🕓 2025/4/30
#Japanese sake
more
A trip to Nikko where you can soothe your soul with nature and enjoy local sake.
table of contents
- What is the sake made at Nikko Toshogu Shrine?
- Around Nikko Toshogu Shrine“Recommended sake brewery”
- Around Nikko Toshogu Shrine“Recommended Sake Selection”
- Tour Nikko Toshogu Shrine and sake breweriesRu“Model course”
Introduction
Nikko Toshogu Shrine is dazzling with vermilion and rich colors.
The underground water of Mt. Nantai, which has supported its majesty, has been turned into “delicious local sake” in a brewery in Imaichi, Monzen-cho, and has enriched the senses of visitors.
In this article, we will explore the historical background of Toshogu Shrine, and cover the two long-established breweries and experience-based brewery that live in front of the gate, as well as a “drinking excursion” to Kinugawa Onsen.
The contrast between the tranquility of the shrine and the white walls of the storehouse, as well as the once-in-a-lifetime taste of seasonal sake and handmade experiences.
- 1. What is the sake made at Nikko Toshogu Shrine?
- ・Encounter with the sacred place of the Shogun family and pure water
- ・The scenery in front of the gate where the majestic shrine building and the white walls of the storehouse echo together
- ・“Umami” local sake produced through bitter cold brewing
- 1. Nikko Homare Junmai Ginjo | Watanabe Sahei Shoten
- 2. Oniwarai pure rice raw sake｜Watanabe Sahei Shoten
- 3. Kashiwazakari Unblended Sake M｜Katayama Sake Brewery
- 4. Junmai Daiginjo “Sukao Yume Sasara” unfiltered unprocessed sake | Katayama Sake Brewery
- 5. “My Sake” Custom-made Junmai Sake | Mae Nikko Brewery
1. What is the sake made at Nikko Toshogu Shrine?
Nikko is a sacred place where you can worship the sacred mountain Mt. Nantai from a distance.
Nikko Toshogu Shrine, built over 400 years ago to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu, is one of Japan’s most famous sites and is part of the World Heritage Site “Shrines and Temples of Nikko” with its brightly colored shrine buildings and intricate carvings. The lessons contained in designs such as the three monkeys and the sleeping cat are Ieyasu’s wishes for peace and prosperity.
These gorgeous decorations were supported by the clear water of the Nikko Mountains and the harsh cold of winter — in fact, these blessings were the driving force behind Nikko’s sake culture.
・Encounter with the sacred place of the Shogun family and pure water
After the major reconstruction in 1636, Toshogu Shrine became a symbol of the prestige of the Edo Shogunate. On the other hand, in the Monzen town of Imaichi, small-scale sake breweries were established in the mid-Edo period, taking advantage of the cold winds passing through the cedar trees of Nikko and the underground water of Mt. Nantai. Today, Watanabe Sahei Shoten (founded in 1842) and Katayama Sake Brewery (founded in 1880) remain, and both continue to maintain traditional handicrafts such as “all pure rice making” and “Sase-style tank squibori”**.
・The scenery in front of the gate where the majestic shrine building and the white walls of the storehouse echo together
About 20 minutes south by car from Toshogu Shrine, you will find white storehouses dotting the residential area of Imaichi, where the cedar-lined road ends. After seeing the dazzling gold leaf and richly colored shrine building, you can visit the rustic storehouse with the scent of woodwork and experience the contrast unique to Nikko, where flower and wabi coexist. Tours of both breweries require advance reservations and include free tastings. In winter, the best part is being able to see the process of steaming rice and squeezing the rice up close, and tasting freshly squeezed rice on the spot.
・“Umami” local sake produced through bitter cold brewing
Imaichi’s underground water, which has a medium hardness and just the right amount of minerals, attracts yeast with strong fermentation power, resulting in a sake quality that is both crisp and flavorful. Watanabe Sahei Shoten’s Junmai Ginjo “Nikko Homare” has a harmonious balance of sweetness of rice and dignified acidity, while Katayama Sake Brewery’s unblended sake “Kashiwamori” is characterized by the plump flavor of rice derived from Sase-style shibori. Please experience the “Nikko Umakuchi” created by the cool climate and traditional techniques.
