When you think of food pleasures of Hiroshima, you will probably think of fresh seafood such as okonomiyaki and oysters, but did you know that Hiroshima is also known as the "town of Japanese sake"? Saijo in Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, is one of Japan's Three Great Sake Spots, along with Nada in Hyogo and Fushimi in Kyoto. Saijo Sake Brewery Street, located in the center of the town, is still lined with historic sake breweries, and the entire town is enveloped in the aroma of Japanese sake.
In this article, we will introduce the charm of Saijo, which is recommended not only for Japanese sake fans but also for those who want to enjoy cultural experiences while sightseeing in Hiroshima. We have compiled information that will help you on your trip, including how to get there from Hiroshima, a visit report to the famous Kamotsuru Shuzo (賀茂鶴酒造 - Kamotsuru Sake Brewery), as well as nearby souvenirs and the famous gourmet "bishunabe" (美酒鍋 - sake hot pot).
*If you purchase or make a reservation for the products introduced in the article, a portion of the sales will go to FUN! JAPAN.
*Drinking under the legal age is prohibited.
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Seven Sake Breweries Within Walking Distance! The Charm of Saijo Sake Brewery Street
The most familiar place to feel the charm of Saijo, the town of Japanese sake, is "Saijo Sake Brewery Street" (西条酒蔵通り / saijo shuzo-dori). There are seven sake breweries here, all of which are within walking distance, so you can easily enjoy a "sake brewery tour".
Historic townscape
The scenery of white-walled storehouses and red brick chimneys has been selected as one of the "20 Heritage Sites of Japan's 20th Century" by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) as a way to convey the tradition of sake brewing that has continued since the Edo period. Just by strolling around, you can enjoy the old-fashioned atmosphere of Japan.
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Seven unique sake breweries
Saijo Sake Brewery Street is lined up with seven sake breweries in order from west to east: Sanyotsuru Brewery, Hakubotan Shuzo, Saijotsuru Sake Brewery, Kamotsuru Shuzo, Kirei Shuzo, Fukubijin-syuzo, and Kamoizumi Shuzo. Many sake breweries offer tasting (利き酒 / kikizake), and you can purchase your favorite Japanese sake at the attached shop. There are also exhibition spaces where you can learn about Japanese sake making.
Once a year! "Sake Festival" held in October
Every October, the "Sake Festival" (酒まつり / sake matsuri) is held mainly on Saijo Sake Brewery Street. This festival, which began in 1990, parades through the town of Saijo, and you can taste about 800 types of Japanese sake from all over the country, including famous sake from Higashi-Hiroshima City, and enjoy famous gourmet foods and specialty products such as "Bishu Nabe". Many people from Japan and abroad gather, and Saijo's sake culture is the most glamorous event.
Former President Obama also tasted it! Learn tasting and Japan sake brewing at "Kamotsuru Shuzo"
This time, "FUN! JAPAN" editor visited the long-established "Kamotsuru Shuzo" (Kamotsuru Sake Brewery) that represents Saijo. Founded in 1873 by Mr. Wahei Kimura, it is a sake brewery with a history of over 150 years.
Currently, the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery's No. 1 brewery has a shop and exhibition corner, and there are plenty of ideas that allow you to not only "taste" but also "learn" Japan sake.
In the exhibition corner, a video introducing the tools and processes actually used in Japan sake brewing was shown, and we couldn't help but look at it.
In addition, you can touch the "kaibo" (櫂棒 - mixing cane) that mixes the brewing tank and enjoy the taste of being a brewer. It seems that this place is also popular as a photo spot!
The shop has a wide range of brands, from standard brands to seasonal sake. The flagship "Daiginjo Tokusei Gold Kamotsuru" is a famous sake served at the dinner of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former US President Barack Obama, and is filled with gorgeous gold leaf. It is crisp and dry, and it goes well with meals.
At the paid tasting corner, you can compare several types of Japanese sake, including this "Tokusei Gold Kamotsuru". The cup you enjoy while listening to the explanations from the staff overlaps with the knowledge you have learned, making it a deeper experience. You can purchase your favorite stocks on the spot, and they are also TAX FREE. It cannot be used in conjunction with TAX FREE, but it can also be shipped internationally.
