The blessings of the Daisetsuzan Mountains, the story of Asahikawa sake. A night to taste historic sake breweries and famous sake

Daisetsuzan Gensui Park

• Summary: Higashikawa Town, one of Japan’s leading rice producers and where Sansanzakura Sake Brewery also has a brewery, is an extremely rare “town without water supply” in Japan.
  All of the townspeople’s lives are supported by natural groundwater filtered by the Daisetsuzan Mountains over time.
• Charm: Known as the “Daisetsu Asahidake Source Water,” the park’s crystal clear water is constantly gushing out with an overwhelming amount of about 4,600 tons per minute, and anyone can draw freely.
  If you take a bite, you will be surprised by its clear taste without any unpleasant tastes and the mellow mouthfeel that permeates your body.
  This water is the driving force behind the cultivation of local sake rice and the production of famous sake.
• How to enjoy: Take home an empty bottle as a souvenir of your trip and use it as a chaser for drinking alcohol at night.
  The deliciousness of the water itself enhances the taste of the sake even more.
• Location: Nokanan, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
• Access (from Asahikawa Station):
  • Public transportation: Asahikawa Electric Tram Bus[66] Take the Ideyu (bound for Asahidake) (about 60 minutes, estimated fare 900 yen
    ), get off at the bus stop “Daisetsuzan Gensui Park Entrance”, and walk for about 15 minutes. *Please check in advance because the number of buses is small. Or, [60][67], etc. to “Higashikawa Dosokan” (about 40-50 minutes, 670 yen), and from there take a taxi for about 15~20 minutes.
  • Taxi: Travel time about 50 minutes ~ 1 hour. Approximate price 8,000~10,000 yen.

• Summary: Originating in Itami during the Kanbun period (1661~1673), the famous sake “Otoyama” colored the culture of Edo. Inheriting this orthodox tradition, Otoyama Co., Ltd. continues to brew sake in Asahikawa, the “northern nada” using the underground water of the Daisetsuzan Mountains.
• Commitment: While continuing to preserve the history and quality of the brand, which is also depicted in the works of famous ukiyo-e artists such as Utagawa Kuniyoshi, it has continued to win gold medals at the National New Sake Appraisal Competition and overseas liquor competitions for many years, and its quality is highly regarded both domestically and internationally.
• Experience: The attached “Otoyama Sake Brewing Museum” is a must-see. Valuable ancient documents from the Edo period, sake brewing tools, ukiyo-e prints, etc. are on display, and you can feel the depth of their history. After the tour, you can sample various types of Japan sake (some for a fee), from the original sake limited to the library to the standard Daiginjo.
• Location: Asahikawa City Nagayama 2-jo 7-1-33
• Access (from Asahikawa Station):
  • Public transportation: Asahikawa Electric Rail Bus ([6] [61] [62] [70] [665] [630] [81] system, etc.) (about 25~30 minutes, approximate fare 220~250 yen), get off at the bus stop “Nagayama 2-jo 6-chome”, and walk for about 3 minutes.
  • Taxi: Journey time approximately 15~20 minutes. Approximate price 2,500~3,000 yen.

• Required: Founded in 1899 (Meiji 32). It is a long-established brewery that makes full use of Asahikawa’s harsh climate and climate as its “greatest weapon”. As the name suggests, the representative brand “Kokushi Musou” has fans all over the country with its powerful and sharp taste.
• Particularity: Particularly famous is the daiginjo “Ichiya Shizuku”, which is made in the harsh winter. The traditional manufacturing method, in which only the drops that slowly drip down from sake bags hung outdoors in sub-zero temperatures, are the ultimate gems that can only be produced here. We also continue to take on the challenge of innovation, such as introducing Japan’s first “ice temperature storage”.
• Experience: Takasago Meiji Sake Brewery, a historic sake brewery built during the Meiji period, is also designated as a historic building in Asahikawa City. In a quaint brick space, you can enjoy tasting and shopping sake limited to direct sales stores. Soft serve ice cream and sweets made with sake lees are also popular.
• Location: Asahikawa City Miyashita-dori 17-chome Right 1
• Access (from Asahikawa Station):
  • Walk: about 15 minutes. (The shortcut is to go along the tracks from the east exit of the station.)
  • Public transportation: Asahikawa Electric Orbital Bus ([2] [11] [17] [18] [33] system, etc.) (about 5 minutes, approximate fare 220 yen), get off at the bus stop “1-jo 15-chome”, and walk for about 2 minutes.
  • Taxi: Journey time approx. 5 minutes. Approximate fare for the first ride (around 700 yen).

