there was a desire for its revival, and Kagamiyama was successfully revived in 2007! Since then, Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery has inherited the tradition as the only sake brewery in Kawagoe, while producing the refined local sake “Kagamiyama.” In fact, after its revival, Kagamiyama has achieved brilliant results, including winning the gold medal at the National New Sake Awards, and its sake brewing, which pursues quality despite its small scale, has been highly praised.

 

　・Careful sake brewing with “quality first” that spares no effort

Sake brewing at Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery takes place in a compact brewery the size of a tennis court. We use the abundant underground water sourced from the Chichibu Mountain Range for brewing water, and by brewing in small quantities in just 6 tanks, we are able to achieve quality-first sake brewing.

Another unique feature of this brewery is that the brewery is prepared as carefully as possible by hand, rather than relying on machines. For example, Kagamiyama’s highest quality sake, called “Tobin Tori Shizuku Sake,” is made using the traditional method of hanging the moromi in a cloth bag and collecting only the drops that naturally drip into a Tobin. Because it is not pressed using a machine, it has a mellow taste with less unpleasant taste, and is a masterpiece that takes the time and effort that only a small-scale brewery can take.

 

　・Commitment to local rice “Sake Musashi” and gold award winning ability

Another point that sets Kagamiyama apart from other sake is that it primarily uses Sake Musashi, a rice suitable for sake brewing that was developed for the first time in Saitama Prefecture. After much research and effort, Kagamiyama, which uses the local sake rice Sake Musashi, became the first sake brewed with Sake Musashi to win the Gold Award at the National Sake Awards in 2019. The local sake of Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery, which continues to take on new challenges while inheriting tradition, is one of the reasons why Kawagoe is so irresistible for sake lovers.

 

　・A hidden sake place, a sacred place for comparing Saitama sake

Furthermore, since there are few local sake breweries in Kawagoe, there are spots where you can enjoy sake from all over Saitama all in one place. In fact, Saitama Prefecture is a hidden sake region that boasts the 4th largest production volume of sake in Japan.

If you come to Kawagoe, there are places where you can taste and compare local sake from all the breweries in the prefecture, making it the perfect place to go on a local sake tour. You can encounter a wide variety of Saitama’s sake while enjoying the historic townscape – this is another attractive point of Kawagoe for sake fans.

 

 

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 2. 3 recommended spots for drinking sake while walking around

Here are three spots that are essential for enjoying sake drinking while walking around Kawagoe.

　・Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery

First is Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery itself, which brews Kawagoe’s local sake “Kagamiyama”. Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery, which has a brewery in Nakamachi in the city, is the only sake brewery in Kawagoe that was revived in 2007 as mentioned above.

The exterior has a quaint appearance that blends in with the warehouse-style streetscape, and the address is 10-13 Nakamachi, Kawagoe City. It is not always open to tourists, but if you time it right, you may be able to catch a glimpse of the brewery’s preparation process (advance reservations may be required for tours). When new sake is released from the brewery, limited sales events are sometimes held where you can purchase it directly from the brewery.

You can sample and purchase the sake brewed at Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery at the spots mentioned below, but just looking at the brewery itself from outside will give you a sense of the atmosphere. Sake lovers will be thrilled by the sight of a modern-day sake brewery in a historic castle town.

 

　・Little Edo Kura-sato (Kikizake-dokoro)

Koedo Kura-sato is a tourist facility that has been renovated from three breweries built during the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods, and was originally the site of the former Kagamiyama Sake Brewery. The spacious grounds, lined with white-walled warehouses, are home to three warehouses: Meiji-gura, Taisho-gura, and Showa-gura, as well as a shop selling souvenirs unique to Kawagoe and a restaurant serving local cuisine.

A must-see for sake lovers is Kikizakedokoro, located in Showakura. Showa Kura is a stately storehouse built in 1931, and is an imposing building supported by thick cedar pillars. At the Kikizake-dokoro in one corner, you can enjoy tastings of sake from all the sake breweries in Saitama Prefecture for a fee.

By holding the choko over the coin-operated dispenser, you can taste a small amount of your favorite sake. Tastings cost approximately 400 to 600 yen per glass, and you can choose from about 10 different types, including seasonal sake and high-quality Daiginjo, and compare them. Enjoy local sake such as Kagamiyama in a luxurious corner where you can taste and compare the specialties of breweries from all over Saitama.

