About Nanbubijin
A company that makes Japanese sake in Ninohe, the northernmost town of Iwate Prefecture in the Tohoku region. Founded in 1902 (Meiji 35). Today, in addition to sake, the company also produces liqueurs, vodka, gin, and whiskey. Started exporting Japan sake from 1997 (Heisei 9). As of 2024, sake “Nanbu Bijin” is exported to 62 countries around the world.
The original family of the Kuji family, the brewery, originally ran a soy sauce brewer. Utilizing this technology in Japan sake brewing, the company was founded.
Nanbubijin has actively expanded overseas and won many awards not only in Japan but also in international competitions. It is a wonderful brewery in terms of achievements and evaluation.
In order for such a Nanbubijin to release craft gin, it is precisely because they have been making sake for many years that you can feel their role as a brewery that contributes to the community and fulfills its mission.
Location / Brewery Tour
【Hongura】
Kamicho 13, Fukuoka, Ninohe, Iwate, 028-6101, Japan
TEL: 0195-23-3133
Business hours: 8 a.m. ~ 4 p.m. Holidays: Saturdays (every other week), Sundays, and holidays
sake brewery tour
Experience a sake brewery visit and learn about traditional sake making.
Since its founding in 1902 (Meiji 35), the wooden sake brewery with earthen walls that has supported the sake brewing of Nanbu Bijin invites you to step back in time as one of the brewery workers of the era. You can borrow a traditional “hanten” jacket and explore the brewery dressed as a brewer. As a souvenir, you will receive a special brewery hand towel.
In the brewing cellar, three cameras and studio lighting are set up, allowing you to take commemorative photos with a dedicated photo system (*). After the tour, you can download the photos to your smartphone and take them home.
＊If you’re lucky, you may even capture the experience of stirring the mash (kaiire).
From the photos taken in the brewing cellar, you can select your favorite one to create a custom label for a bottle of sake. Don’t miss the chance to try your hand at applying the label yourself!
Premium Experience Course
¥6,600 (tax included)
Estimated duration: 140 minutes
Includes a 720ml bottle of sake with a custom label
Simple Tour Course
¥1,980 (tax included)
Estimated duration: 70 minutes
A straightforward course that includes a guided tour of the brewery, photo opportunities, and sake tasting using the coin-operated dispenser.
【Basenkyo kura】
〒028-6102 67-30 Uenohira, Shimotomai, Ninohe TEL: 0195-43-3601
Business hours: 8 a.m. ~ 4 p.m. Holidays: Saturdays (every other week), Sundays, and holidays
Craft gin is distilled at Basenkyo Brewery. It says business hours, but I don’t know if there is a store, so I will inquire before going. A new distillation building will be built in the spring of 2021. A German-made still was also introduced, and about 2.7 liters of Japan sake were consumed to make one 700 ml bottle of distilled spirit.
Ninohe, where the southern beauty is located, is 2 hours and 40 minutes from Tokyo by Tohoku Shinkansen. Hongura can be reached in 5 minutes by bus from Ninohe Station. It takes a little more effort to go to Basenkyo-kura. It seems that you can go by bus from Ninohe Station, but you can transfer to the Iwate Galaxy Railway and go to Doome Station. Wouldn’t it be better to take a taxi from there?
The northernmost point of Iwate? Almost Aomori. When you think about it, can you say that it is surprisingly close?
コメント