4. Whisky distilleries in the Chubu region

4. Chubu region (inc. Aichi, Nagano, Shizuoka, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa and Yamanashi prefectures)

Yamanashi Prefecture

4-1 Suntory Spirits Hakushu Distillery

Suntory continued to search for the best water for whisky making in order to produce a different type of malt whisky from the Yamazaki distillery. After researching all over Japan, Suntory came across Hakushu, one of the most famous water areas in Japan. In 1973, exactly 50 years after Suntory began making whiskey for the first time in Japan, Suntory’s second malt whiskey distillery, Hakushu Distillery, finally went into operation.

The Hakushu Distillery is characterized by a variety of distilleries that are unparalleled in the world.
In the fermentation process, the distillery uses wooden fermentation vats with excellent heat retention properties, and the lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the distillery produce the unique flavor unique to Hakushu.
In the distillation process, distillation kettles of different sizes and shapes are used, and in the storage (aging) process, various types of casks are used, and a wide variety of sake is produced in all processes from preparation to fermentation, distillation, and storage (aging).

Image Source: Suntory Hakushu Distillery

Location	Hokuto City, Hokuto City, Yamanashi 408-0316 2913-1 Toribara, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
Access from Nirasaki Station on the Chuo Main Line.	From Nirasaki Station on the Chuo Main Line, take a bus bound for Shimokyorai Ishishita and get off at Matsubarakami bus stop (several buses a day). 15 minutes by cab from Kobuchizawa Station on the Chuo Main Line. 20 minutes by shuttle bus from Kobuchizawa Station on the Chuo Main Line (limited period).
Commencement of operation	1973
Official HP	Suntory Hakushu Distillery
Tours	Factory tours are temporarily suspended. (As of December 27, 2020)
Products	Single Malt Whiskey Hakushu, Single Malt Whiskey Hakushu 18years, Single Malt Whiskey Hakushu 25 years

Representative whiskies of Hakushu Distillery .

Detailed distillery information

To learn more about the distillery, click here↓.

https://jpwhisky.net/hakushu-dis...

jpwhisky.net

4-2.SASAKAWA WHISKY K.K. Fugaku Distillery

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Fugaku Distillery is a whiskey distillery built at the foot of Mt.

Pot stills with wooden wash backs and direct flame heating system are custom-made by Miyake Seisakusho. The distillery focuses on drawing out the potential of yeast and lactic acid bacteria.

The cellar is of the dunnage type. The aging process is carefully carried out until the taste is satisfactory.

Fugaku Distillery is located in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which boasts a vast site of 10,000 m2, and uses blessed subterranean water from Mt. Surrounded by forests, the site is filled with clean air and is located at an altitude of 1,000 m. The cool summer climate is ideal for whiskey making.

Location	4918-1 Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0005, Japan
Access to the distillery	8 minutes drive from Kawaguchiko IC of Chuo Expressway About 10 minutes by cab from Fujiyama Station
Start of business	–
Official HP	Fugaku Distillery Official HP
Field Trip	Scheduled to be held
Products	Products

4-3. Ide Brewery Fuji Hokuroku Distillery

Ide Sake Brewery, whose predecessor was a soy sauce brewer that began operations around 1700, was founded in the late Edo period in conjunction with soy sauce brewing.

It began producing sake, and in 2020 obtained a license to produce whiskey. The company has been experimenting with the knowledge and techniques cultivated through sake brewing.

Fuji Kitarei Distillery produces malt and grain whiskey, and aims to produce whiskey with an emphasis on aroma, using sake yeast and limpid subterranean water from Mt.

The company plans to start offering distillery tours in the future, and is crowdfunding to fund the expansion of the distillery with original glasses and new pots as return items. As of 2022, the distillery is also looking for cask owners. For more information, please click here.

The malt whiskey is made from German non-peat malt and aged in white oak bourbon barrels. The grain whisky is produced entirely with rice, producing so-called rice whisky.
Barreling is being done in 2020, with actual sales expected in 2023.

Currently, the company sells products calledFuji Hokuroku Highball and Blended Whiskey Daijukai.

Address	401-0301 8 Funatsu, Kawaguchiko Town, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi
Access	10 minutes drive from Kawaguchiko Interchange on Chuo Expressway 10 minutes walk from Kawaguchiko Station
Start of operation	Start of distillation in 2020
Official HP	Ide Brewery
Tour of the brewery	Tour scheduled to be conducted
Products	Fuji Hokuroku Highball, Blended Whiskey Daijukai

4-4. Far Yeast Brewing K.K. Headwaters Distillery

The brewery is located in Kosuge Village in Yamanashi Prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo. Famous for its beer “Far Yeast”.
As one way to upcycle beer that is on the verge of being discarded, they have introduced a distiller and use it as a raw material for craft gin, thereby producing distilled spirits without waste.
They are using this knowledge to produce whiskey.

Location	4341-1, Kosuge-mura, Kita-Tsuru-gun, Yamanashi 409-0211 4341-1, Kosuge-mura, Kitatsuru-gun, Yamanashi
Access to the distillery	Approximately 30 minutes by car from Okutama Station on the JR East Oume Line and Otsuki Station on the JR Chuo Line.
Start of business (start of distillation)	2022
Official HP	https://faryeast.com/
Tour of the brewery	Brewery with restaurant
Products	Azeotrope, etc.