[Kurasato limited! “Junmai Sparkling” from the barrel is a must-try]

Among them, the “Junmai Sparkling” limited to Koedo Kurasato is worth checking out. It is a sparkling sake made by adding carbon dioxide gas to barrel-packed sake, and because the gas escapes when it is transferred to a bottle, it is a rare drink that can only be drunk on tap. It had a refreshing taste and was so delicious that even beginners of sake could enjoy it. You can easily try it out for as little as one coin, so even beginners of sake should try it out with a coin in hand and find your favorite drink.

[Fermentation Bar]

Kikizakedokoro also has a “Ferment Bar” corner that collects fermented foods that go well with sake. You can also purchase fermented foods unique to Kawagoe, such as soy sauce, miso, and amazake, as snacks, and it’s also great that you can enjoy pairing them with sake on the spot.

 

　・Directly managed by the brewery! “Kawagoe Saketen” where you can enjoy local sake in a historic space

The third place we would like to introduce is Kawagoe Saketen, which is a must-see if you want to enjoy sake in Kawagoe’s brewery area. Kawagoe Sake Store is a new antenna shop opened by Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery, and is located along the Kawagoe Ichibangai shopping street (Kurazukuri townscape).

The store is housed in a historic building called the Takishima Family Residence, which was built in 1895, and maintains the atmosphere of a black-plaster storehouse. Kawagoe’s symbol “Toki no Kane” stands right behind the place, making it an easy place to stop by during a break from sightseeing.

[COEDO is also included in all types of “Kagamiyama”! Saitama’s delicious sake in Kakuuchi style]

Inside the store, we carry all types of Japanese sake “Kagamiyama”, which is Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery’s signature product, as well as the entire lineup of local Kawagoe craft beer COEDO Beer. We also carry local alcoholic beverages other than sake, such as Togedama, a craft gin from Kawagoe, and wine from Chichibu, which is attracting attention from the Sommelier Association, making it an irresistible selection for alcohol lovers.

Of course, the main focus is sake, so you can also sample Kagamiyama for a fee at the store. If you ask the staff for the brand you’re interested in, they’ll let you taste it starting from just one choko. You might be able to find a bargain, as limited edition sake and amazake sold by weight that are only available directly from the brewery will be available.

[How to enjoy]

It’s the perfect spot to pick up the local sake you’re looking for while strolling through the townscape of brewery-style buildings. It’s in a great location, just a 1-minute walk from the tourist attraction Toki no Kane, so why not stop by after listening to the sound of the bell ringing? Enjoying the atmosphere of a retro liquor store and taking your time to choose Kawagoe’s local sake is a special experience.

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 3. Kawagoe gourmet food and restaurant atmosphere that go well with local sake

If you enjoy sake in Kawagoe, be sure to try pairing it with delicious local cuisine.

　・Pairing of Kawagoe’s signature gourmet eel and local sake

[A blissful experience of enjoying the rich flavor of sake]

The first Kawagoe gourmet dish I would like to mention is eel. Kawagoe is a region dotted with long-established eel restaurants that have been around since the Edo period, and dishes such as unaju, which is topped with aromatic grilled eel, and hitsumabushi, which can be enjoyed in three different flavors along with condiments and soup stock, go perfectly with sake. The rich flavor of fatty eel and the refreshing taste of sake complement each other.

[Specialty dishes to enjoy at Taishozo’s restaurant “Hasshutei”]

If you want to casually enjoy eel near the warehouse-style townscape, we recommend the Japanese restaurant “Hasshutei” located in Koedo Kurasato. At Hasshu-tei, Kawagoe’s proud local food is served, and one of the most popular dishes is Kawagoe’s famous eel dish.

We have a wide range of luxurious eel menus, such as Kawagoe’s famous eel ju, which is carefully grilled to order (a delicious dish of plump and tender eel with a light sauce), and hitsumabushi, which is served as is, then topped with condiments, and finally topped with dashi soup. These eel dishes go well with local sake, Kagamiyama, and if you stuff your mouth with melt-in-your-mouth eel and include a glass of crispy sake, you’ll have a blissful marriage.

You can take a break with a cold sake in between daytime sightseeing, or enjoy a hot sake at night while looking at the illuminated brewery. Hasshu-tei also offers rare local sake, including Kagamiyama, so be sure to enjoy it with your food.

 

　・Perfect for souvenirs! “Fermented sweets” using sake lees from Kagamiyama

[“Sake lees kintsuba” with a rich aroma]

Fermented sweets are Kawagoe’s unique desserts that sake lovers should definitely try. In fact, Kawagoe has unique Japanese sweets made from sake lees, a byproduct of Japanese sake. Made by kneading sake lees from Kagamiyama.“Sake Kasu Kintsuba” is a special product only available in Kawagoe.

