Visit a Sake Brewery and Experience the Japanese Countryside!

Sake Tasting, Shopping and More!

  • Where

    City Center

  • What

    Activities

Local Pride & Passion Brews Better!

In the rural Japanese countryside, Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery is the perfect destination for a sunny day. Visitors can meet the 5th generation owner, taste seasonal, hand-crafted sake, buy a bottle (or two) of your favorite brew to take home, and enjoy a walk in the incredibly picturesque countryside.

Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery

Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery
Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery
Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery

■Getting There

Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery is conveniently located a quick 30-minute bus ride north of the JR Utsunomiya station. Please click here for bus times from the West Exit of Utsunomiya Station to 'Shirasawa Shogako Iriguchi' (Shirasawa Elementary School Entrance), the nearest bus stop to the brewery.

Once at the station’s west exit, find the buses that take you towards Shirasawa(白沢)or Natsubodai(奈坪台・白沢). These buses currently depart from platform 8, and you can check the departure times using the digital signage wich offers options in English. You’ll want to get off at the Shirasawa Shougakko Iriguchi(白沢小学校入口)stop, making about a half hour trip each way.

Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery
Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery
Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery

■You’ve Reached Your Destination!

Just across the road from Shirasawa Shougakko Iriguchi(白沢小学校入口)bus stop is the Inoueseikichi sake brewery. The building cannot be missed, with it’s gold paint on a corner lot that overlooks the oncoming street.

Hiroshi prides himself on his brewery’s use of exclusively, 100% Tochigi-grown rice, and local water source in the creation of his sake.

Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery
Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery
Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery

■Let the Good Times Roll!

Inoue Seikichi Sake brewery has a new sake tasting server, which dispenses perfect pours of 16 different varieties of sake, all but four of which are seasonal. These four permanent sake brews are his most premium, award-winning products, a must-try staple of the tasting experience. Hiroshi enjoys explaining the flavor profiles, recommended food pairings, and differences between each of the available sake variations to his guests. Comparing all of the different sakes, made with unique rice & brewing methods, is definitely one of the highlights of this brewery.

Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery
Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery
Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery

■A Rural Brewery Backdrop

Shirasawa, home of the Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery, means “beautiful water”. The clear water here flows from mountains north of the area, and its quality is essential for both growing rice and making sake.

Near the brewery, there is a public walkway that winds through rice fields and neighboring properties, following a stream that features a working water mill. The path gives visitors a great variety of the local sights, and takes approximately 20 minutes. Near the end of March/early April, this area is also home to a famous sakura viewing spot.

Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery
Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery

■Bottled Excellence For Sale

Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery is known for its ‘Sawahime’ sake. Sawahime is made with only local rice, and won the IWC* Champion sake in 2010. This sake, along with a regular stock of over 20 different varieties, including tasting sets and additional award-winners, are available for purchase in the brewery shop.

* IWC(The International Wine Challenge)is one of the world's most prestigious blind tasting boards, founded in 1984. The SAKE division has grown exponentially since it was founded in 2007, making it the largest and most influential event of the Sake Review Board outside Japan.

Inoue Seikichi Sake Brewery

Message from the owner

Come visit our brewery to enjoy the beautiful countryside scenery and taste the different variety of sake we produce only available here.

Contact Us

Inoue Seikichi Sake BreweryInoue Seikichi Sake Brewery

Book your trip

Please also use the travel planning tool "Google Travel", which has various
functions such as information search for travel destinations and tourist
destinations, comparison of hotels and airline tickets, and reservations.

Google Travel

Plan Your Perfect Trip
Find inspiration for your holiday by using the drop-down menu.