In addition, the shop also has plum wine, which is brewed with Japanese sake that is particularly popular with foreign tourists, and sweets such as "Kamotsuru Sake Cake" in collaboration with Hiroshima Andersen, as well as original goods from the brewery, making it perfect for finding souvenirs unique to Saijo.
Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewery Directly Managed Store
- Address: 9-7 Saijo Honcho, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
- Business hours: 10:00~18:00
- Closed: Irregular holidays
- Access: 4 minutes walk from Saijo Station
- Official website: https://www.kamotsuru.jp/
Find Kamotsuru Sake Brewery's Japan sake 👀 on Yahoo! Shopping
After Sake Brewery Tour, Enjoy the Famous "Bishunabe"!
When you visit Saijo, the town of Japan's sake, a local delicacy you must try is "bishunabe". It is a simple hot pot dish made with chicken, sashimi, pork, and vegetables made with only Japan sake, salt, and pepper, and was originally born as a dish for brewers working at sake breweries. The reason why the seasoning is modest is to avoid affecting the sake tasting. Here are two recommended places.
France-ya (佛蘭西屋)
This is a Japanese and Western restaurant operated by Kamotsuru Sake Brewery. Here you can enjoy the original "bishunabe". There are also a wide variety of other menus, such as dishes made with Hiroshima beef cheek stewed in Japan sake, which go well with Japan sake.
Bishunabe is served from lunch, so it is recommended to stop by for lunch along with the brewery tour.
France-ya
- Address: 9-11 Saijo Honmachi, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
- Business hours: [Lunch] 11:30~14:30 [Dinner] 17:00~22:00
- Closed: Thursdays, 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month
- Access: 3 minutes walk from Saijo Station
- Official website: https://www.france-ya.jp/
Kuradokoro TARU (蔵処 樽)
An izakaya that boasts a full lineup of Japanese sake in Higashi-Hiroshima.
This bishunabe sake hot pot is a style that you can make and taste it yourself, and the experiential fun is also attractive. For lunch, they also offer a "Kome Kara Set Meal". Kome Kara is fried chicken made with Saijo sake and rice flour, and is popular as a hidden specialty gourmet unique to Saijo.
Kuradokoro TARU
- Address: 7-48 Saijo Sakae-cho, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
- Business hours: [Lunch] 11:30~14:00 [Dinner] 17:00~23:00
- Closed: Irregular holidays
- Access: 3 minutes walk from Saijo Station
- Official website: https://higashihiroshima.wixsite.com/kuradokorotaru
Recommended Spots In Saijo That You Want To Visit Along With Sake Brewery Street
In Saijo, the town of Japanese sake, there are other spots related to Japanese sake. Stopping by along the way through the town will further expand the fun of your trip.
Mitate Jinja Shrine
This shrine is located right next to Kamotsuru Sake Brewery and has a deep connection with Saijo's sake brewing.
It is said that the head brewers (杜氏 / Toji) and brewers (蔵人 - kurando - people who brew sake at the brewery) have also visited the shrine, and there are also large sake barrels in the precincts. You can enjoy the atmosphere of a Japan sake town.
Mitate Jinja Shrine
- Address: 268 Saijo, Saijo-cho, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
- Access: 2 minutes walk from Saijo Station
- Official website: https://mitate.or.jp/
Okashi no Kura Sakuraya Saijo Ekimae Main Store
A long-established Japanese confectionery shop that continues to be loved by the locals.
The signature product, "Taru Monaka", is made with daiginjo sake and ginjo sake lees, white bean paste with Saijo sake, and granulated bean paste from Hokkaido Dainagon beans. Of course, the recommended product is white bean paste type. It has a slightly fragrant flavor of Japan sake and a gentle sweetness.
The "Taru Sembei" crackers are also cute, which are shaped like barrels and have the name of the brewery written on them.
Okashi no Kura Sakuraya Saijo Ekimae Main Store
- Address: 11-27 Saijo Honmachi, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
- Business hours: 9:00~18:00
- Closed: No holidays
- Access: 2 minutes walk from Saijo Station
- Official website: https://www.sakuraya-kashi.com/index.html
Saijo Honmachi Historical Square
A multi-purpose square located on the east side of the Hakubotan Brewery Enpo Warehouse. Equipped with a gazebo and benches, it's a perfect place to rest while strolling along Sakagura Dori.
It's said that if you mail a "Nonta local postcard" (sold at the tourist information center) from the mailbox here, which features Higashihiroshima City's mascot "Nonta," it will be stamped with a scenic postmark!