[Nikko Toshogu Area Overview Information]
| item | Content |
|---|---|
| location | Yamauchi/Imaichi area, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture |
| access | Tobu Nikko Line Tobu Nikko Station(About 10 minutes by bus to Toshogu Shrine) / Tobu Nikko Line Shimoimaichi Station(About 10 minutes walk to sake brewery) / It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Tokyo (Asakusa) to Shimo-Imaichi by limited express Liberty Spacia |
| Main tourist destinations | Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine, Rinnoji Temple, Shinkyo Bridge, Kegon Falls, Irohazaka, Kinugawa Onsen, Nikko Cedar Avenue |
| Japanese sake spot | Imaichi’s Local Sake Road (Watanabe Sahei Shoten/Katayama Sake Brewery), Mae Nikko Brewery (Kanuma City) |
| Event information | Early MarchNikko Local Sake Festival” Kinugawa Onsen Station Square (Tasting new sake from Katayama Sake Brewery & Watanabe Sahei Shoten) / Late MayShikura Joint Sake Brewery Festival” (Watanabe Sahei Shoten, Katayama Sake Brewery, etc.) / Early September Hiyaoroshi ban lifted Release of new sake from each brewery |
2. “Recommended Sake Breweries” around Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Enjoy “Prince Ieyasu’s Shrine” and “Kura of Famous Water” at the same time
Within just a 20-minute drive from Terumiya, there are many sake breweries and experience facilities centered around Imaichi, a famous place for preparing water. The delicious local sake produced along the road lined with cedar trees has a simple and warm taste that contrasts with the glittering shrine buildings. Here, it is combined with Toshogu sightseeing.We will introduce three carefully selected sake breweries that are easy to visit.
1. Watanabe Sahei Shoten | “Full Junmai” brewed with famous water from the Nikko Mountains
Exhibitor: https://www.tochigiji.or.jp/
Founded in 1842 (Tenpo 13), the current owner is the 6th generation. The **Otani River underground water (medium hard water)** pumped up from two private wells dug right next to the storehouse is famous for its “soft yet solid” water, which has passed through granite layers and has an extremely low iron content, with a hardness of around 50 mg/L. Although the production volume is small with approximately 700 koku, over 90% of the total production volume is pure rice sake, which is one of the highest in Tochigi Prefecture.
The brewery tour includes a tour of the koji room, fermentation tanks, and cedar barrel aging room, and concludes with a tasting corner where you can taste 3 to 5 types of sake, including kimoto and kimoto. In recent years, the company has received a number of awards at international contests, including its representative brand Junmai Ginjo Nikko Homare, which won the 2023 Milano SAKE Challenge Gold Award, and Kimoto Junmai Sontoku, which received the IWC Sake Category Recommended Sake.
| item | Content |
|---|---|
| Official name | 株式会社渡邊佐平商店 |
| Founding year | 1842 (Tenpo 13) |
| Main brands | Junmai Ginjo Nikko Homare/Junmaishu Demon laughter |
| visit | 〇(Reservation required/Free) |
| Tasting | 〇 (several types) |
| Direct sales office | Available (limited sake, plum wine, sake lees sweets) |
| access | About 10 minutes walk from Tobu Shimo-Imaichi Station |
2. Katayama Sake Brewery | A sake brewery that follows the “Sase style tank squeeze”
Exhibitor: https://www.tochigiji.or.jp/
Founded in 1880 (Meiji 13). We use subterranean water sourced from the world heritage Takio Shrine’s sacred water “Sake no Izumi” and ultra-soft water <Senryosui> (hardness 2 degrees) drawn from a well 16 meters underground. To take advantage of the soft water quality, the sake is low-pressed over four days in the same wooden Sase-style tank used in the Edo period, producing Kashiwamori, an unprocessed sake with no unpleasant taste.
The Kura Limited Junmai Ginjo Sokao series was awarded SAKE COMPETITION 2023 Silver. We are also trying out experimental sake brewing that combines tradition and innovation, such as ancient rice preparation and LED irradiation fermentation. The shop also offers free tastings of “sake cake” containing unprocessed sake and freshly drawn Senryosui.
| item | Content |
|---|---|
| Official name | Katayama Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. |
| Founding year | 1880 (Meiji 13) |
| Main brands | Unprocessed sake Kashiwazakari |
| visit | 〇 (Free, reservation required/4 times a day) |
| Tasting | 〇 (Freshly squeezed unprocessed sake, etc.) |
| Direct sales office | Available (Kura limited sake/sake cake) |
| access | About 10 minutes walk from Tobu Shimo-Imaichi Station |
3. Mae Nikko Brewery | Experience making “custom-made sake” in the old school building
Source: https://smallforest.co.jp/
It was established in 2022 by renovating the former Kamikasuo Elementary School in Kanuma City. We accept “completely custom-made brewing from 100 bottles” that allows you to specify everything from one tank to ** rice polishing ratio, yeast, and brewing water**, and original sake for weddings and private brands for restaurants are attracting attention.