4-5. Sun. Foods Nirasaki Midai Distillery

Established in 1976The company began by manufacturing food seasonings.
It was not until 2014 that the company obtained a license to manufacture whiskey.
Its three main products are “Fujigamine,” “Nirasaki” 
They are relatively inexpensive, ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 yen, and are easily accessible due to the large number of bottles in circulation.
They mainly deal in foreign-produced whiskey, and the only whiskey labeled as Japanese whiskey is Nirasaki blended Japanese whiskey.
It is very interesting to note that the attached image is for reference only. (As of May 2023, the wording is gone because the site is being renewed.)
Since there is no information on pot stills, we would like to keep a close eye on this site with high expectations for future developments.

Location	640 Minamiwari, Shimojyo, Tatsuoka-cho, Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture
Access to the distillery	The distillery is located in Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
Start of business	2014
Official HP	Nirasaki Midai Distillery Official Brand Site
Tour of the distillery	Tour of Nirasaki Gotei Distillery
Products	Products

Typical Whiskey of Nirasaki Imperial Distillery

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4-6. Tokuoka Holdings Minami-Alps Wine and Beverage
Fuefuki Factory

The company originated from a liquor store in town that has been in business for nearly 150 years.
About 50 years ago, the company started a wine business and has since expanded into importing, a winery business in Germany, and consulting for liquor companies in China.
It is also the distributor of the much talked-about Top Value whiskey.
The brand name “SNAZZ” is still available at Aeon-affiliated supermarkets for about 600 yen.
The lineup listed on the official website includes “Hachikuma,” “Kumataka,” “Kakutaka 5-year barrel aged,” “Kakutaka Pure Malt,” and other variations such as 2L back-in-box and 4L PET bottles.

Location	191-1 Kamiyasaku, Ichinomiya-cho, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi
Access to the distillery	The distillery is located in Fuefuki-Ichinomiya-cho, Yamanashi Prefecture.
Start of business	Start of business
Official HP	Southern Alps Wine and Beverage
Tour	Tour of Southern Alps Wine and Beverage
Merchandise	Products

Southern Alps Wine and Beverage Fuefuki Factory’s representative whiskey

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Nagano prefecture

4-7. Honbo Shuzo Mars Komagatake Distillery

Masataka Taketsuru is known as the father of domestic whiskey. Kiichiro Iwai of Settsu Shuzo (the creator of Mars Whiskey) entrusted the 24-year-old Taketsuru with the dawn of authentic Japanese whiskey and sent him to Scotland as his boss.

After returning to Japan, Mr. Taketsuru compiled the results of his whisky training into a “Whisky Report” and submitted it to Kiichiro Iwai. This is commonly known as the “Taketsuru Report” or “Taketsuru Notebook.

Hombo Shuzo is mainly engaged in shochu production in Kagoshima, but after obtaining a license to produce whiskey in 1949, he had a dream to “someday make real whiskey that makes the most of the Japanese climate.

In 1960, Kiichiro Iwai designed based on the “Taketsuru Notebook” and established the Mars Yamanashi Winery, a factory for wine and whiskey production. Then, in order to engage in full-scale whiskey production, he searched for an even more ideal location and operated the “Mars Shinshu Distillery” in Nagano Prefecture in 1985. Surrounded by beautiful and deep green forests at the foot of Mt. Komagatake in the Central Alps, the distillery stands in the silence of clear air.

A tasting bar with paid tastings is located in the distillery’s visitor center. You can enjoy the latest Mars Whiskey products as well as a wide range of limited editions from the past.

Exhibits at the 2019 Whiskey Festival. Iwai Tradition, Mortgage Koshaku, Komagatake Limited 2019, and new products to be released in Spring 2020 were also on display.

Formerly named “Mars Shinshu Distillery”, the distillery will change to its current name in 2024.

Location	399-4301, Miyata-mura, Kamiina-gun, Nagano, Japan 4752-31 Miyata-mura, Kamiina-gun, Nagano, Japan
Access by train	By train Take the JR Iida Line, get off at Komagane Station or Miyata Station, and take a cab for 10 minutes. By car 5 minutes from Komagane IC on the Chuo Expressway
Commencement of operation	1985
Official HP	Hombo Shuzo Mars Komagatake Distillery
Visiting the distillery	Tours are available. Application required by e-mail form or fax.
Products	Single malt whiskey Komagatake

Typical whisky of Mars Komagatake Distillery

Detailed distillery information

To learn more about the distillery, click here↓.

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4-8. Karuizawa Distillers Komoro Distillery

This is the first distillery operated by Karuizawa Distillers Manufacturing.

Mr. Shimaoka, a former banker, and Mr. Ian Chang, former master blender of KAVALAN distillery, teamed up to build a distillery in Komoro, Nagano Prefecture, which is the best location for a whiskey distillery due to the combination of various factors such as the climate, water quality, natural environment and local culture at the foot of Mount Asama where pure water is grown. The distillery produces only single malt.

In 2024, the distillery was chosen as the site for the World Whiskey Forum, attracting attention from around the world.

The sales method is currently to sell the product in casks and deliver it three years later.

Location of the company’s office	4630-1 Kou, Karuishi, Komoro, Nagano, 384-0801 Japan 4630-1 Karuishi, Kou, Komoro-city, Nagano, Japan
Access	10 minutes by cab from Komoro Station on the Shinano Railway 25 minutes by cab from Sakudaira Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line Shuttle bus available from the above two stations by reservation only.
Start of operation
Official HP	Komoro Distillery Official HP
Tours	Full range of tours are available, and reservations can be made by selecting a course from beginner to advanced level on the official website.
Products	Reservations for limited products are already being made.

