Sake breweries in Tochigi and more!

Near Tokyo are wonderful sake breweries and cool sightseeing spots yet to be discovered!

Now that tourism is back and more people are coming to Tokyo, I want to recommend overseas travelers some places to visit near Tokyo.

We traveled to Tochigi, Utsunomiya, and Nikko on a 1 night 2 day trip with friends in August. I’d like to share my experience so that people who love sake as much as me can follow the same itinerary.

From Tokyo, we arrived at Tochigi Station at 9:20 am. It has an old town Kura-no-machi and you can take a boat ride and enjoy the atmosphere of the old Kura buildings.

Boat ride you can enjoy along the old Kura town near Tochigi Station . Photo by Author.

Tochigi has a once a year Dashi float festival in summer but this year they are holding it Nov 11–13. http://www10.plala.or.jp/VAIO/hanabi/totigi/2022tochigi_aki.html Photo by Author.

If you want to visit Tochigi, there is a good article about Tochigi on Nearby Tokyo website.

For anyone who loves kilns and ceramics, Mashiko is a place you want to visit.

Tonoike sake brewery is located within walking distance from Mashiko Station. It is a beautiful brewery with a fantastic sake-tasting experience. They have a museum where you can use a QR code to lisen to explanation in English.

Good times at Tonoike Sake brewery with the president of the brewery on the right (Shig san) Photo by Author.

The Mashiko kilns are not within walking distance but are easy to reach by car or taxi. There you can purchase beautiful Mashiko ceramics or if you have time, you can make your own.

I have been to Tonoike sake brewery several times and it is one of my favorite breweries. Even kids might enjoy visiting together with their parents. Nearby Tokyo has a good write up about travelling to Mashiko.

Mashiko sake cups — you can taste sake from these cups too. Photo by Author.

After visiting Tonoike sake brewery, we stayed near Utsunomiya station, leaving at 8 am the next morning to see Heiwa Kannon, Oya Kannon (Ooyaji temple), and Oya History Museum.

Very huge Heiwa Kannon statue that was built staring in 1948 for 6 years to pray for the victims of the Pacific War (WWII). Photo by Author.

Ooyaji temple — between Oya rocks — has an interesting theory that it was built around 810 AD by Kobo Daishi. Photo by Author

Oya History Museum is like a huge labyrinth. I want to go back with my family! It had a nice natural cooling effect during the heat of August.

Inside Oya History Museum. Photo by Author.

At 1:30 pm, we visited Watanabe Sahei shuzo, a sake brewery established in 1842.

Entrance of Watanabe sahei sake brewery. Photo by Author.

I wrote more about the visit to Watanabe Sahei in my sake media sakegeek.com so please check it out.

After the tour and the tasting, we visited Katayama Shuzo (established in 1879) in Nikko at 3 pm.

Katayama-san, the president and toji of Katayama sake brewery. Photo by Author.

I wrote more about the Katayama sake brewery visit in my sake media blog in sakegeek.com — if you want to read more.

Although due to Covid, they had stopped sake tastings, they were kind enough to let our group taste their sake.

For those who want to hire a guide, you can contact Sake Voyage, check out the content in Nearby Tokyo, or visit them yourself.

Or if you want to hire me as your special guide, I would be happy to accompany you there. I am always in for some good sake. Kanpai!

Delicious sake from Tonoike sake brewery. Photo by Author.