Kintsuba is made with fluffy red bean paste wrapped in a sake lees-flavored skin, and when you take a bite, the mellow aroma of sake spreads through your mouth, creating a perfect balance with the elegant sweetness of the bean paste. It can be said to be a new type of sweets that will please both sweet and spicy people. Sake lees kintsuba is not sold separately, but only in boxes of six pieces, but it also makes a great souvenir. The package features the “Kagamiyama” logo and Kawagoe’s symbol “Toki no Kane,” a stylish design that will become a memorable memory of your trip to Kawagoe.

[Moist and gentle taste for adults “Sake Kasu Kastela”]

Another popular sweet is “Sake Kasu Kastela”. This castella cake is baked with plenty of Kagamiyama sake lees kneaded into it, and is a masterpiece with a moist and fluffy texture that has a slight Japanese sake flavor.

It has a mild sweetness and richness, making it a gentle flavor that is easy to eat even for those who are not good at drinking alcohol. It is a popular product along with sake lees kintsuba, and is perfect as a dessert after enjoying sake. Both are Kawagoe original fermented sweets that can’t be found anywhere else, so if you like Japanese sake, be sure to check them out.

 

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 4. A must-see souvenir selection for sake lovers

At the end of your walk through Kawagoe, don’t forget to pick up some souvenirs for sake lovers.

　・Gold award winning sake “Kagamiyama Sake Musashi Daiginjo”

The first thing you can’t miss is the famous local sake “Kagamiyama” itself. Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery produces various types of Kagamiyama, but the recommended one is the Junmai Daiginjo series, which uses locally produced rice.

“Kagamiyama Sake Musashi Daiginjo”, which uses sake rice “Sake Musashi” developed in Saitama Prefecture, is the world’s first 100% Sake Musashi daiginjo sake, and is characterized by an elegant and gorgeous aroma and a sharp taste. It is a signature product that won gold medals in various competitions after the brewery was revived, and it is also a great item to give as a gift.

In addition, Kagamiyama has an attractive lineup of seasonal freshly squeezed sake and top-quality sake such as the aforementioned Tobin Tori Shizuku. In Kawagoe City, you can purchase it at the Meijigura (souvenir shop) in Koedo Kura-sato and the aforementioned Kawagoe Liquor Store, so be sure to look for your favorite bottle.

 

　・Kawagoe limited! Enjoy fragrant “sake lees sweets” at home

The next thing I would like to recommend is sake lees sweets made from Kagamiyama’s sake lees. The sake lees kintsuba and sake lees kasutera that I introduced earlier will both make great Kawagoe souvenirs for sake lovers. These sweets, which have a faint scent of sake, are limited edition items that can only be obtained here in Kawagoe.

In particular, Sake Kasu Kintsuba comes in a box of 6 pieces, making it perfect as a small souvenir for your workplace or family. Sake lees kastela is also a baked confectionery that has a long shelf life and is relatively useful, so it’s a good idea to enjoy it with sake after returning home while soaking up the afterglow of your trip. These sake lees sweets can be purchased at Kawagoe Sake Store, so be sure to check them out along with Kagamiyama’s sake.

 

　・Searching for “sake vessels” that will color your travel memories

In addition, if you like sake, you’ll want to pay close attention to the sake vessels. Kawagoe’s pottery shops and glass workshops sell traditional pottery and glass-worked choko and sake cups.

We also recommend finding your favorite sake set as a memento of your visit to the breweries. Drinking Kawagoe’s local sake in your favorite sake cup will deepen your memories of your trip.

 

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 5. Enjoy sake in Kawagoe! Recommended model course

Lastly, we would like to suggest a model itinerary to fully enjoy drinking sake while walking around Kawagoe. We will introduce images of half-day and full-day courses depending on the time required.

　<Half-day course> “Royal road drinking tour” starting with tasting of Kura-sato

[Morning: Sake tasting starts at Koedo Kura-sato]

When you arrive at Honkawagoe Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, first head to Koedo Kura, which is just a short walk from the station. After 10 o’clock, you can take a look at the souvenir shop in Kurasato (Meiji Kura/Taisho Kura area) to preview Kawagoe souvenirs, and at 11 o’clock the Showa Kizake shop will open.

