Discover Hizen Hamashuku's Sake Brewery Street: Fun for Japanese Sake Fans!
Sake Brewery Street in Hizen Hamajuku, Saga, retains the atmosphere of a post town where travelers once stayed during the Edo period. From touring the historic sake breweries to strolling through the white-walled streets, this article will introduce ways to enjoy Sake Brewery Street.
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The Yutoku Support Association was established in 2023 (Reiwa 5) with the goal of ensuring the lasting development of Yutoku Inari Shrine, one of the three great Inari shrines in Japan and the pride of Saga Prefecture and Japan, as well as building stronger relationships with believers and local residents and revitalizing the region. We strive to carry out sensible activities based on the principles of Yutoku Inari Shrine, and by giving back to the local community through our activities, we aim to contribute as much as possible to the tourism and economic development of the city as a whole.
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Table of Contents
- Hizen Hamajuku: Experience Japan's Traditional Sake Brewing and Scenic Charm
- Kashima's Sake Brewing History and Culture
- How to Enjoy the Street: From Sake Tasting to Exploring the Area
- Other Activities to Enjoy Nearby "Fox Wedding Night Tour"
Hizen Hamajuku: Experience Japan's Traditional Sake Brewing and Scenic Charm
Hizen Hamashuku is located in the southern part of Kashima City, Saga Prefecture, near the Ariake Sea.
During the Edo period, it flourished as a post town on the Tarakaido, a side road of the Nagasaki Kaido, and was a hub for land and sea distribution. White-walled storehouses and townhouses with lattice windows still remain, giving the town an atmosphere reminiscent of Kyushu's Little Kyoto.
The most famous street is Sakagura-dori, where the sake brewing culture that has continued since the Edo period and the original Japanese landscape still live on, making it a place where even a stroll can enrich the soul.
Kashima's Sake Brewing History and Culture
Kashima is blessed with high-quality water sources and fertile rice-growing areas, making it a thriving sake brewing area.
In particular, Hizen-Hamashuku is home to many sake breweries that have been in operation since the Edo period, and plays a central role in making Kashima the sake capital.
During the "Kashima Sake Brewery Tourism®" held every April, the town becomes a festival-like atmosphere, with each brewery offering tastings and selling limited edition sake, attracting many tourists.
How to Enjoy the Street: From Sake Tasting to Exploring the Area
Stroll through the streets lined with white walls and sake breweries
White-walled storehouses and sake breweries line the streets. The traditional architecture has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government, and walking around the town itself is a cultural experience. During the Edo period, the town flourished as a post town on the Nagasaki Kaido road, and later developed a prosperous townscape supported by the brewing and seafood processing industries.
Sake brewery tour and sake tasting
Representative sake breweries include:
・Mitsutake Brewery (Established in 1688, offers a wide range of products including shochu, sake, and craft gin)
・Fukuchiyo Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Nabeshima Daiginjo wins Champion Sake in the IWC Sake category)
・Sachihime Sake Brewery (non-alcoholic sake soft serve ice cream is also popular)
Tastings are available at each brewery, allowing you to compare the unique flavors of each brewery. We also recommend purchasing your favorite bottle as a memento of your trip.
Hizenya (Mitsutake Brewery)
Fukuchiyo Sake Brewery Ltd.
Sachihime Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
Traditional house and cafe gallery
The Sakagura-dori area is dotted with cafes and galleries that have been renovated from old houses, where you can spend a relaxing time enjoying sweets and light meals made with local ingredients.
Other Activities to Enjoy Nearby "Fox Wedding Night Tour"
Enjoy the aroma of sake and the historic townscape of Hizen Hamajuku during the day.
An even more fantastical experience awaits at night.
At the nearby Yutoku Inari Shrine, there is a "Fox Wedding Night Tour" where you can take part in the fox wedding procession that appears in the ancient tale of "The Fox Wedding," as well as a "Night Walk Fox Wedding" where you can enjoy projection mapping and other fantastical performances based on the tale, inviting visitors into the world of the story's protagonist.
Combining daytime and nighttime visits to Kashima will complete a one-day trip that combines history, sake culture, and mythological experiences.
Come experience the charm of Saga and Kashima that can only be experienced here.
The Yutoku Support Association was established in 2023 (Reiwa 5) with the goal of ensuring the lasting development of Yutoku Inari Shrine, one of the three great Inari shrines in Japan and the pride of Saga Prefecture and Japan, as well as building stronger relationships with believers and local residents and revitalizing the region. We strive to carry out sensible activities based on the principles of Yutoku Inari Shrine, and by giving back to the local community through our activities, we aim to contribute as much as possible to the tourism and economic development of the city as a whole.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
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