4-9.Nozawa Onsen Distillery Co.

Philip Richards, owner of a cafe and bar in Nozawaonsen Village, will begin construction in 2021, with operations scheduled to begin in June 2022.

The goal is to create a new tourist attraction in Nozawa Onsen Village, which boasts some of the best powder snow and vast ski slopes in Japan, as well as cycling and other leisure activities during the green season, and numerous outdoor hot springs.

In addition to a distillery tour, the Nozawa Onsen Distillery will have a gift store, a craft bar where visitors can enjoy tastings, and an herb garden.

As of January 2022, the distillery plans to produce craft gin, malt whiskey, and grain whiskey. The craft gin will be distilled using a Karl distiller from Germany. It will employ the vapor infusion method using baskets, and will use as botanicals the spring water flowing down Mt. The gin will be produced under the concept of “making a gin that will remind people of Nozawaonsen-mura when they bring home a bottle as a souvenir and drink it at home.

The whiskey will be distilled using a distiller made by Knapp Lewer in Tasmania. The whiskey will be distilled in a distiller made by Knapp-Lewer in Tasmania, and will be aged until it is of high quality and satisfyingly delicious. As of January 2022, the distillery is under construction, and the distiller is expected to be installed in March.

The planned product lineup includes standard craft gin, limited-time-only gin using seasonal botanicals, high-quality single malt whiskey, grain whiskey made with wheat, buckwheat, and rice, and blended whiskey.

Location	Nozawa, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano 389-2502 9394 Toyosato, Nozawaonsen-mura, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano
Access	20 minutes by cab from Togari-Nozawaonsen Station 25 minutes by car from Toyota-Iiyama I.C.
Start of operation	Distillation scheduled to begin in June 2022
Official HP	Nozawa Onsen Distillery
Tour of the distillery	Tour scheduled to be conducted
Products	Products

4-10. Totsuka Shuzo Karuizawa Whiskey Distillery

Shigeru Totsuka, the 16th president of Totsuka Shuzo (Saku City), founded in 1653, established a new whiskey manufacturing company, Karuizawa Whiskey Co. to build the Karuizawa Whiskey Distillery in Hatsuchi, Karuizawa, Kitasaku County, with construction beginning in spring 2021.

The new company was established in November 2007, privately funded by President Totsuka. The distillery and storage facility will be built on a 1.3 hectare site, with plans to produce approximately 60,000 liters of whiskey per year, aiming to begin selling whiskey in 2024. The total project cost is expected to be 700-800 million yen.
Barley, the raw material, will be grown in cooperation with local agricultural cooperatives in the Saku region and other areas, and water from the foot of Mount Asama and Mt.
The distillation process was started with Mr. Shusei Uchibori, the last malt master of “Mercian Karuizawa Distillery,” as an advisor and Mr. Miyuki Nakazato, also a whisky distiller, as the plant manager.

Location	〒389-0113 2785-318 Hatsuji, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano, Japan
Access	35 minutes walk from Shinano Oiwake Station
Start of operation	Scheduled for 2022
Official HP	Karuizawa Whiskey Co.
Tour	Whisky
Merchandise	Products

4-11.Totsuka Shuzo Miyota Distillery

Owned by Totsuka Shuzo, the same company as the Karuizawa distillery mentioned above. The building used to be a bank.
Miyota-machi is also the location of the former Mercian Karuizawa distillery, which once produced the “Karuizawa” brand of whiskey, but the distillery will take a slightly different approach to whiskey production than the current Karuizawa distillery.

It has been announced that the distillery will also become a tax return gift for Miyota-machi’s hometown tax payment in July 2025.

Location	Postal Code 389-0207 953-4 Mazeguchi, Miyota-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano, Japan
Access to the distillery	10 minutes by cab from Miyota Station of Shinano Railway
Start of business (Start of distillation)	2023
Official HP	Official website
Visiting the distillery	Tour of the distillery
Merchandise	Products

4-12.Kiyo-Kawa Co. Iiyama Mountain Farm Distillery

David Traiano, a native of Italy who formerly made his living as an importer and wholesaler, established Kiyo-Kawa Co. in 2016.
In 2018, he established the agricultural corporation MOST FARM, LLC, and developed “Yukihana Rokujo,” a six-row barley for snow country.
In 2019, he opened the Iiyama Distillery to start distilling and changed the name to “Iiyama Mountain Farm Distillery” in 2022.
In the initial phase, there was only one small hybrid still with a capacity of 500 liters, but a still made by Frilli of Italy and a hybrid still made by DYE of China, which were introduced for the first time in Japan, were installed.
In addition, four oak fermenters from Garberotto of Italy were installed, and stainless steel fermenters are scheduled to be introduced in the future.
Two mash tuns made by Cheiman of Germany were installed.
The bottling equipment is fully automatic, and was also made by Polaris of Italy for the first time in Japan.
Kensei” and “Nobushi,” which were popular and controversial in Russia, were released.
Currently, the Togari Onsen distillery is under construction in the adjacent area, and this distillery is scheduled to produce grain whiskey.