Grab your coins at Kikizake-dokoro and sample local sake from all over Saitama, including Kagamiyama! Be sure to try some of the drinks that can only be tasted on the spot, such as sparkling sake that is only available at Kurasato. The time will fly by as you enjoy tasting sake and finding your favorite sake.

[Lunch: Eel and local sake at Taishogura’s “Hasshutei”]

At noon, we will take a lunch break at the restaurant Hasshu-tei located in Taishogura on the same premises. Order Kawagoe’s famous eel and hitsumabushi that I introduced earlier, and enjoy them slowly with chilled Kagamiyama. Enjoying local gourmet food in a quaint space that has been renovated from a warehouse is a luxurious experience filled with the travel spirit. Once your stomach is full, you can start walking around the city again.

[Afternoon: Kurazukuri townscape ~ To Kawagoe Liquor Store]

After leaving Kurasato, head north while strolling along Ichibangai (Kurazukuri townscape), the main street of Kawagoe. Walking through the streets lined with historical buildings made of earthen storehouses will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time to the Edo period. On the way, it might be a good idea to take a detour to Kashiya Yokocho (Sweet Town), which has a retro Showa atmosphere, and try some nostalgic sweets (perfect for refreshing yourself in between drinks).

After walking along Ichibangai for about 10 minutes, you will see a particularly tall wooden tower. It is the symbol of Kawagoe, “The Bell of Time.” After taking a picture while looking up at the bell of time, head to the Kawagoe Liquor Store just behind it.

At Kawagoe Liquor Store, you can pick up a bottle of local sake such as Kagamiyama, or if you find a brand you’re interested in, ask for a paid tasting. Being a store directly managed by a brewery, we have an excellent selection of products, including limited edition sake that can only be purchased here, as well as sake lees sweets. After enjoying a conversation with the owner and purchasing alcohol for yourself or as a souvenir, your half-day course ends. Let’s return to the station while looking at the Kawagoe cityscape while feeling tipsy.

 

　<1 day course> Enjoy the matchmaking shrine and “Kawagoe at night”

[Afternoon: Visit Hikawa Shrine]

The basic flow is the same as the half-day course, but if you have time, you can continue to enjoy sightseeing in Kawagoe in the afternoon. If you haven’t had enough to drink after shopping at Kawagoe Liquor Store, we recommend taking a break at one of the cafes around Ichibangai, or going to a spot a little further away, such as Hikawa Shrine (about 20 minutes by Tobu Bus or Koedo Kanko Bus from Hon-Kawagoe Station or the Kurasato area).

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is a shrine that is famous for its matchmaking, and you may be able to casually feel the connection to sake here as well, as they give out lucky sake omikuji (amulets in the shape of sake bottles) on the grounds.

[Evening to night: Fantastic cityscape and a drink to finish]

After enjoying your afternoon walking around the city, you will return to the area around Honkawagoe Station before sunset. Let’s go to another place in the evening to enjoy sake. For example, you can enjoy the night view of Kawagoe, which has a different atmosphere from the daytime, and enjoy the atmosphere of the storehouse illuminated by the lights at Hasshu-tei, or you can finish off your trip by sampling local sake at an izakaya near Kawagoe Station. Kawagoe is dotted with bars and bars that carry a wide variety of local sake, so one of the best parts of your trip is to pop into a store that interests you.

When night falls, the warehouse-style townscape takes on a romantic look that is completely different from the daytime. Enjoy the last drink of your trip while strolling through the old townscape illuminated by the light of lanterns and paper lanterns. If you spend a day enjoying Kawagoe’s sake and walking around town, you’re sure to have a trip that satisfies both your mind and body.

 

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 6. Conclusion 

Kawagoe is an ideal tourist destination for Japanese sake lovers, where you can enjoy the charm of local sake and the good old townscape of breweries at the same time. Focusing on the local sake called “Kagamiyama” produced by Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery, the only sake brewery, experiencing sake tasting at Kurasato and Kawagoe Sake Stores, encountering sake lees sweets, and the atmosphere of the historic town – a sake tour in Kawagoe that can be enjoyed with all five senses is sure to be a special experience that can only be experienced here.

The next time you visit Kawagoe, be sure to try not only tasting sweets but also drinking sake. Having a drink in a town full of the atmosphere of the Little Edo period is sure to become a special memory. Now, why not enjoy a toast with Kawagoe’s local sake while listening to the sound of the bell of time? There is no doubt that you will be captivated by the new charm of Kawagoe, the “Little Edo”.