• Summary: A long-established brewery founded in Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture in 1877 (Meiji 10), moved to Higashikawa Town, Hokkaido in 2020 in search of abundant water from the Daisetsuzan Mountains. As a new public and private sake brewery, it became a big topic.
• Sticking: With the belief of “bringing out the maximum flavor of rice”, the entire amount is brewed in pure rice brewing. Hokkaido rice such as “Comet” and “Kitashizuku” from Higashikawa Town is actively used to vividly express the terroir (climate) of this area. It is characterized by the clear water and the plump taste.
• Experience: The modern brewery is open to glass, making it easy to see some of the production process. At the tasting counter of the sophisticated direct sales store, you can check out the taste of Sansenzakura reborn with the water of Higashikawa, from standard sake to seasonal sake.
• 【Newly established】Tankyujo Distillery: In 2023, the “Tanqiu Distillery” will open in the form of a joint venture with Sansenzakura Sake Brewery, which produces craft gin and whisky. We are taking on the challenge of making our own distilled spirits by taking advantage of the fermentation technology and knowledge of koji cultivated in Japan sake brewing, as well as the high-quality water from the Daisetsuzan Mountains and botanicals (aromatic plants) from Hokkaido. The facility that integrates a Japan sake brewery and a distillery is rare in Japan, and it is attracting a lot of attention from both Japan and abroad as a base for a new sake culture transmitted from Higashikawa Town.
• Location: 9-4-1 Nishimachi, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
• Access (from Asahikawa Station):
  • Public transportation: Asahikawa Electric Tram Bus ([60] Higashikawa Line, [67] Higashikawa-Higashi-Kagura Loop Line, etc.) (about 40~50 minutes, fare 670 yen), get off at the bus stop “Higashikawa Dosokan” or “Higashikawa Town Hall-mae”. It is about a 25~30 minute walk from the bus stop.
  • Taxi (recommended to use together): About 5~10 minutes by taxi from “Higashikawa Dosokan”. Or take a direct taxi from Asahikawa Station for about 35~45 minutes, approximate fare 6,000~7,500 yen.

• Summary: Based on the concept of “drinking sake”, it was founded in 2017 in Kamikawa Town, at the foot of Daisetsuzan National Park. The dormant brewery in Mie Prefecture was relocated, and the company quickly gained a nationwide reputation for its high-quality sake brewing, mainly by passionate young people.
• Sticking: They declare that they will not make ordinary sake, and all of them are junmai sake. It is characterized by a diverse lineup that thoroughly focuses on Hokkaido rice and allows you to “compare rice” that takes advantage of the individuality of rice, such as “Ginfu”, “Comet”, and “Kitashizuku”. Of course, the brewed water is natural water from the Daisetsuzan system.
• Experience: The head office brewery, “Midorigokakura,” has a gift shop where you can purchase everything from standard sake to shop-limited sake. You can see part of the brewing tank through the glass, and if the timing is right, you can also enjoy a tasting. (*Currently, detailed brewery tours are often suspended or require reservations, so please check the official website before visiting.)
• Location: 25-1 Asahi-cho, Kamikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
• Business hours: 10:00~16:00 (summer), 10:00~15:00 (winter)
• Closed: Irregular holidays (check official website, etc.)
• Access (from Asahikawa Station):
  • Public transportation (JR): Asahikawa Station → (JR Sekihoku Main Line, limited express or ordinary) → Kamikawa Station (about 45 minutes by limited express, about 1 hour by regular train, fare 1,290 yen + limited express fare). It is about a 20~25 minute walk (about 1.8 km) from Kamikawa Station, or about 5 minutes by taxi.
  • Public transportation (bus): Asahikawa Station → (Hokkaido Bus/Sounkyo Kamikawa Line) → Kamikawa Station (about 1 hour and 50 minutes, fare 1,330 yen). Walk or taxi from Kamikawa Station.
  • Taxi: Journey time approx. 1 hour 10 minutes. Approximate price 15,000~18,000 yen.

After experiencing the brewer’s thoughts at the brewery, it’s time to take your time to savor the famous sake.
Asahikawa, a treasure trove of food, is home to famous restaurants where you can enjoy local sake and local delicacies in the best condition.

【Recommended spot】 Wasake Kakuuchi Uedaya

• Description: Located on Asahikawa’s main street “Shopping Park Street”, this liquor store offers sophisticated “standing drinking”. It is loved not only by local foodies but also by sake brewery officials.
• Attractiveness: The corner counter at the back of the store’s sales space has a calm wooden atmosphere. The chef’s connoisseurship shines with oden packed with Hokkaido’s “seasonal” and sake snacks made with local delicacies. Of particular note is the impressive lineup of local sake. Famous sake from all over the country, including “Otoyama”, “Takasago Sake Brewery”, and “Kamikawa Taisetsu”, are lined up in refrigerated cases, and you can choose your favorite and enjoy it on the spot.
• Recommendation: First, find your favorite flavor with the “Local Sake Drinking Comparison Set” and enjoy the exquisite pairing with your favorite snacks. While standing and drinking style, you can spend a relaxing and high-quality time.
• Location: Asahikawa City 4-jo-dori 8-1703-91 (along Shopping Park Street)
• Business hours: 13:00~21:00 (16:00~21:00 for corner hours)
• Closed: Every Monday and last Sunday
• Access (from Asahikawa Station):
  • Walk: about 7~10 minutes. (Go straight on Shopping Park Street)
  • Taxi: Journey time approx. 5 minutes. Approximate fare for the first ride (around 700 yen).

While receiving the common benefits of the water of the Daisetsuzan Mountains, the story behind the relocation in search of new possibilities is different for each brewery: traditions that are preserved, innovations that continue to take on challenges, and relocation in search of new possibilities. Knowing the history and philosophy of each one will transform your usual cup into a deeper, more complex and richer taste.

During the day, you can experience the thoughts of the brewers who are passionate about sake brewing in the source of the clear water, and at night, you can be intoxicated by the best happiness nurtured by the northern land and the crystallization of the famous sake.

Please come and experience such a “Asahikawa Sake Story” by sharpening your five senses. I’m sure you’ll find a cup you won’t forget.