Location	5123-30 Toyoda, Iiyama-shi, Nagano 389-2411
Access to the distillery	Approximately 19 minutes on foot from Togari-Nozawaonsen Station exit.
Start of business	2016
Official HP	Visit the distillery
Tour	Tour
Merchandise	Products

4-13. Kiyokawa Co. Togari Distillery

The Togari Onsen distillery is under construction in the area adjacent to the Kiyokawa Mountain Farm distillery.
This distillery will produce grain whiskey.

Location	5123-30 Toyoda, Iiyama-shi, Nagano 389-2411
Access to the distillery	Approximately 19 minutes on foot from Togari-Nozawaonsen Station exit.
Start of business	2016
Official HP	Visit the distillery
Tour	Tour
Merchandise	Products

Shizuoka Prefecture

4-14.Kirin Distillery Fuji Gotemba Distillery

In August 1972, Kirin Seagram Company Limited was established as a joint venture (trilateral) between Kirin Brewery (Japan), JE Seagram (US), and Seabass Brothers (UK), and the following year, in August 1973, Fuji Gotemba Distillery started operation.

Fuji Gotemba Distillery has been focusing on the production of “grain whiskey,” which uses corn and wheat as raw materials for whiskey. Generally, continuous distillation is used to produce grain whiskey. Fuji Gotemba Distillery uses three types of continuous distillers, “multi-column,” “kettle,” and “doubler,” to produce various types of grain whiskey with different characteristics. Fuji Gotemba Distillery uses three types of continuous distillers, the “multi-column,” “kettle,” and “doubler,” to produce a variety of grain whiskeys.

A representative whiskey was Fuji Sanroku Barrel Aged Barrel 50°, but due to higher-than-expected demand from 2018, it became difficult to supply the raw whiskey needed for production, and the product was discontinued at the end of March 2019. No successor product was released, but “Fuji-Sanroku Signature Blend” was launched in 2017 and has been in general distribution in the domestic market since 2018 and is now the current product.

In 2016, Fuji Gotemba Distillery Single Grain Whiskey AGED 25 YEARS SMALL BATCH won the World Best Grain Award at the World Whiskey Awards 2016.
On March 31, 2017, Jota Tanaka, Master Blender at Kirin Distillery Fuji Gotemba Distillery, received the World’s Best Master Distiller and Master Blender Award in the Icons of Whisky category.
On March 27, 2020, Kirin Single Grain Whiskey Fuji 30 Year Old receives the World’s Best Grain Award at the World Whiskey Awards 2020.

Location	Gotemba, Shizuoka 412-0003, Japan 970 Shibafuda, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Japan
Access	Free shuttle bus service from JR Gotemba Station JR Gotemba Station, please exit the station through the ticket gates and proceed to the Otome exit. The shuttle bus stop is at the station roundabout. Exit at the Tomei Expressway Gotemba I.C. in the direction of Lake Yamanaka, and proceed straight on Route 138 for approximately 6 km to the right.
Start of operation	1973
Official HP	Kirin Distillery Fuji Gotemba Distillery
Visiting the distillery	Tours are available. For the time being, tours are available only for Shizuoka Prefecture residents. Factory tours and store will be closed from Monday, December 21 to Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Merchandise	Fuji Signature Blend, Single Grain Whiskey Fuji

Fuji Gotemba Distillery’s signature whiskey .

Distillery Details

To learn more about the distillery, click here↓.

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4-15. gaiaflow Co. Shizuoka Distillery

Gaiaflow Distilling Co., Ltd. purchased and acquired whiskey production equipment from Mercian Karuizawa Distillery in March 2015. The reusable equipment, including the crusher used for malt crushing and the distiller, was repaired and improved, then moved to the Shizuoka Distillery, where it was prepared for whiskey production.

In 2015, construction of the Shizuoka Distillery began in the area known as Tamagawa in the Occident (Oku-Shizuoka area) of Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and in September 2016, a license for whiskey production was obtained.
The distillery is manufacturing with three distillation units: a distillation unit (K) relocated from the Karuizawa distillery and two Scottish distillation units (W).

The distillery is in harmony with nature, with plenty of cypress grown in Oxusu used for the distillery building and fermentation tanks. The distillery aims to produce whiskey in harmony with nature, rooted in the climate of Shizuoka. There is a paid tasting corner inside the distillery, where you can enjoy not only Shizuoka Prologue Ciry, but also New Pot and other original whiskeys in the process of maturing.
Visitors can also sample a number of whiskies imported and sold by Gaiaflow Shizuoka Distillery, including Amrut, an Indian whisky, and Black Adder, a Scotch bottler.

Location	421-2223, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan 555 Ochiai, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Access	60 minutes from JR Shizuoka Station by Shizutetsu Just Line bus Board at bus stop “Shizuoka Ekimae”, platform 9 Get off at the bus stop “Okunoharakami” and walk 1 minute. Or, take the Abe Line (119 bound for Yokosawa) and get off at Kamisuke bus stop. 15 minutes on foot.
Start of operation	2016
Official HP	Gaia Flow Shizuoka Distillery
Visiting	Tours are available. Reservations required through the tour page on the website.
Products	Single Malt Whiskey Shizuoka “Prologue K

A representative whisky of Shizuoka Distillery .

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Distillery Details

To learn more about the distillery, click here↓.

