Tradition and Taste
Discover the secrets of Yukawa Sake Brewery and the timeless charm of Kiso Village.
Nestled in the mountainous southern area of Nagano Prefecture, Kiso Village stands as a testament to Japan’s rich cultural heritage.
The area is home to traditional crafts, rich local cuisine and Yukawa Sake Brewery, a family-run establishment that has been brewing sake using sustainable and traditional Japanese techniques since its founding in 1650. For the first time in its 370-year history, Yugawa is opening its doors and offering exclusive private tours, inviting visitors to step inside the brewery’s historic walls and experience the artistry of sake making firsthand.
Naoko Yugawa, the 16th-generation owner, leads the tours alongside her husband, who is also the toji (master brewer). The three-day, two-night experience goes beyond a simple facility visit. Guests gain an in-depth understanding of the traditional brewing techniques behind Yugawa’s award-winning sake, along with a cultural immersion in Kiso Village that transports them to the timeless charm of old Japan.
Sake Brewing Up Close
Yukawa Brewery’s unique location makes their sake brewing process stand out as an unconventional. At 936 meters above sea level, the brewery benefits from colder temperatures and natural geographic features for each step of the process, from steaming the rice to bottling the final product. Relying on the natural environment to maintain ideal temperatures for the various stages of sake brewing—steaming, fermentation and maturation—helps preserve both traditional practices and the environment.
“Kiso Village is a small community, and Yukawa Brewery is a small business,” says Yugawa. “People take a lot of pride in local sake brewing. By sharing our brewery and our village through this tour, we hope visitors will understand not only the complexity of sake brewing, but also its cultural significance.”
Exploring Kiso Village
The tour extends beyond the brewery, giving visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the local charm and history. Accommodations are provided at a traditional ryokan, and English tour guides and a private car are guaranteed. Guided hikes offer a chance to explore Mount Ontake, a sacred volcano with centuries of spiritual significance, as well as portions of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route connecting Kyoto and Edo (now Tokyo).
At Yukawa’s recently renovated storefront, housed in a 150-year-old building, guests can taste San Mizuki, Yukawa Brewery’s signature sake made exclusively from locally sourced ingredients, including rice grown in Kiso Village. This unique brew is unavailable outside the village, making for a once-in-a-lifetime tasting.
Last year, Yukawa Brewery was recognized at the prestigious International Wine Challenge, and since then, the amount of sake they export has grown substantially. But Yugawa is adamant that her focus is on preservation rather than expansion. “We want to continue brewing great sake, and to contribute to a sustainable and prosperous community here in Kiso Village,” she says. “We’re not worried about keeping up with changing times because our desire to produce delicious sake is never going to change.”
For anyone looking to experience the essence of traditional Japan, Yukawa Brewery and Kiso Village offer an unforgettable journey into craftsmanship and heritage.
For more information:
yukawabrewery.com/tourism
January 2025