For general passengers, a **sake brewing workshop** will be held mainly on Saturdays and Sundays (capacity: 10 people), where you can learn from a brewer for 30 minutes and experience the brewing process, including washing and paddled rice. It is also attractive that the contents change every month you participate, such as a preparation water set or a set plan with koji miso making.
| item | Content |
|---|---|
| Official name | Mae Nikko Brewery (Kobayashi Jozo Co., Ltd.) |
| Founding year | 2022 (renovation and opening) |
| Main brands | Custom-made sake (free brand design) |
| visit | 〇(Experience type/reservation required) |
| Tasting | Conducted within the experience |
| Direct sales office | Yes (original sake etc.) |
| access | 40 minutes by car from Tobu Shinkanuma Station / About 45 minutes from Toshogu Shrine |
3. “Recommended Sake Selection” around Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Nikko’s local sake, which is nurtured by the subterranean water of the sacred mountain Mt. Nantai and the cold climate, is a “umami-type” that has both fresh flavor and sharpness. In addition to long-established breweries in Monzenmachi and Imaichi, new, hands-on breweries have opened, and are attracting increasing attention from sake fans. Here, we have carefully selected 5 brands that you would want to enjoy together with sightseeing at Toshogu Shrine, and summarized their taste, how to drink them, and pairings.
1. Nikko Homare Junmai Ginjo | Watanabe Sahei Shoten
Monzengura, located along the cedar-lined road, is a signature sake brewed with the slogan “All Tochigi.” We use underground water from the Otani River pumped from our own well, Gohyakumangoku sake rice from Tochigi Prefecture, and T-F, a yeast developed by the prefecture, to ferment our products slowly at low temperatures. The gentle ginjo aroma reminiscent of melon, soft sweetness, and light acidity overlap, and you can enjoy the dual characteristics of the rice, which is refreshing when chilled and increases in puffiness when served warm.
It has won consecutive awards at the Milano Sake Challenge in 2023 and 2024, and is gaining recognition overseas. You can purchase and sample it at Kura’s direct sales store, Kinugawa Onsen “Toya Honten”, Yunishigawa Onsen “IKKON”, etc.
| item | Content |
|---|---|
| type | Junmai Ginjo |
| taste | Gentle Ginjo aroma, light acidity, and crisp aftertaste |
| How to drink | Cold sake ◎/Nurukan○ |
| Compatible dishes | Nikko yuba sashimi, salt-grilled rockfish, wild vegetable tempura |
| Where can I buy/drink it? | Watanabe Sahei Shoten Direct Sales Office, Kinugawa Toya Main Store, Sake Bar IKKON |
2. Oniwarai pure rice raw sake｜Watanabe Sahei Shoten
This is a summer-only sake that comes from the saying, “If you mention next year, demons will laugh.” This is a raw-storage type sake made from a new locally produced variety, Tochigi Sake 14, polished to 65% and finished with only primary pasteurization, so it has a light alcohol content of 14% but has a distinctly fresh feel. It has a refreshing scent like lemongrass and a sharp dryness, with a subtle sweetness derived from rice, so it goes well with dishes with a light taste such as cold shabu or yuba salad.
It is only available at limited outlets such as Kinugawa Onsen’s Toya Honten and the brewery’s online shop.
| item | Content |
|---|---|
| type | Junmaishu (raw storage) |
| taste | Refreshing aroma, sharp dryness, light sweetness |
| How to drink | Cold sake choice |
| Compatible dishes | Refreshing appetizers, cold shabu, yuba salad |
| Where can I buy/drink it? | Toya Main Store (Kinugawa Onsen), Kuramoto Online, Nikko City Liquor Store |
3. Kashiwazakari Unblended Sake M｜Katayama Sake Brewery
This brewed sake is brewed using ultra-soft water (Senryosui) sourced from the sacred water of Takio Shrine, a world heritage site, and slowly squeezed over four days in a wooden Sase style tank. Although the alcohol content is strong at 19%, you can enjoy the mellowness derived from ultra-soft water, the aroma of banana, the richness similar to brown sugar, and the sharpness that lingers on the aftertaste in three stages.
