Experience the story of Japan Heritage: Traveling from Nada Gogo to Itami
Traverse the five cities that make up the Japanese Heritage of Itami Morohaku and Nada no Ki-ippon. Visit representative breweries and related locations in each location, experiencing the stories that developed in each of the areas.
START
Uozaki Station, Hanshin Electric RailwayWalk 10 mins.
[Kobe City] Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum / Taru Sake Meister Factory / Sake Cup Museum
Taxi 20 mins.
[Nishinomiya City] Hakushika Classics
Taxi 15 mins.
[Ashiya City] Yodoko Guest House (the former Yamamura residence)
Taxi 35 mins.
[Itami City] Shirayuki Brewery Village Choujugura
Taxi 15 mins.
[Amagasaki City] Komodaru Specialty Store Kishimoto Kichiji Syouten
GOAL
START
Walk 10 mins.
[Kobe City] Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum / Taru Sake Meister Factory / Sake Cup Museum
A treasure trove of sake brewing cultural properties. Nearly the entire museum is Japan Heritage
Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewing was founded in 1659. Their Sake Brewery Museum, which makes use of a sake brewery, displays Nada sake brewing tools that are designated as Japan Heritage Cultural Properties and continues to convey traditional "kimoto-zukuri" methods. Enjoy the precise artisanal creation of sake casks using Japanese cedar boards and bamboo alone up close at the Taru Sake Meister Factory inside the grounds. Visiting it, along with the Sake Cup Museum that displays sake vessels, requires a reservation in advance.
| URL | https://www.kikumasamune.co.jp/kinenkan/en/index.html |
|---|---|
| TEL | Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum 078-854-1029 / Taru Sake Meister Factory , Sake Cup Museum 078-277-3493 |
| Address | 1-9-1 Uozaki Nishimachi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture |
Taxi 20 mins.
[Nishinomiya City] Hakushika Classics
Tasting at the shop and restaurant directly operated by the brewery
A modern building sitting across from the sake museum is a directly operated shop that sells Hakushika's sake and related merchandise. It also has an attached 100% buckwheat soba Japanese restaurant where you can enjoy a wide variation of (paid) sake samples and tastings of sake flights. We recommend the limited-edition and unpasteurized sake, as well as the freshly-pressed undiluted sake sold by volume found only here.
| URL | https://classics.hakushika.co.jp/ |
|---|---|
| TEL | Shop 0798-35-0286 Restaurant 0798-35-0001 |
| Address | 7-7 Kurakake-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture |
Taxi 15 mins.
[Ashiya City] Yodoko Guest House (the former Yamamura residence)
The villa of a Nada sake brewer designed by a world-renowned master
Built in 1924 as the villa of Tazaemon Yamamura VIII, a Nada sake brewer known for Sakura-Masamune, and owned by Yodogawa Steel Works since 1947. It was designated by Japan as an Important Cultural Property in 1974, and as a Japan Heritage Cultural Property in 2020. Designed by modern architecture master Frank Lloyd Wright, it sees an endless stream of visitors from both inside and outside Japan. Its elevated location also provides a beautiful view of the town and sea from the terrace.
| URL | https://www.yodoko-geihinkan.jp/en/ |
|---|---|
| TEL | 0797-38-1720 |
| Address | 3-10 Yamate-cho, Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture |
Taxi 35 mins.
[Itami City] Shirayuki Brewery Village Choujugura
Getting a closer view of Itami Morohaku at a brewery with around 250 years of history
Konishi Brewing's Choujugura, founded in 1550, is another Japan Heritage Cultural Property. The second floor of this brewery built in the Edo Period (1603-1868) acts as a museum displaying various sake brewing tools and materials from Itami, while the directly operated restaurant on the first floor serves original dishes made using sake lees alongside sake, Belgian beer, and craft beer. We recommend the limited-edition sake, paid tasting corner, and more at the neighboring shop.
| URL | https://translation2.j-server.com/LUCKONISHI/ns/tl.cgi/https://www.konishi.co.jp/choujugura |
|---|---|
| TEL | Restaurant 072-773-1111 / Shop & Museum 072-773-0524 |
| Address | 3-4-15 Chuo, Itami, Hyogo Prefecture |
Taxi 15 mins.
[Amagasaki City] Komodaru Specialty Store Kishimoto Kichiji Syouten
A company that manufactures komodaru barrels that are an essential part of celebrations and kagamibiraki ceremonies.
Komodaru were a vital part of sake distribution during the Edo Period (1603-1868). While they're often seen in the modern day at kagamibiraki ceremonies and celebratory occasions, Kishimoto Kichiji Syouten is one of the leading companies in Japan making these barrels today. In addition to making barrels for sake manufacturers around Japan, they also create miniature barrels for New Year's decorations, mini-kagamibiraki sets, and other items for the general public. They are a vital element of transmitting traditional culture into the present day, as well as of sake culture.
| URL | https://en.komodaru.co.jp/ |
|---|---|
| TEL | 06-6421-4454 |
| Address | 2-8-25 Tsukaguchihonmachi, Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture |