The Origin of Miyamizu, an Essential Part of Nada Sake: Nishinomiya (Nishinomiya-go) Course
Area：Nishinomiya
The light and refreshing taste characteristic of sake from Nada is created by the subterranean water originating from Mt. Rokko. This "miyamizu" originates from Nishinomiya. This miraculous water high in mineral content is just right for sake brewing, and sake made from it was brought from Nishinomiya to Edo by ship, where it was praised as "kudari-zake." Let's take a walk down this historical town still home to many sake breweries.
START
Nishinomiya Station, Hanshin Electric RailwayWalk 5 mins.
Nishinomiya Shrine
Walk 10 mins.
The Origin of Miyamizu
Walk 4 mins.
Hakutakarokusuien
On the property
Tokyo Chikuyo-tei Nishinomiya Branch
Walk 5 mins.
Sake Museum (Hakushika Memorial Museum of Sake)
Walk 1 mins.
Hakushika Classics
GOAL
START
Walk 5 mins.
Nishinomiya Shrine
The head shrine of the Ebisu sect loved by Nishinomiya's brewers.
Located near Nishinomiya Station, Nishinomiya Shrine is also lovingly known as "Ebessan." It is filled with many visitors during its famed "Toka Ebisu," which takes place early in the year. The god of good business is worshipped there, and the shrine also has a deep connection to the brewers of Nishinomiya. At the lake in front of its main shrine, you can see Kaei Bridge, completed in 1848 thanks to donations from brewers, as well as the beautiful humpback Zuiho Bridge, offered by Hakutaka's Tatsuuma Esso in 1907.
| URL | https://nishinomiya-ebisu.com |
|---|---|
| TEL | 0798-33-0321 |
| Address | 1-17 Shake-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture |
Walk 10 mins.
The Origin of Miyamizu
Miraculous subterranean water that determines the flavor of Nada sake
Mineral rich groundwater known as miyamizu, a unique treasure, can be found on the west side of Sakagura Dori street that runs east to west in Nishinomiya city. A perfect blend of three subterranean water flows, it has been selected by the Ministry of the Environment as one of Japan's hundred famous waters. Wells where the sake breweries of Nada Gogo draw this water are located all over. It continues to be an essential part of Nada sake brewing, and while this miyamizu well with a commemorative monument is usually not open to the public, it is possible to see it by applying to the Shuzo Kaikan.
| TEL | 0798-22-4996 (the Shuzo Kaikan) |
|---|---|
| Address | 3 Kubo-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture |
Walk 4 mins.
Hakutakarokusuien
A cultural facility that communicates the traditional culture of Nada sake
Hakutaka was founded in 1862 not far from where miyamizu is located. It continues to be the only sake offered at Ise Shrine. The Hakutakarokusuien is a cultural facility meant to recreate the home of the Tatsuuma family, Hakutaka's brewers. It contains the "House of Hakutaka Family" exhibition room that displays items used in daily life from the late Edo to early Showa period, the "Hakutaka Collection" exhibition room that introduces the traditional culture of Nada sake through old-fashioned sake brewing tools, sake cups, and more. You can also enjoy flights at the shop full of limited-edition sake.
| URL | https://hakutaka.jp/shop-english.html |
|---|---|
| TEL | 0798-39-0235 |
| Address | 5-1 Kurakake-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture |
On the property
Tokyo Chikuyo-tei Nishinomiya Branch
Seasonal Japanese food enjoyed with Nada sake at a famous unagi (Japanese eel) restaurant
A famous unagi restaurant located inside Hakutakarokusuien where you can taste Hakutaka sake, which pairs with a variety of food. Once steamed, this eel is dipped into tare sauce three times and grilled. It's well known for its fluffy and fragrant taste. In addition to the unagi-don that can be enjoyed for lunch and dinner, we also recommend the "monthly takeuma bento," a popular lunch-only menu item that allows you to enjoy the time of year through seasonal ingredients and colors. A garden can be seen outside its windows, and it has private rooms as well.
| URL | https://www.chikuyotei.com/index-en.html |
|---|---|
| TEL | 0798-37-3939 |
| Address | 5-1 Kurakake-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, inside Hakutakarokusuien |
Walk 5 mins.
Sake Museum (Hakushika Memorial Museum of Sake)
Learning about Nada Gogo's sake brewing inside a Japan Heritage brewery
A museum that makes use of a Tatsuuma-Honke wooden brewery built in Meiji 2 (1869) and used until the early Showa period. Inside you can enjoy learning about traditional sake brewing by viewing videos that explain the process, listening to sake brewing songs, and getting to touch sake brewing tools. Exhibited items unique to Nishinomiya, where sake brewing took place alongside the natural blessing that is miyamizu, are a particular highlight. You can even see wells on the grounds and two-wheeled carts used for transportation.
| URL | https://sake-museum.jp/en/ |
|---|---|
| TEL | 0798-33-0008 |
| Address | 8-21 Kurakake-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture |
Walk 1 mins.
Hakushika Classics
Sake flights 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 |