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4-16.Juzan Co. Igawa Distillery 

In April 2020, Jusan Corporation will be established in Tashiro, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, through an incorporation-type demerger from Tokushu Tokai Paper Mfg. The company will utilize company-owned forests in the northern part of Shizuoka City for its whiskey production business; distillation will begin in the summer of 2020, with shipments planned for 2027 and beyond; the company aims to produce “authentic” whiskey that has been aged for at least seven years, and expects to produce about 5,000 to 6,000 bottles in the first year of shipments.
The investment for the construction of the distillery is approximately 1.09 billion yen. The distillation building and aging warehouse were constructed on a site of approximately 2,000 square meters along the Oigawa River. Distillation building: 2-story steel-frame building, total area 860m2, Maturing cellar: single-story steel-frame building, 357m2.

The distillery is located at the highest altitude in Japan, and is so remote and inaccessible that general vehicle traffic is restricted. It is a “hidden region” in the sense that it is difficult to access.

There are also plans to build a hut-style aging house at a higher altitude than the distillery, reinforced with steel to prevent bears from destroying it, and release it as a mountain cask.

They have already released the Flora series of non peated casks and the peated Fauna series.

Location	Shizuoka, Japan 428-0505 1299-1 Tashiro, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture
How to get there	Location
Start of operation	Distillation to begin in 2020
Official HP	Igawa Distillery｜Juzan Corporation (juzan.co.jp)
Tour of the distillery	Tour of the distillery
Products	Igawa Distillery Fauna, Flora

Representative whiskies of Igawa Distillery

4-17.Whiskey&Co.  Distillery Water Dragon

Whiskey&Co. was established in January 2021 in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward to manufacture and sell craft spirits and provide consulting services for liquor and other brands.
The company will launch a new style called “Japanese “Bourbon whisky” Style” to convey the appeal of American bourbon whiskey.
Teen Spirits” won a silver medal at the Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition (TWSC) in 2022.
The company is also actively involved in “FiNANCiE,” a token-issuing crowdfunding service that uses blockchain technology, which allows customers to purchase tokens to expand their access to the distillery, gain the right to become a cask owner, and purchase tokens for the “Water Gate” restaurant bar in the 97-year-old earthen warehouse that was converted into the distillery. The distillery is located on the second floor of the “Water Gate” restaurant-bar, which was renovated from a 97-year-old earthen warehouse.
The current target maturation period for the sake is three years, but depending on the maturation status, a two-year maturation period may be offered.
Two batches of 200-300 kg per batch (per day).
The grains used are in keeping with bourbon whiskey, with a mixture of maize (corn), rye, and malt.
In the future, they plan to mix mais, wheat, and malt.
One distiller is a German-made Arnold Holstein machine.
It is currently in the new-make stage, but the quality is so high that it is suitable for drinking as it is, and they are looking forward to aging it.
At the moment, they are aiming for a clean, ethereal, mellow flavor.
Distillery Water Dragon’s strengths include the ability to change the ratio of ingredients, the ability to freely choose the grains used as ingredients, and the ability to change the aroma by changing the yeast.

Currently, a newborn whiskey, Moonshine, is being sold to token holders, and a cocktail competition using Moonshine was also held.

Location	18-5 Taisha-cho, Mishima-shi, Shizuoka-ken 411-0853
Access to the distillery	15 minutes walk from JR Mishima Station
Start of business	2021
Official HP	Whiskey&Co.
Visiting	Possible (depending on tokens held)
Merchandise	TeenSpirits, On Spring

Typical Whiskey&Co. products

4-18. Tokinosumika Co. Fuji-Kaguya Distillery

It is a large company with several group companies, including hot springs, hotels, leisure facilities, and restaurants.
Fugaku Beer is famous.
Fuji Kaguya Distillery, where brewing and distilling can be done, is located in the related facility called s_pl@tt FUJISPARK, a sports facility equipped with a baseball field, gymnasium, soccer field, and other facilities for all kinds of sports, including a hotel bathhouse and restaurant.
The distillery is also home to the Fuji Kaguya Distillery, which brews and distills whisky in a sports facility complete with a hotel, baths, and restaurant. The distillery’s whisky is called “whisky the Takasago 2022,” a blend of 25-year-old spirits from the Ginpan Brewery in Toyama, 3-year-old Kuma shochu-derived spirits from Joraku Brewery in Kumamoto, and malt whisky from the Fuji Kaguya Distillery, and is released once a year.

Location	325-5 Ohbuchi, Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Access to the distillery
Start of business	March 4, 1994
Official HP	s_pl@tt FUJISPARK
Visiting the distillery	Permitted→Click here for details
Merchandise	Fugaku Beer

Toyama Prefecture

4-19. Wakatsuru Shuzo Co.  Sabromaru Distillery

Wakatsuru Shuzo, which operates the Saburomaru Distillery, is a brewery with a very long history in Hokuriku, having started sake production in 1862 in Saburomaru Village, Tonami County, Toyama Prefecture.

After the end of World War II, in order to break out of a deadlock, the company conducted independent research on distilled spirits production and obtained a license to produce whiskey in 1952.

Typical whiskies from the Saburomaru distillery .

Detailed distillery information

To learn more about the distillery, click here↓.

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Niigata Prefecture

4-20. Yoshida Denzai Kogyo Co.　Yoshida Denzai Distillery

Established in 1940, Yoshida Denzai Kogyo K.K. manufactures and sells electrical equipment, manufactures and processes synthetic resins, and manufactures and sells medical equipment, and its subsidiary Yoshiden Co. We aim to produce high quality and honest whiskey with the technical capabilities that have underpinned Japanese manufacturers since the Showa period.

