November 28, 2024

SAGA: Hizen Hamashuku (Sake Brewery Street)

The main purpose I came to Kashima City in Saga is for this place called Hizen Hamashuku. There are 5 sake breweries in Kashima City; three of them situated in Hizen Hamashuku and they are within the walking distance, namely Fukuchiyo Shuzo, Mitsutake Shuzo, Minematsu Shuzo. Along this 600-meter stretch of Sakagura Street (Sakagura-dori), there lines these sake breweries, sake shops, restaurants and café where sake lovers could chill and take a short stroll, hoping into the shops that offer sake tasting and shopping.

For full itinerary, check out JAPAN TRIP 2023: 8D7N in Fukuoka, Kashima, Yufuin & Mojiko

After exploring the famous Shrine – Yutoku Inari Shrine 祐徳稲荷神社. We walked for about 35 minutes to Hizen Hamashuku, which is about 2.4km from the shrine (of course we stopped by in between for snack bites at 7-eleven konbini and road side sakura spot).

Alternatively, you may take the bus from Yutokujinja-mae station to Kuboyama (2 stops), and walk about 1.3km to Hizen Hamashuku.

If you would love to visit to Hizen Hamashuku only, you can disembark at Hizen-Hama Station, Sakagura-dori is about 6-minute walk from the station

Pit Stop #1: Sachihime Shuzo

Our first stop for sake was this Sachihime Shuzo, as it was along the way towards Hizen Hamashuku from Yutoku Inari Shrine. Established since 1934, this sake brewery is famous for brewing the sake dedicated to the gods at Yutoku Inari Shrine.

They offer sake tasting and sake brewery tour (by appointment) to the public/ tourists. We didn’t make reservation to any tour but the sake master was kind enough to give us a short brief about the sake production on the spot, prior to sake tasting. If you are keen on the sake brewery tour, remember to make a booking here ! As usual, we ended up making some purchase here LOL. Their Umeshu is quite a good one too!

Sake that we sampled.

Also, do not leave without trying their Sake Soft Serve! Mildly sweet and hinted with a scent of sake!

They offer tea service to the public too! Real omotenashi!

Sachihime Shuzo
599 Kou, Furueda, Kashima-shi, Saga-ken, Japan
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Pit Stop #2: Wakamiya Shrine

A very small shrine located at the very end of the Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

Pit Stop #3: Iimori Shuzo 飯盛酒造

Iimori Shuzo is selling kasuzuke (pickled vegetables in sake lees) but they also carry the best range of local sake and that’s including Nabeshima! Not many places selling this award winning sake Nabeshima. So once you see it, do snatch. We kind of regretted for not getting the Nabeshima bottle (as at time we have not tasted it. After we tasted the wow-ness of Nabeshima, we were too late to run back to grab a bottle).

Pit Stop #4: The Site of Hama Post Office

Painted in teal and green, The Site of Hama Post Office (Hasshuku Kominkan) is a very well preserved historical building in this area.

The Site of Hama Post Office
5695-1 Hasshuku Hamamachi, Kashima, 849-1322 Saga Prefecture.
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Pit Stop #5: Historical district will all the well preserved buildings

Here in this Sake Brewery Street, you will get a view of sake brewery with brick chimneys, white walls and tiled roof building. Very picturesque townscape; with preservation area of important traditional architectures. This street was rather quiet with not many tourists around at my time of visit; but it can be very happening during the sake festival.

Pit Stop #6: 仕込み水

Blessed with the natural surrounding and the freshwater flowing from Mount Taradake which is famous as one of the best 100 natural water sources in Japan; this natural source of water, is used in sake brewing here!

Pit Stop #7: Fukuchiyo Shuzo

The award winning sake Nabeshima comes from this Fukuchiyo Shuzo. The Nabeshima was chosen as the best awards “Champion Sake” in the sake category of the International Wine Challenge (IWC) of 2011. This sake brewery is not open for touring or visitation, but you may check out the nearby Café Brew or other bar for sake tasting/ sake flight. The opening days are quite limited so both rounds I went (spring and autumn) also closed.

Fukuchiyo Shuzo
1244-1 Hama-machi, Kashima City, Saga Prefecture
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Pit Stop #8: Café & Bar GLAD

Coffee break needed after a long walk. We settled ourselves at this café to fuel up a bit. So, orange juice and affogato to accompany our leg rest.

Pit Stop #9: Minematsu Shuzo (Hizenya)

Located right next to the café & Bar GLAD, Hizenya offers tasting and sightseeing tours to the public. This sake brewery sells sake of Minematsu Shuzo and Mitsutake Shuzo. If you are keen for a guided sake brewery tour, do make reservation in advance.

Sake tasting is available at this corner, offered up to 4 tasting during my visit. While the other section is a paid tasting corner; priced at ¥ 550 for 3 tokens (in order to exchange for 3 tasting).

And what I fancied over here is this draft sake (or I guess that’s also known as Namazake, the unpasteurized sake?) of Mitsutake Junmai Daiginjo, it was sooooo was fresh and packed with fruity aroma! Priced at ¥ 400 for 75ml, each of us had one and we love it!

There is also a “museum”-liked area Showa’s Room showcasing the nostalgic atmosphere of the olden days, exhibiting the nostalgic dolls and appliances in the Showa Period (1926- 1989)

Of course we didn’t leave the store without purchasing some sake, umeshu, yuzu vinegar, local specialty sake snack and also the shochu-infused cake too!