Nagayama Honke Shuzojo Co., Ltd. is a sake brewery founded in 1888 in Ube City. Impressively, the building has kept its original location since its opening. The brewery specializes in junmai sake, which is made exclusively with water, rice, and koji mold. What sets junmai sake apart from other types of sake is that it doesn’t contain any added distilled alcohol or sugars, resulting in a pure and rich flavor.
Nagayama Honke Shuzojo Co. has a high level of community engagement in Ube City. However, sake production and consumption have been on a downward trend. The current head of the brewery, Takahiro Nagayama, is committed to showcasing high-quality sake. He is highly optimistic about the future of sake.
Nagayama Honke Shuzojo Co. offers tours of the brewery in English, guided by Takahiro Nagayama himself. He provides insights into the brewing process, the significance of local ingredients, and how they influence the flavors. Alongside the tour, visitors can participate in sake tastings and sample various types of locally produced sake. The brewery tours are held from November to March with specific scheduling on weekends and holidays. The tastings are available year-round. Reservations are required for the brewery tours and can be made through the brewery’s Instagram account.
For the opportunity to try excellent local sake and learn the story behind it, Nagayama Honke Shuzojo Co., Ltd. has you covered.
Hours:
- Monday to Tuesday: 9am–5pm
- Wednesday to Friday: 8:30am–5pm
- Weekend: 11am–4:30pm
