Ide Sake Brewery

Near the shores of Lake Kawaguchiko, in Yamanashi prefecture, lies a small, family-run brewery that has been making sake since 1840. These days Ide Sake Brewery also opens their doors to visitors who are keen to learn more about the process, or just to sample the finished product!

Ide sake brewery has been in business for 21 generations.

Ide Sake Brewery has been in business for 21 generations and is unique in that it uses spring water from Mount Fuji to produce its sake. Since the quality of the water used in the brewing process influences the quality and flavor of the sake, using such pure water is meant to ensure a superior-tasting drink. Daily tours are conducted in both English and Japanese and are highly recommended if you want to find out more about Japan’s national beverage. Kawaguchiko is a very tourist-friendly area, so this sake brewery and tour is a great addition to other sightseeing done here.

The tour begins in the shop area, where the current owner will teach you about the history and basics of sake-making, as well as the different varieties. He will then show you around the facilities while explaining more about the brewing process. For anyone with an interest in sake, it’s a fascinating insight into the drink and how it’s produced.

Photo by: mikelimch

Once the tour is over, participants return to the shop for the much-anticipated tasting! You get to try a selection of different types of sake, all of which are produced on-site and can be purchased then and there if you find one you love. You also get to keep your Fuji-emblazoned tasting glass as a memento of the day.

If you can’t make it to one of the tours, sake tasting is available as a stand-alone activity, and you can drop in to purchase items from the shop at any time during opening hours.

Tours cost ¥500 and run twice a day at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations can be made online and are strongly recommended.