It is a drink that changes its expression in a wide range of temperatures, such as tightening the sweetness by heating it on the rocks, or enhancing the aroma by heating it around 45 degrees Celsius.
| item | Content |
|---|---|
| type | Honjozo / Genshu |
| taste | Plump rice flavor, mellow texture, +2 slightly dry |
| How to drink | Can be served at room temperature/rock/warm |
| Compatible dishes | Roast venison, miso dengaku, smoked cheese |
| Where can I buy/drink it? | Katayama Sake Brewery Direct Sales Office, Toya Main Store, Online Shop |
4. Junmai Daiginjo “Sukao Yume Sasara” unfiltered unprocessed sake | Katayama Sake Brewery
This flagship product is limited to 300 bottles per year, made with Tochigi Prefecture’s own sake rice, Yume Sasara, polished to 40% and bottled with only the “Ichiban Shibori” that flows from the tank mouth. It has a gorgeous aroma reminiscent of white peach and muscat, and a smooth sweetness, but the second half finishes with a sharp minerality.
It has a well-balanced finish with an alcohol content of 17%, a sake content of +3, and an acidity of 1.4. Ideal for special toasts or gifts, advance reservations are required at the brewery’s direct sales office or on the official e-commerce site.
| item | Content |
|---|---|
| type | Junmai Daiginjo (unfiltered raw sake) |
| taste | Bright fruit aroma, smooth sweetness, sharp aftertaste |
| How to drink | Drink cold at 5-8 °C |
| Compatible dishes | White fish with kelp, caprese, fruit tart |
| Where can I buy/drink it? | Katayama Sake Brewery Direct Sales Office/Official EC (reservation required, limited quantity) |
5. “My Sake” Custom-made Junmai Sake | Mae Nikko Brewery
This is a one-of-a-kind custom-made sake made in an experiential craft brewery that was renovated from an abandoned school in Kanuma City. After 30 minutes of lecture, you will participate in the final preparation process, “tome”, where you can freely design the rice polishing ratio (50-70%), seven types of yeast, water, top tank method, etc. 100 4-go bottles can be made from 60 kg of rice, and the 9,900 yen trial fee includes 1 bottle of finished sake and an original label. The fermentation and bottling are managed by the brewer, and the finished sake is delivered to your home two to three months later.
| item | Content |
|---|---|
| type | Experience brewing/junmai sake |
| taste | Depending on the preparation design (freely adjust sweet to dry) |
| How to drink | Set as you like |
| Compatible dishes | Original suggestions from experience participants |
| Where can I buy/drink it? | Mae Nikko Brewery (Kanuma City) Limited to trial participants |
4. “Model course” visiting Nikko Toshogu Shrine and sake breweries
Nikko’s local sake is nurtured by the subterranean water of the sacred mountain Mt. Nantai and the bitterly cold climate. The Monzen town of Imaichi is lined with breweries that were founded during the Edo and Meiji periods, and if you take a short trip into the mountains, you can even experience making your own sake. Along with visiting Toshogu Shrine, there is also a history tour, a sake brewing tour, and sake tasting. We offer three courses that you can choose from to suit your travel style.
①｜A classic sake brewery tour course that covers the classics of Nikko and Imaichi
🕒 Time required: Approximately 5-6 hours｜🧭 Difficulty: ★☆☆｜🍶 Approximate number of tastings: 2-3 locations
Exhibitor: https://www.tochigiji.or.jp/
For people who want to first learn about Nikko’s representative breweries. Visit the world heritage site Toshogu Shrine first thing in the morning, then take the Monzen bus → Tobu Line to Imaichi. We will efficiently tour the two major long-established breweries. Let’s try and compare “Nikko no Umakuchi” with free tastings.
| time zone | itinerary | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00～10:00 | Nikko Toshogu Shrine(gates open 8:00) | Visit Yomeimon, Three Monkeys, Nemuri Neko, etc. Mornings are comfortable with less traffic and crowds. |
| 10:15-10:35 | Bus → Tobu Nikko Station 5 minutes | Shimoimaichi StationMove to |
| 10:45-12:00 | Watanabe Sahei Shoten | Tour of the full Junmai brewery (reservation required). Tastings include Junmai Ginjo (Nikko Homare) and 3 other types. It takes 45 minutes. |
| 12:00-13:00 | Lunch (Imaichi soba/Yuba cuisine) | Lunch at a long-established soba restaurant near the sake brewery |
| 13:00-14:30 | Katayama Sake Brewery | At 14:00, we will tour the Sase style tank. Try freshly squeezed unprocessed sake <Kashiwamori>. |
| 14:30-15:00 | Buying souvenirs and walking around Imaichi | Enjoy local sake sweets and cedar trees → Return from Shimo-Imaichi Station |
②｜See, touch, and taste! Sake brewery and brewing workshop course with an emphasis on experience
🕒 Time required: Approximately 7 to 8 hours｜🧭 Difficulty: ★★☆｜🍶 Estimated number of tastings: 3 locations + trial sake
Source: https://smallforest.co.jp/
For those who want history, experiences, and tastings. In the morning, we will visit Toshogu Shrine, and in the afternoon we will brew our “one and only sake in the world” at Mae Nikko Brewery, which is a renovated former school building, and then return to the brewery in Imaichi.