Saijo Honmachi Historical Square
- Address: 9-9 Saijo Honmachi, Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
- Access: 5 minute walk from Saijo Station
Why Saijo Is Called "Japan's Three Great Sake Spots"
Did you know that Saijo is called "Japan's Three Great Sake Spots" along with Nada in Hyogo and Fushimi in Kyoto? Behind this was the water and rice that are essential for sake brewing, and the "human effort" to make use of them.
Abundant well water
What has supported Saijo's sake brewing is well water pumped up from underground water flowing from Mt. Ryuo. Most Japan sake uses hard water, but Saijo is characterized by using soft medium-hard water. This gives Saijo sake a mellow and aromatic taste.
Good quality rice
Hiroshima Prefecture has long been known as a place for rice, and varieties such as "Hattan Nishiki" suitable for Japan sake have been cultivated. The fact that we were able to secure a stable supply of locally grown sake rice is a major factor that supports Saijo's sake brewing.
Technological innovation and the efforts of the craftsmen
While the town was blessed with water and rice, there were also major challenges.
Overcoming the weaknesses of soft water
Soft water has the problem of unstable fermentation and easy spoilage compared to hard water, which has troubled many sake breweries. This problem was solved by Mr. Senzaburo Miura, a sake brewer in Akitsu Town, Higashi-Hiroshima City. By repeatedly researching and establishing the "soft water brewing method", Hiroshima's Japanese sake has become known throughout the country.
Evolution of rice milling technology
Even though sake rice was abundant, rice milling by water wheel was the mainstream at that time, and there were few large rivers in Saijo, making it difficult to polish rice efficiently. In order to solve this problem, the founder of Satake, Riichi Satake, created Japan's first "powered rice mill". In addition, at the request of Mr. Wahei Kimura, the founder of Kamotsuru Sake Brewery, he developed a "grinding rice mill". As a result, Saijo achieved an astonishing "rice polishing ratio of 60%" at the time, and Saijo's sake brewing evolved to even higher quality.
Saijo Station, The Base For Travel: How To Get To Saijo
Access to Saijo from Hiroshima is a 35-minute train ride!
Saijo is a Japanese sake town that can be easily visited on a day trip from Hiroshima City. The base is JR Saijo Station. From Hiroshima Station, take the JR Sanyo Main Line and arrive in about 35 minutes.
When you arrive at Saijo Station, it is only a 3-minute walk to Sake Brewery Street. If you exit the ticket gate and proceed to the south side, you will see white-walled buildings and red brick chimneys.
Convenient direct bus from Hiroshima Airport
If you want to go directly to Saijo from Hiroshima Airport, we recommend using the "Saijo Airport Limousine". It is an airport limousine bus that connects Hiroshima Airport to the north exit of JR Saijo Station, and the journey takes about 25 minutes. The in-car announcements are available in multiple languages, making it mush assuring for international travelers.
Gather information at the tourist information center
On the second floor, which is the ticket gate floor of Saijo Station, there is the "Higashi-Hiroshima City Tourist Information Center". They will also tell you in detail about the business hours of the seven sake breweries on Saijo Sake Brewery Street and what kind of experience you can have when you visit, so it's a good idea to stop by here first when you arrive at the station.
In addition to Japanese, maps and pamphlets are available in multiple languages such as English and Chinese.
Higashi-Hiroshima City Tourist Information Center
- Business hours: 9:00-18:00
- Closed: None *Excluding year-end and New Year holidays
Coin Locker Information
The coin lockers at the station are located behind the tourist information center, and there are not many of them, around 28 lockers only. "FUN! JAPAN" editor visited on weekdays, but if you are worried about crowds, you can leave your luggage at Hiroshima Station and then head to Saijo.
In addition, if you are heading from Hiroshima Airport, you can also use the "Hands-free Sightseeing Service" (手ぶら観光サービス / Tebura Kanko Service), which delivers suitcases and other baggage from Hiroshima Airport to participating hotels in Hiroshima City and other cities on the same day. It is also available in multiple languages, so it is highly recommended.
Learn 👀 more about the "Hands-free Sightseeing Service"
Just 35 minutes by train from Hiroshima, Saijo, the town of Japan sake, is a tourist destination where you can easily stop by. Why not experience traditional Japanese culture through a sake brewery tour and a sake hot pot?
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