Activities
Suntory Yamazaki Whiskey Distillery
Ross-Barry FinlaysonA great way to spend the day - tasting a great whiskey and touring the distillery that makes it.
Suntory Yamazaki Distillery is located in the Yamazaki district of Osaka Prefecture and situated along the border of Kyoto Prefecture. The historic distillery was established in 1923 and is known as the birthplace of Japanese whisky. Set in the idyllic nature of Osaka, the whisky establishment works in harmony with the environment and uses the natural resources to craft its wide variety of renowned beverages. One of Suntory’s most notable drinks is its Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky, which won a gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge in 2003.
Suntory’s unique location
Inspired by Scottish whisky, Suntory’s founder, Shinjiro Torii, aimed to create a Japanese whisky molded by Japan’s unique environment and climate. The distillery is located in the misty valley of Yamazaki between Mount Tennozan and Mount Otokoyama where the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers meet. This convergence creates some of Japan’s purest and softest waters. In addition to the region’s quality water, the temperature and humidity of the area creates perfect conditions for cask aging. These natural elements provide a solid base for the distillery’s outstanding and renowned whisky.
Tour the distillery!
For a behind the scenes look at the passionate process of whisky creation, take a tour of the famous distillery. The tour begins with an explanation of the whisky production process. After the short lesson, the guide will bring you through the whisky production areas, where you can observe the mashing and fermentation processes, distillation in copper stills, blending process, and storage in wooden casks. As you learn about the process, you can truly immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of whisky production. At the end of the tour, you can sample various whiskies, including unblended whisky, which is a component of the Single Malt Whisky and not for sale. Tours are available from 9:30 to 17:00 and require reservations.
Continue learning at the Whisky Museum
The Whisky Museum takes you on a journey through whisky in Japan, Suntory’s history, the creation story of the Single Malt Whisky, current whisky production processes, and future innovation. The information is complemented by exhibits displaying items such as Shinjiro Torii’s desk, authentic whisky bottles, miniature models, and contemporary video clips. After getting your fill of whisky knowledge, explore the Whisky Library, which is lined with wooden shelves displaying thousands of bottles of whisky giving the area a soft amber glow. On the same floor is a whisky-tasting counter where you can sample whiskies from around the world (for a fee). End your trip with a stop at the gift shop, which is home to some Suntory-exclusive products, and take a piece of the experience home to share with others.
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Suntory is about a 10-minute walk from either Yamazaki Station on the JR Tokaido Line or Oyamazaki Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.
A great way to spend the day - tasting a great whiskey and touring the distillery that makes it.
Suntory Whiskey Distillery in Yamazaki offers free tours of their whiskey library, distillery, and aging cellar and includes whiskey tasting.
Break from Osaka's sights and Kyoto's temples and shrines to tour a distillery nestled against Tenno Mountain where the spring water alone will refresh you.
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Art museum in a Taisho Era house with beautiful garden including Tadao Ando designed annex with original Monet paintings.