Started distilling grain whiskey exclusively in Japan. Aiming for 100% domestic production of all ingredients, using Hokkaido corn. Using Kothe’s hybrid still on a site of about 800 tsubo. Annual production is approximately 100 kL.

Yoshida Denzai Distillery plans to produce blended whiskey blended with malt whiskey from craft distilleries in Niigata Prefecture and elsewhere. The distillery will differentiate itself from other craft distilleries. They are also considering grain sales to distilleries in Japan.

In addition to using a German-made hybrid pot still, the distillery will haveits ownequipment thatcan freely mix three types of grains in the raw material processing process. In addition to corn, rye, barley, and wheat, thecompany willalsouse other uniquely Japanese ingredients such as rice, buckwheat, and regional specialty grains.

The distillery is expected to have an impact on the Japanese whiskey industry, including the supply to other distilleries, as barrels with Yoshida Denzai’s mark were shown during the unveiling of whiskey using Ehime’s specialty [hadakamugi].

Address	P.O. Box 110-0016 344-1 Shukuda, Murakami-city, Niigata, Japan
Access	5 minutes drive from Kanbayashi Iwafune Port IC
Start of operation	Start of distillation in 2022
Official HP	Yoshida Denzai Distillery Official HP
Tours	Tour of Yoshida Denzai Distillery
Products	Products

4-21. Hakkai Jozo Fukasawara Distillery

The Fukasawahara Distillery operated by Hakkai Brewery, known for its sake Hakkaisan, is located in Uonuma-no-sato, a leisure facility with a variety of restaurants, a museum, and a café.
In 2005, the distillery made shochu as the original “Fukasawahara Distillery” and in April 2016 obtained a license to produce whiskey, and since then has continued to make rice-based grains.
At the same time, they also operate the Niseko distillery, and are one of the few brewers to have two distilleries among the craft distilleries that have started to increase in recent years.
The brewing water used for the whiskey is “Raiden-sama no Shimizu” (Raiden-sama’s fresh water), the same as that used for Hakkaisan.
The maturing barrels are oak barrels, and a 7-year aged rice grain whiskey is scheduled to be released in April 2024. It will be interesting to see if there will be a blended product with the Niseko distillery in the future.

Location	343-9 Nagamori, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7112
Access to the distillery	10 minutes by cab from Itsukamachi Station on the JR Joetsu Line
Start of business	2005
Official HP	Uonuma no Sato
Visiting	No tours allowed
Products	Hakkaisan Authentic Rice Shochu, Stored in Oak Barrels, Fu-Mai-Hana (Wind Blossom), Raideen Beer

Representative products of Fukasawahara Distillery

4-22. Niigata Small Distillery Co.  Niigata Kameda Distillery

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Niigata Kameda Distillery is a joint venture established by Otani Corporation, a major seal seller.The company realized a business proposal for craft whiskey production that was presented by a team of three companies, including Otani Corporation, in the “Niigata Innovation Program” organized by Nomura Securities Niigata Branch and others in 2018.The business was launched in March 2019, The distillery was built on the premises of Otani Corporation’s main factory.
Niigata Kameda Distillery is the first company in Niigata Prefectureto produce authentic Japanese whiskey from germination to distillation of barley, the raw material .
The distillation machine will bemade by Forsyth in Scotland, and two types of fermentation vats, stainless steel and wooden, will be used to ferment the wort. Production capacity is 30,000 liters per year.
For the time being, they plan to use imported malt from Scotland, but they have contracted with an agricultural corporation, Shirogane Culture (Akiba Ward, Akiba City), to secure 4 tons of barley as raw material. The distillation of 100% prefectural malt is expected to begin within the year. In addition, the company is considering the production of rice whiskey using rice produced in the prefecture, and plans to expand its facilities after the summer to meet domestic and international demand. The total project cost to date is 240 million yen.

Ripening is done in special containers, and the effect is similar to warm ripening? The taste is very rich despite being a new pot, and it is already attracting attention, having won the world’s highest award in the New Make &Young Spirits New Make category of the WWA.

Location	Niigata 950-0141, Japan 1-3-5 Kameda Kogyo Danchi, Konan-ku, Niigata City
Access	30 minutes walk from JR Kameda Station
Start of operation	March 2019
Official HP	Niigata Kameda Distillery Limited Liability Company Niigata Small Scale Distillery
Tours	Tour of the distillery
Products	Niigata Kameda Distillery New Pot Peated 60% 200ml

4-23. Niigata Beer Shinobu Distillery

Niigata’s craft brewery, Niigata Beer, obtained its first whiskey distilling license in Niigata City in 2016 with the aim of using local fresh water to provide spirit lovers with high quality whiskey.

While the distillery is under construction, the distillery is importing original spirits aged in sherry and bourbon casks from distilleries around the world and mixing them together at the Niigata factory in Niigata City to make “Koshino Shinobu” whiskey. The Mizunara finish is characterized by a rich aroma that is additionally aged in Japanese oak casks. Ninety percent of the production is for export, with the U.S. accounting for 40% of the total.
It is unknown if construction of a distillery is in the plans.

