Sakagura street is one of the most famous places in Hiroshima for sake. There are 7 sake breweries near Saijo Station.*
Around A.D. 1900, the way of brewing Sake was invented. At that time, Saijo’s water was soft and considered not suitable for sake brewing, but Saijo was fortunate to have the perfect climate and groundwater for the preparation of Sake in the winter because of its high altitude therefore, Saijo became a major brewing town and was called “Saijo, the capital of Sake” .
*The place name “Saijo” also exists in Ehime Prefecture. When you search, please note that it is Saijo in Hiroshima Prefecture.
You can eat sweets like gelato, fruit cake and macarons that uses sake as an ingredient.
Attraction
Sake breweries
KAMOTSURU (賀茂鶴酒造)
KAMOTSURU is a brewery representative of Hiroshima Prefecture. It has won various awards in Japan and abroad, and President Obama once drank it when he visited Japan. At KAMOTSURU, you can enjoy the visitors room and shop.
Opening hours
9:00-18:00 (Weekday, Last admission is 17:45)
10:00-18:00 (Weekend, Last admission is 17:45)
Admission : free
Regular holiday : Summer Holidays, New Year Holidays, or temporarily closed
At the restaurant “Furansuya” near the brewery, you can enjoy a delicious Japanese stew made with sake.
HAKUBOTAN (白牡丹酒造)
HAKUBOTAN is one of the oldest breweries in Saijo, boasting a history of over 300 years. Sweet taste Japanese sake is made here. At HAKUBOTAN, you can enjoy the visitors room and shop.
SHOP’s Opening hours
9:30-16:00 (Weekday)
10:30-16:00 (Weekend)
Admission : free
Regular holiday : 2nd and 4th Saturdays from April to October, national holidays
VISITORS ROOM’s Opening hours
10:30-16:00 (Weekend)
Admission : free
Regular holiday : 2nd and 4th Saturdays from April to October, national holidays
SANYOTSURU (山陽鶴酒造)
SANYOTSURU makes sake that blends together the original “sweet, sour and bitter（甘酸辛苦渋）” flavors that go down smoothly. At the shop sells all kinds of sake and goods. There is an original capsule toy machine, and the red ochoko (sake cups) is popular.
Opening hours
9:00-17:00
Admission : free
Regular holiday : Saturdays, national holidays
KAMOIZUMI (賀茂泉酒造)
KAMOIZUMI makes sake that is made exclusively from rice and koji malt. Kamoizumi’s sake has a rich flavor and the bright golden color. At KAMOIZUMI, you can enjoy the sake cafe and shop.
Opening hours
10:00-17:00
Admission : free
Regular holiday : Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays
SAIJOTSURU (西條鶴醸造)
SAIJOTSURU was built in the late Meiji period and is a three-story wooden structure, which is rare today. The warehouse and the main building, which have been used since the establishment of the company, were designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 2016. The shop sells limited edition sake from the brewery, ginjo-type-sake flavored gelato, and other products.
Opening hours
11:00-16:00 (Weekday)
11:00-17:00 (Weekend)
Admission : free
KIREI (亀齢酒造)
KIREI makes sake that is characterized by its dry flavor, and was awarded Japan’s honorary prize in 1917. The “Manenki-ya” shop sells limited edition sake from the brewery as well as original goods made with sake, such as bean confections using sake lees, Kouka-cho udon noodles, and Sppin Kirei soap.
Opening hours
9:00-16:00 (Weekday)
10:30-16:00 (Weekend)
Admission : free
FUKUBIJIN (福美人酒造)
FUKUBIJIN makes sake that is characterized by its fruity and dry flavor. The direct sales shop “Ebisugura” is marked by a red brick chimney and is a popular photo spot.
Opening hours
9:30-16:00 (Weekday)
10:00-16:00 (Weekend)
Admission : free
Spring water
All sake breweries have places where you can actually drink the spring water that is the raw material for sake. The spring water is free, and you can drink it in a cup or put it in a container and take it home with you. However, it may be closed depending on the season and time of day.
Shopping
In addition to shopping at each sake breweries, MIKEcacao sells chocolates made with Saijo sake.
Event
In Saijo, the Johkamachi(醸華町) Spring Festival is held in March, and the Sake Festival is held in October. The sake festival is a famous festival where you can drink sake from all over Japan.
Access
You can access Sakagura street on foot from Saijo Station. It takes 40 minutes by JR from Hiroshima Station to Saijo Station.
My recommendation when visiting Sakagura-dori is to go to the tourist information center first and receive a free English guide map.
tourist information center Opening hours
10:00-16:00
Regular holiday : 1st and 3rd Wednesday
Summary
At Sakagura street, you can enjoy Japanese sake breweries and its townscape. The sake breweries are all near Saijo Station, so you can enjoy them all on foot. Many breweries also offer tastings, so you can buy your favorite sake as a souvenir.
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