Sake tasting is not only about enjoying the taste of alcohol, but rather it is also a fantastic way to experience the culture of Japan beyond sightseeing. It is a great opportunity to broaden one’s understanding of Japanese customs, traditions and society. Even for travelers who are not habitual drinkers, this activity could still prove to be quite enjoyable due to its high cultural significance. If you’re interested in making a stop by Saijo or just want to learn more about this town, take a look through the additional information below.
-- History of Sake Brewing in Saijo
-- Tours With Sake Tasting in Saijo
Visitors looking to gain a thorough understanding of the sake making process, visit multiple breweries in Saijo, and enjoy several cups of local sake, should definitely consider booking our half-day Saijo tour. We've even included an in-depth tour inside one of the town's sake breweries to further enhance the experience. Don't miss the opportunity to visit one of Japan's famed sake capitals!
WHERE IS SAIJO?
Saijo is located in the city of Higashihiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture. The breweries in the town are mostly all gathered around “Sakagura-dori” (Sake Brewery Street) and lie about 2 to 3 minutes away from each other. This street and the breweries are also just a 5-minute walk away from the JR Saijo Station.
WHAT IS SAKE?
Sake is an alcoholic beverage which originated in Japan. It is brewed using four main ingredients: rice, water, yeast, and koji (a type of mold). While it is not known when exactly people first began making sake in Japan, it is generally understood that the concept of rice fermentation arrived in the country about 2500 years ago from ancient China. Since then, Japan has refined the process of sake brewing over many centuries to develop the drink that we can enjoy today. It is important to note that in Japan, sake is the general term for alcohol. What foreigners refer to as “sake” is actually called “nihonshu” in Japanese, a word used specifically for alcohol made from rice.
The rice used for brewing sake first needs to be polished to remove the fat and protein near the surface of the grain. The degree of polishing is one of the key elements which influence the taste of the sake. Rice in which 50% or more of it has been polished away is considered to yield the most premium type of sake. After the rice has been polished, there are many steps which must be completed before the fermentation process can even begin. For example, as yeast needs sugar to produce alcohol, a type of mold known as koji is added to the rice to break down the starch into sugar. The process of producing sake is long and complex but most definitely worth it given the results.
HISTORY OF SAKE BREWING IN SAIJO
The town of Saijo was once a post-town called Yokkaichi-juku which flourished during the Edo period. Post-towns were places which served as rest stops for travelers who were making their way across Japan. They offered food, drinks, accommodations, and other services to those who stopped by. One of the goods which was available for travelers was of course sake, which had started to become more popular around the country during the Edo period. As Saijo had a great climate for sake brewing and good access to suitable water, production of sake began in the town as early as 1675.
Still, even though sake was being made in Saijo so far in the past, there were not many breweries. This was because unfortunately there were multiple challenges which stood in the way of mass production and a profitable business. The town was in a fairly isolated location which made it difficult to transport ingredients and heavy sake barrels into and out of Saijo. Additionally, polishing the sake rice required the use of water wheels which in turn needed big flowing rivers which Saijo did not have.
However, everything changed quickly with the introduction of railway technology to Japan in the 19th century. When a railroad was constructed in the former post-town, transportation was no longer an issue. Other advancements, such as the development of the first motor-driven rice polishing machine, greatly increased the production of sake in the area. One after another, sake breweries began to open and prosper in the town of Saijo.
The sake produced in Saijo started to win many awards in sake competitions around the country, earning the prefecture national recognition and quickly rising to prominence amongst sake enthusiasts. Today, seven breweries in Saijo still use traditional methods to brew their sake and help preserve the history and culture of the area.
SAIJO'S BREWERIES
In Saijo one can find seven breweries which still produce some of their sake using traditional methods. The town’s best water is concentrated in a narrow strip of land which is why all of the breweries are located so close together. The oldest of all of them is Hakubotan, which opened in 1675 and the largest and most well-known one is Kamotsuru. With the exception of Sanyotsuru which lies a bit further away from the rest, all of the breweries are within a 2 to 3 minutes’ walk from each other.
If you wish to visit Saijo for some sake tasting, we suggest being careful around public holidays and checking business hours ahead of time since many of the breweries go on long breaks during the holiday season and close before 16:00. Visitors can pick up a “walking map” at the train station’s tourist information center which will show you the location of all seven breweries. Sake tasting prices can range from JPY100 to JPY300 per small cup, and places such as Kamotsuru offer tasting "sets" which include three to four sake cups for JPY500.
TOURS WITH SAKE TASTING IN SAIJO
If you’re interested in doing some sake tasting in Saijo, we offer two tours which include this activity. While it is certainly possible to visit the town of Saijo on your own, we believe it is best to be accompanied by a guide who can explain the complexities of the sake brewing process, help you understand the the different types of sake, and take you to the breweries with the best sake tasting experiences. Check out the different tour options below and choose the one which best fits your travel plans!
If you are a bit short on time then we highly recommend our half-day Saijo tour. In it, our expert guides will provide details about the history of the town, go over the entire sake making process, and organize various tasting experiences in several of the historic breweries. You will even have the unique opportunity to receive an in-depth tour inside one of these breweries. There, you will be able to see the actual machinery and tools used to produce sake. As the tour starts in the afternoon, it is great for guests who wish to do other activities in the morning. Click the “Book Now” button below to explore one of Japan’s great sake capitals!
For travelers with a bit more time to spare and who want to do other activities aside from sake tasting, then our 1-day Onomichi and Saijo tour is the best way to go. In this tour you will have the opportunity to visit the breathtaking city of Onomichi, which is well known for its many temples and scenic beauty. There, you will ride the ropeway to the top of Mt. Senkoji, enjoy a stunning view of the city, explore Senkoji Temple, learn about Buddhism in Japan, and much more. Since Saijo is conveniently located on the way to Onomichi, you will also be able to visit a couple of breweries in the town and take part in some sake tasting. If you're looking for ways to explore Hiroshima beyond its city centre, this is one of the best ways to do so!
If you want to discover other places you can visit in the Hiroshima area, check out our "Best Tours around Hiroshima" webpage.