Image source: Shinobu Distillery

Location	Niigata 953-0012 5120 Echizenhama, Nishigamaku, Niigata-shi, Niigata
Access	Access from the nearest station/ 10 minutes by car from Maki Station on the JR Echigo Line Access from the nearest IC/20 min. by car from “Maki Kata Higashi IC” of Hokuriku Expressway
Start of operation	Under construction
Official HP	Niigata Beer Oshinobu Distillery
Tour
Products	Koshino-ShinobuPure Malt, Koshino-ShinobuBlended Whisky, Koshino-Shinobu Pure Malt 10 Years, Koshino-Shinobu Pure Malt 15 Years

Representative whiskies of Shinobu Distillery .

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Aichi Prefecture

4-24. Suntory Chita Distillery

Chita Distillery is located on the Chita Peninsula overlooking Ise Bay. It is a grain whiskey distillery jointly established by Suntory Group and Zen-Noh Group. It is one of the three distilleries owned by Suntory in Japan.

For more than 40 years since it began operations in 1973, the distillery has been producing grain whiskey made primarily from corn. Chita’s original whiskey is blended into the world-renowned blended whiskeys ” Hibiki ” and “Kakubin” to enhance the character of the malt whiskey produced at Suntory’s Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries, and to give it a smoother taste.
In 2015, the single grain whiskey “Chita” was released, consisting of grain base whiskey from the Chita distillery.

Location	478-0046, Chita, Aichi, Japan 16 Kitahama-cho, Chita City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Access
Start of operation	1973
Official HP	Suntory Chita Distillery
Visiting the distillery	Not open to the public.
Products	Single Grain Whiskey Chita

Chita Distillery’s representative whiskey .

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4-25. Kiyosu Sakura brewery

Established in 1853. The brewery is famous for its brand name “Kiyosu-jo Nobunaga Oni-koroshi”, continuing its long-standing tradition and quality-oriented attitude.
The company does not have a dedicated pot still for distilling whiskey, but uses a distillation machine used for shochu (distilled spirit).
Currently, the whiskey lineup includes only one type of blended whiskey, Craft Whiskey Kiyos, which was released in September 2019 in limited quantities (10,000 bottles), and both malt and grain base whiskeys are distilled in-house.
It is being commercialized as an addition in 2020. (Limited number unknown)

Characteristic of this product is the use of aromatic sake yeast during fermentation, a characteristic of being a sake maker. It is packed in oak barrels and aged slowly for 5 years in the brewery’s underground cellar.

Location	Kiyosu, Aichi 452-0942 1692 Kiyosu, Kiyosu-shi, Aichi, Japan
Access	5 minutes walk from Shin Kiyosu Station on the Meitetsu Line
Start of operation	Whiskey distillation started in 2014
Official HP	Kiyosyu Sakura Brewery Co.
Tours	Tour of Seishu Cherry Brewery
Products	Aichi Craft Whisky Kiyosu

Kiyosu Sakura Brewing’s representative whiskey

4-26.Aioi Unibio Co. Hekinan Distillery 

The company has a long history and began producing mirin in 1872 (Meiji 5).
In 1949, soon after the end of the war, the company began producing “Rainbow Whiskey,” a second-class whiskey (*whiskey with an admixture of at least 5% and less than 30% real whiskey).
Due to two natural disasters, the whiskey business is abandoned once.
In 2019, the company resumes its whisky business on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the start of the whisky business.
The current product lineup includes Hekiju, a Canadian-based blend of Scotch and Islay, Hekiju PEAT, TWSC 2023 Gold Award-winning single cask Ippeki, Rainbow Whiskey (alc37%), and HINOTORI, a blended Japanese whiskey sold only in France HINOTORI” is sold exclusively in France.
The photos of pot stills and other details of each equipment are shrouded in mystery, but it is said that they use their own distillation.

Gifu Prefecture

4-27.Funasaka Sake Brewery Hida Takayama Distillery

Funasaka Sake Brewery, a long-established sake brewery since the Edo period, will use the school building of Takane Elementary School in Takayama, which was closed in 2007 because the school district was submerged by a dam lake and the number of students has decreased due to depopulation.

The total project cost was 300 million yen. The project is funded by SDGs private placement bonds issued by Juroku Bank and Takayama Shinkin Bank, respectively. A portion of the issue fee will be donated to designated recipients, including Asahi Elementary School and Junior High School, where children from the Takane area attend, and Takayama City, which has signed a real estate lease agreement for the former Takane Elementary School.

The elevation of the former Takane Elementary School site, where the Hida Distillery will be built, is nearly 900 meters above sea level. With water gushing from the mountains and cool temperatures throughout the year, this is an ideal location for whiskey distilling.

Single malt whiskey will be produced using the “ZEMON” pot still developed by Wakatsuru Brewery of Toyama Prefecture, which is made of copper and tin using the manufacturing technology of a Buddhist bell. The gymnasium will be used as a distillery and the school building as a storage facility. The school building will also house a facility where visitors can learn about whiskey making.

Mr. Hiroki Arisu, president of Funasaka Sake Brewery, says, “Sake will be made in the winter and whiskey in the spring and fall, which will benefit the employment of the brewery workers,” and “Breathing new life into the old school facility and creating a facility that will lead to tourism and employment will give hope to a region suffering from depopulation.

Construction is scheduled to begin on repairs to the Takane Elementary School in late April 2022, with operations scheduled to begin in April 2023. Sales will begin after April 2026.

