Visiting sake breweries across the six Tohoku prefectures! Four sake breweries exploring the art of sake brewing that blends tradition and innovation in Shiwa Town, the birthplace of Nanbu Toji (sake brewers) [Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture]

Shiwa Town, considered the birthplace of Nanbu Toji (a style of sake brewing), has a population of about 33,000, but it is home to five small sake breweries that produce delicious sake

We previously featured Shiwa Sake Brewery in a separate article, but in this article, we'll introduce four other sake breweries and their recommended brands

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"Tsukinowa Sake Brewery": A female master brewer from the founding family with a rich sensibility brews fine sake

Tsukinowa Sake Brewery, which continues to produce delicious sake "not as a corporation, but as a family business," is a long-established sake brewery that boasts a history dating back to 1886

Yuko Yokozawa, the fifth-generation master brewer in charge of sake brewing as a family business, is known as one of the female Nanbu master brewers, along with Yumi Ono, the master brewer of Shiwa Sake Brewery

Master brewer Yokozawa aims to "preserve tradition" and "innovate technology," and is challenging himself to brew sake using 100% glutinous rice, which is unsuitable for sake brewing, as well as to produce rice shochu

We'll introduce two recommended brands (which are already sold out at the brewery as they are new sakes), as well as ice cream and gelato made with rice koji produced by the brewery

While Tsukinowa Sake Brewery usually offers brewery tours throughout the year, they are closed in March, so unfortunately, we were unable to take a tour this time

Tsuki no Wa Funashibori Junmai Nama Genshu (Alcohol content: 17%)

This is an unpasteurized, undiluted sake brewed using "Gin Otome," a sake rice variety from Iwate Prefecture, polished to 65%, and fermented with the koji mold "Reimei Hiraizumi" and the yeast "Yuko no Omoi."

It has a fresh aroma and sweetness with a fruity flavor reminiscent of apples, and a lingering aftertaste similar to that of a fermented milk drink

This sake is made using a traditional wooden press called a "fune," which is rarely used these days, and the drops are collected slowly over time

Kinzan Mine Aged Junmai Sake (Autumn Release) (Alcohol content: 15%)

The tunnels of the Ogaya Gold Mine in Iwate Prefecture have an average temperature of 13°C, which is considered ideal for long-term aging of sake. This pure rice sake has been aged there for six months

It has a light, mature aroma, and when you taste it, you can feel the sweetness of a ripe persimmon and a mellow acidity

The bottle I purchased was shipped in December 2025 and was aged in the mine shafts from March to September of that year

In addition to "Gin Otome," sake rice from Iwate Prefecture is polished to a 65% milling ratio, and the yeast used is "Yuko no Omoi," a yeast also produced in Iwate Prefecture

Ice cream and gelato made from rice koji

"Kojikko," an ice cream made only from rice, rice koji, and milk, contains no added sugar

The brewing method, which applies sake brewing techniques using koji mold to saccharify rice, is patented by Tsukinowa Sake Brewery, and it has a subtle koji flavor

They also offer gelato based on "Kojikko," which uses seasonal fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, strawberries, and blueberries from Iwate Prefecture in addition to sake lees

Gelato contains granulated sugar and fresh cream, which are necessary to increase its viscosity, but it is said to be lower in calories than typical gelato, making it popular among women

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Tsukinowa Sake Brewery <Information>

• Facility name: Tsukinowa Sake Brewery
• Location: 101 Mukaihata, Takamizudera, Shiwa-cho, Shiwa-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 019-672-1133
• Business hours: 10:00-17:00
• Closed: Wednesdays
• URL:Tsukinowa Sake Brewery Official Website

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Wakasaya (Tsukinowa Sake Brewery Direct Sales Store) <Information>

• Facility name: Wakasaya
• Location: 110 Nakada, Takamizudera, Shiwa-cho, Shiwa-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 019-672-1133
• Business hours: 10:00-17:00
• Closed on Wednesdays (Gelato is only sold on Saturdays and Sundays from November to March)
• URL:Wakasaya Ice Cream Garden Official Website

Google Map

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Takahashi Sake Brewery: A sake brewery that is dedicated to producing sake from rice cultivation to brewing

This brewery owns rice paddies where they grow sake rice, and produces brands such as "Horinoi" and "Shiwa no Takumi" from their own rice cultivation

The company is said to have started operations in 1922 (Taisho 11), and prior to that, it was a koji (fermented rice) shop that handled koji mold necessary for fermented foods

The name "Hori no I" (meaning "well of Horigome") comes from the fact that when they brewed sake using well water from the Horikome district where the brewery is located, they were able to produce a very delicious sake

Since its founding, the brewery has used rice grown in its own rice paddies to produce sake, and currently cultivates and brews sake using a rice variety called "Toyonishiki."