| time zone | itinerary | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00-9:30 | Nikko Toshogu Shrine | Visit the shrine in the clear morning air |
| 9:30-10:15 | Kanuma by rental car/taxi | Move to the former Awano area in the mountains |
| 10:30-13:00 | Mae Nikko Brewery/Sake brewing experience | Wash rice → add koji → paddle. 720 ml of original sake will be delivered at a later date (experience fee: 9,900 yen). |
| 13:00-13:45 | Mountain village lunch | Local cuisine after the experience (Kanuma soba, konjac dengaku, etc.) |
| 13:45-14:30 | Return to Imaichi by car | |
| 14:30-15:15 | Watanabe Sahei Shoten | Tour + tasting (Junmai Ginjo/Plum wine) |
| 15:30-16:15 | Katayama Sake Brewery | Sake tasting & souvenir purchase |
| 16:30-17:00 | Tobu Shimo-Imaichi Station → Tobu Nikko Station/Kinugawa Onsen | If you’re staying overnight, finish off your stay with hot springs and local sake. |
③｜Compare drinks at Kinugawa Onsen! Sake tasting light plan
🕒 Time required: Approximately 4-5 hours｜🧭 Difficulty: ★☆☆｜🍶 Estimated number of tastings: 1 location + sake bar
Exhibition:https://tochigijizakekan-noboruyahonten.foodre.jp/
For people who find it difficult to tour breweries but want to try a variety of brands. In the afternoon, we moved to Kinugawa and tasted Tochigi Prefecture Zenzo at Kakuuchi, a local sake specialty store. A leisurely stroll around the hot spring town is also included.
| time zone | itinerary | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00-13:00 | Lunch (in front of Toshogu Shrine/around Tobu Nikko Station) | Yuba soba etc. |
| 13:00-13:25 | Nikko Station → Kinugawa Onsen Station (limited express approximately 25 minutes) | |
| 13:30-14:15 | Toya Honten Local Sake Bar | Drink comparison set (from 600 yen) of 45 ml x 3 cups. Nikko Homare, Kashiwamori, and 30 other types are always available. |
| 14:15-15:15 | Stroll around Kinugawa Onsen town | Footbath, ropeway, etc. |
| 15:30-16:30 | Tochigi local sake restaurant IKKON or hotel bar in Kinugawa Onsen town |
Enjoy drinking from 40 breweries in the prefecture in the hearth or tasting sake at the inn bar at dusk. |
| 16:30~ | Relax in a hot spring/Return on the Tobu Line |
Finally
Immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, be intoxicated by the aroma of new sake in the brewery in front of the gate, and relax in the Kinugawa hot springs – at the end of such a day, the “peace” that Prince Ieyasu wished for and the “harmony” that the brewers have created will leave a pleasant aftertaste.
The local sake of Nikko, created by the clear underground water and bitter cold, changes its appearance with each season, and promises a new taste every time you visit. On your next trip, in addition to visiting Toshogu Shrine, be sure to walk around the white walls of the storehouse and listen to the story of the blessings of water while holding a glass.
After tasting, please use public transportation or taxis to drive safely, and remember to be respectful to the brewery and local people. May your cup be the power to pass on Nikko’s culture and nature to the future.
![[Yamagata Prefecture x Sake] Enjoy local sake on a sake brewery tour! Enjoy Tsuruoka and sake](https://article.bespes-jt.com/wp-content/uploads/hubfs/2181084750fa31eef73e448f40cfdef0.jpg)
![[Kobe x Sake] Enjoy local sake on a sake brewery tour! A trip to enjoy Kobe city and sake](https://article.bespes-jt.com/wp-content/uploads/hubfs/5e95aed3e3216628212b16a17656d24e.jpg)