Location	509-3413 164-2 Shimonomukai, Takane-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Access from Takane-machi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture	Nearest station: 30 minutes by car from Kusano Station on the JR Takayama Main Line
Start of operation	Start of distillation in 2023
Official HP	Official website
Visiting the distillery	Whisky seminar scheduled to be held
Merchandise	Products

4-28. Gyokusendo Shuzo Yoro Distillery

Founded in 1806. Since its establishment in 1806, it has been a general liquor manufacturer for over 200 years, producing mainly sake, but also shochu, mirin, liqueur, and other products.
Its representative brands are Minogiku and Reisen.

The Gyokusendo Brewery is known for its ” peak whiskey. It is a “local whiskey” that dominated the market from the 1950s to 1985.

It is a blend of Scottish malt aged for eight years and whisky (malt) produced at the Gyokusendo Brewery using the clear underground water of the Yoro mountain range, known for “Yoro Falls” as the brewing water. After 10 years of aging in oak barrels, it is blended with grain whisky and aged for another 6 years to deepen its maturity.
Peak Whiskey has a capacity of 1,800 ml, and Peak Whiskey Special has a capacity of 720 ml.

Gyokusendo Brewery will release Peak Newborn 2018 in June 2019.
It resumes in-house distillation after 40 years. This limited release Newborn was distilled in October2018 using English barley malt and aged in sherry and bourbon casks for about six months. 55% alcohol by volume, 200 ml.
The single malt is already on sale.

Location	800-3 Takada, Yoro-machi, Yoro-gun, Gifu 503-1314, Japan 800-3 Takada, Yoro-machi, Yoro-gun, Gifu-ken
Access	5 minutes walk from Mino Takada Station on the Kintetsu Yoro Line
Start of operation	2018 (Whiskey distillation resumes after 40 years)
Official HP	Gyokusendo Brewery Co.
Tours	Tour of Gyokusendo Brewery
Products	Peak Newborn 2018, Peak Whiskey, Peak Whiskey Special

Typical whiskies from the Yoro Distillery .

Ishikawa Prefecture

4-29. Oriental Brewing Company Kanazawa Distillery

Established in 2016 in Kanazawa City, Oriental Brewing Co. produces craft beer and is the first company in Ishikawa Prefecture to produce whiskey.

In June 2022, the company will build a whiskey distillery attached to its own beer brewery in Higashimachi, Kanazawa. In addition to barley, local white bran produced when rice for Daiginjo is milled is used as an ingredient. The barrels used for maturation will be made of Noto Hiba (Noto Hiba) for the mirror plates. It appears that the company has already obtained a license to produce whiskey.

With the prolonged Corona disaster, the company entered the whiskey business as another pillar of its operations to complement the restaurants it operates.

In line with its corporate philosophy of “proposing uniqueness rooted in the community,” the company will use local ingredients and aims to launch the product in 2025. With the popularity of Japanese whiskey growing overseas, the company is also eyeing exports in the future.

In parallel, the company plans to produce craft gin, which, like beer and whiskey, will use local ingredients.

Location	32 Higashimachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1121, Japan
Access to the distillery	Approx. 35 min. by bus from Kanazawa Stn. on the 12 Yuwaku Line bound for Yuwaku Onsen, 15 min. on foot from the bus stop.
Start of business	August 2022
Official HP	Oriental Brewing official HP
Tour	Tour of the brewery
Merchandise	Products

4-30. Takebe Orimono Co.

Takebe Orimono, a textile business in Takebe, Nakanotomachi, Ishikawa Prefecture, started whiskey production as a new business.

The company utilized a closed junior high school (the former Tonan Junior High School). This will be the first whiskey distillery in the Noto region.

The distillery will be equipped with facilities and other equipment, and production is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2023.

Osamu Tanaka, president of Takebe Orimono, commented, “We would like to produce all-Noto whiskey matured with clear water, barley, and Noto hiba (Japanese cypress) and introduce it to the world.

The former Tounan Junior High School in Kurosaki-cho, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is located in the easternmost part of the city facing Toyama Bay, on a 6,069 square meter site with a two-story reinforced concrete building. According to the city, the middle school closed in 2009, and the building was used as a school building for the nearby aging Ariiso Elementary School until its closure in March 2018.

Location.	20 Sa, Kurosaki-cho, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa 925-1383, Japan
Access to the distillery	Approximately 30 minutes by car from Nanao Station
Start of establishment	Scheduled for the summer of 2023
Official HP	Visiting the distillery
Tour	Tour
Merchandise	Products

Mie Prefecture

4-31. ISEMAN Co. Ise Distillery

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Iseman was established in 1984 (Showa 59).
Its main product, sake “Okagesama” won Gold at the Brussels International Competition “SAKE selection” and has won three gold medals at the National New Sake Competition since 2017, and is the only brewery in Iseshima and the first craft whiskey in Iseshima.

Whiskey Jinji KAMIJI, a grain-based whiskey aged in bourbon barrels that went on sale in December 2021, was entered for the first time in the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2022, a global sake competition, and won the Gold Award in the World Whiskey category in its first year on the market, becoming a hot topic It became a topic of conversation.

Location	P.O. Box 516-0025 576-13 Akeno, Omata-cho, Ise-shi, Mie-ken
Access to the distillery	15 minutes on foot from Akeno Station on the Kintetsu Yamada Line
Start of business	1984
Official HP	Iseman
Visiting	Iseman
Products	Whiskey KAMIJI Thanks Daiginjo

Representative whisky of Iseman

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