This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
[Kitakata, Fukushima Prefecture] Kitakata, where the water is delicious, not only has ramen but also a lot of delicious sake! Introducing recommended sake breweries
[Kitakata, Fukushima Prefecture] Kitakata, where the water is delicious, not only has ramen but also a lot of delicious sake! Introducing recommended sake breweries
When you think of Kitakata, you probably think of ramen. There are many delicious ramen restaurants all over the city, each with their own unique style.
One of the secrets to the deliciousness of ramen the water, which is essential . It can be said that the ramen is blessed with underground water from Mt. Iide, which is covered in snow even in summer
The giving rise to many sake breweries in Kitakata
We will introduce you to the sake breweries that produce such delicious sake
Delicious water and delicious sake
Water plays an important role in sake brewing. The Iide Mountains are covered in so much snow that it can still be seen in summer. The underground water from the Iide Mountains is soft and has an excellent balance of minerals, which supports Kitakata's delicious sake.
Kitakata City was originally a place with many storehouses , and people would say things that would now be considered taboo, such as, "If a man is 40 and can't even build a storehouse, he's not a man."
Perhaps due to the nature of the area, the number of breweries, or sake breweries, has increased
Introducing the sake breweries in Kitakata
The following list is in no particular order. (It was difficult to choose a top 10.)
[Yoshinokawa Sake Brewery]
Their signature Junmai sake is made entirely from Gohyakumangoku rice grown in Kitakata . It has a well-balanced sweet and sour taste and is smooth and easy to drink.
This sake is handmade using koji and traditional koshiki (a large steamer used to steam rice for sake) . However, 98% of the sales volume is local to Kitakata, so it may be difficult to obtain in other areas.
[Homare Sake Brewery]
Aizu Homare "Kiwame" is a reasonably priced Junmai Daiginjo that can be enjoyed luxuriously at home. It has a gorgeous aroma that spreads when you put it in your mouth, and is characterized by a soft and gentle flavor.
You can enjoy sake, liqueurs, shochu, and more at Unreian, located in the Japanese garden adjacent to the sake brewery
It's reasonably priced and popular as everyday sake, but there are some amazing sakes too. Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki, which won the world championship in is a high-end sake with a dry and refreshing taste.
[Kiyokawa Shoten】
Founded 380 years ago, it is the oldest sake brewery in Kitakata
You can visit the brewery at any time and sample the sake, of courseWe also had the opportunity to taste the water used for brewing (ultra-soft water)Apparently they will give it to you
There are currently various restrictions in place, so please check in advance regarding tastings, etc
[Yumeshin Brewery]
Yumeshin! Just hearing the name makes me feel tipsy!
Founded in 1877, the brewery's concept is "always different, always unchanging sake." A sake brewery rooted in Kitakata that uses rice and yeast from Fukushima Prefectureis.
[Mine no Yuki Sake Brewery]
Mine no Yuki Sake Brewery is said to have taken its name from the haiku poem "Spring clouds on all sides, snow on the peaks."
Among the snow peaks, the most talked about and famous is We make mead (alcohol made from honey),
I would love to try this honey-based liquor, which I haven't heard of much elsewhere
[Obara Sake Brewery]
Here at Obara Sake BreweryIt is currently attracting attention for its sake brewing process, which involves listening to classical music while the sake is fermented
Music Sake, which was developed while listening to Mozart, has been highly praised as a delicious, fragrant sake with a strong rice flavor and a yellowish color
[Yamatogawa Sake Brewery]
Even among the many sake breweries in Kitakata, this is a historic brewery that was founded in 1795
We are particular about rice cultivation and use our own cultivated rice to make sake
Light mouthfeelLightly sparkling sake is popularIt seems so
Although it is a long-established sake brewery, it also focuses on winemaking, and continues to take on the challenge of growing grapes for wine, focusing on natural farming methods (no fertilizers or pesticides)
[Kitanohana Brewery]
The youngest sake brewery in Kitakata CityThe company was founded in 1919
The "Sasukene" in the image means "no need to worry" or "there's no problem," and other familiar Aizu dialects such as "Najosunbe" and "Koderansho" are used in representative brands.
*Each brewery may be currently suspending tastings due to infection control measures
The history of sake in Kitakata
Kitakata City is located in the northern part of the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, and an area well-suited for sake brewing, blessed with delicious underground water from Mt. Iide, where snow remains even in summer . It is also famous nationwide as a town of breweries.
It is said that sake brewing using this abundant, delicious water began around 1631 (Kan'ei 8)
Delicious sake can be made using underground water, which is ideal for brewing sake, and rice grown in fertile soil. It is precisely because of this region that sake brewing has spread.
Why are there so many storehouses in Kitakata?
As mentioned at the beginning, there are many storehouses in Kitakata, and while this is one reason why "a man of 40 already owns a storehouse...", another reason seems to be the great fire of 1880
Many houses were burned down in the great fire, but the storehouses remained standing tall in the ruins. This shows that the people of Kitakata loved and treasured the storehouses that protected their precious possessions from the flames .
still many sake and miso breweries still in operation , and some are open to the public for tours.
summary
Kitakata is one of the top sake brewery towns in Japan in terms of the number of sake breweries relative to the population, and at its peak it is said to have had as many as 100 sake breweries (there are currently around 30, of which we have introduced 10)
Kitakata's sake has produced many delicious sakes, some of which have even won championships at world competitions
The city is also notable for its unique sake brewing, with some elusive sakes sold almost exclusively within the city and difficult to find elsewhere, and breweries continuing to venture into winemaking
After eating ramen, we also recommend touring the sake breweries! Why not try the unique sake from each brewery?
I'm originally from Tokyo, but I've lived in Yamagata Prefecture for 30 years. Nowadays, I am able to speak the dialect and become a local. He goes to the nearby prefectures of Miyagi and Fukushima about two to three days a month to gather information. I belong to the middle-aged group who loves cats, local sake, and side dishes. (The icon is a beloved cat)
