Enjoying Itami's Past and Present as the Origin of Refined Sake: Itami City Course
Area：Itami
Though white and cloudy sake was once the primary kind consumed, the transparent sake we know today is said to have come from Itami around the year 1600. It was prized as "Itami Morohaku" during the Edo period (1603-1868), reigning over the west in a ranking of famed sake brands as its yokozuna, or champion. How about a trip that explores this origin of refined sake? You'll even get the chance to enjoy Itami in its current season.
START
JR Itami StationWalk 10 mins.
Itami City Museum of Art, History and Culture (The former Okada residence / the former Ishibashi residence)
Walk 3 mins.
Itami Oimatsu Brewing
Walk 2 mins.
Shirayuki Brewery Village Choujugura
Walk 5 mins.
Dorayaki Kitsuneiro
Walk 5 mins.
Itami Gallery
GOAL
START
Walk 10 mins.
Itami City Museum of Art, History and Culture (The former Okada residence / the former Ishibashi residence)
A seventeenth-century townhouse that symbolizes Itami, the origin of refined sake
A source for art, culture, and history. The former Okada residence, now designated a Japan Heritage Cultural Property as the oldest extant sake brewery, is made up of a store built in Enpo 2 (1674) and a sake brewery, steamery, and washery built around Shotoku 5 (1715). Sake brewing tools, a pressing area, and more still remain inside, conveying Itami's sake brewing to people in the present day. Its neighboring former Ishibashi residence is a late Edo period townhouse, and the Japanese garden by Kanto Shigemori seen from the second floor is stunning.
| URL | https://itami-im.jp/en/ |
|---|---|
| TEL | 072-772-5959 |
| Address | 2-5-20 Miyanomae, Itami, Hyogo Prefecture |
Walk 3 mins.
Itami Oimatsu Brewing
Tasting gomenshu, the ultimate sake purveyed to the shogun
A brewery founded in 1688. Oimatsu, which stood as the ozeki, or second tier, in the Edo period ranking of famed sake brands, was one of the "gomenshu" presented to the shogunate government. The word "gomenshu" continues to gleam on the label of its leading brand Oimatsu. They operate a direct sales store on Sake Brewery Street, and they offer samples, though only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The line formed at its door at all times is made up of locals who are after its brewing water that flows out from about 95 meters underground. It's known for its mellow and delicious taste.
| URL | http://www.oimatsu.biz/ |
|---|---|
| TEL | 072-782-2470 |
| Address | 3-1-8 Chuo, Itami, Hyogo Prefecture |
Walk 2 mins.
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 |
Walk 5 mins.
Dorayaki Kitsuneiro
An excellent dorayaki with an alluringly fluffy look and flavor
Five to six types of colorful dorayaki. You might think they're all about looks, but these are serious masterpieces that give you a sense of how serious the owner who trained at a famous shop in Osaka is about the job. They're more than the way they look. The moist pancakes will turn your ideas about what a dorayaki is upside-down. This is apparently due to a unique creation method that incorporates castella-making techniques. The fruitiness and sweet-and-sour taste of the dorayaki with fruit compliment the refined sweetness of the red beans, creating a uniquely delicious item.
| URL | https://kituneirodora.jimdofree.com/ |
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| TEL | 072-768-9158 |
| Address | 2-3-20-101 Itami, Itami, Hyogo Prefecture |
Walk 5 mins.
Itami Gallery
Souvenirs from Itami before you board the train. It even has a tasting machine.
A tourist information center located to the side of the ticket gate at JR Itami Station. Its attached store is full of souvenirs from Itami. They even sell items that you won't find in guidebooks but are loved by Itami locals, such as sake manju from Nakaman that sell out as soon as they're put on shelves. They also sell a tasting set exclusive to the store with one type of sake each from Oimatsu Brewing and Konishi Brewing, two breweries in town. You can also casually enjoy tastings with the tasting machine that can be used for 100 yen.
| URL | http://itami-kankou.com/gallery |
|---|---|
| TEL | 072-770-7060 |
| Address | 1-6-2 Higashiarioka, Itami, Hyogo Prefecture |