The main brand, "Horinoi," is a smooth, easy-to-drink sake with a clean finish

Junmai Sake Horigome (Alcohol content: 17%)　

We use our own home-grown sake rice, "Toyonishiki," polished to 60%, the same level as ginjo sake, so that the flavor and umami of the rice are fully preserved

This dry junmai sake has a relatively high alcohol content of 17%, and boasts a strong rice aroma and umami flavor. It's delicious served chilled or slightly warmed

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Takahashi Sake Brewery (Horinoi) <Information>

• Facility name: Takahashi Sake Brewery
• Location: 36 Katayose Horikome, Shiwa-cho, Shiwa-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 019-673-7308
• Business hours: 9:00-17:00
• Closed: Sundays
• URL:Takahashi Sake Brewery Official Website

Google Map

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"Azumamine Sake Brewery" - A traditional sake brewery that produces pure rice sake full of the delicious flavor of rice

Azumamine is said to be the oldest sake brewery in Shiwa Town, founded in 1684, and its name is derived from Mount Azumane, which is the source of the water used for brewing

Although it is a small sake brewery that produces about 30,000 1.8-liter bottles per year, it offers sacred sake to nine shrines in Iwate Prefecture, including Morioka Hachimangu Shrine and Shiwa Inari Shrine

This brewery is committed to producing sake with a subdued ginjo aroma, making it ideal for pairing with food using ingredients from Iwate Prefecture. At the same time, they are also developing skincare lotions using sake lees as an ingredient

We use sake rice grown by local sake rice farmers, aiming to produce a sake that is full of the delicious flavor of rice, rich in aroma, and has a clean finish

Unfiltered, unpasteurized sake stored at freezing temperatures within the brewery (Alcohol content: 15%)

This sake is brewed using "Gin Otome," a sake-brewing rice variety from Iwate Prefecture, polished to 55%, and stored at sub-zero temperatures, resulting in a mellow, mature flavor

It has a strong sweetness and rich rice flavor, with a hint of lactic acid drink-like taste, making it a perfect pairing with a variety of snacks

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Azuma Mine Sake Brewery <Information>

• Facility name: Azuma-mine Sake Brewery
• Location: 5 Tsuchidateuchikawa, Shiwa-cho, Shiwa-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 019-673-7221
• Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Closed on Saturdays and Sundays
• URL:Azuma Mine Sake Brewery Official Website

Google Map

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"Hizume Hirai Residence (Heiroku Brewery)" - Craft sake brewed by a young founder carrying on tradition

Hiraroku Brewery was established on January 20, 2023, using a 100-year-old traditional Japanese house, a nationally designated important cultural property, located in Shiwa Town, as its brewery

We are brewing a new genre of "craft sake" using "Akatsuki," a yeast strain that was discovered in the old house "Hizume Hirai Residence," which was formerly a sake brewery

Craft sake refers to a type of brew made from rice using a craft beer brewing license. It was born from a reverse idea, taking advantage of the fact that it is not possible to obtain a new sake brewing license

Based on the sake brewing methods of the Nanbu Toji (sake brewers of the Nanbu region), this new type of brewed alcohol is attracting attention because it involves parallel fermentation with the addition of auxiliary ingredients such as glutinous rice and fruit

Re:vive (Revive, alcohol content: 14%)

In the sake brewing process, which uses rice, rice koji, and water, germinated brown glutinous rice, a specialty of Shiwa Town, is used as a secondary ingredient, and this is considered the base recipe of Heiroku Brewery

Many different series are available, but they are all fruity and refreshing, with a good balance of rice flavor and acidity, making them ideal craft sakes to enjoy with meals

Layer (Alcohol content: 14%)

The secondary ingredients include apple, pear, and grape juice, resulting in a refreshing blend of fruit aromas and a crisp, sweet-and-sour taste reminiscent of white wine

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Hizume Hirai Residence (Heiroku Brewery) <Information>

• Facility name: Hizume Hirai Residence & Hiraroku Brewery
• Location: 246 Hizume Koriyama Station, Shiwa-cho, Shiwa-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: Not listed
• Opening hours: 11:00 - 17:00
• Closed: Sundays and Mondays
• URL:Hizume Hirai Residence (Heiroku Brewery) Official Website

Google Map　

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summary

In Shiwa Town, the five sake breweries, both old and new, are run by brewers and master brewers who have a strong commitment to sake brewing and produce fine sake based on their own beliefs

In particular, Heiroku Brewery, which pioneered the new genre of "craft sake," is an exciting company to watch as it develops in the future

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