Please find the list of Sake breweries in Aomori, the North end of Honshu island(main island) in Japan.

Characteristics of Sake from Aomori Prefecture

  Blessed with rich beautiful nature and traditional cultures, Aomori Prefecture is advantaged to access high-quality rice, pure water, and cold climate, which makes it proudly a famous Sake production site. World-Heritage-designated Shirakami Mountains and other nearby mountains provide high-quality underground water and rice which are turned into premium products thanks to the dedicated artisan work of Nambu-toji and Tsugaru-toji. Why don’t you try Sake from Aomori to feel the rich nature and artisan’s work packed inside the bottle? 

13. Hachinohe Shurui Co., Ltd Hachitsuru Site (八戸酒類株式会社 八鶴工場)

青森の地酒 八鶴・如空｜八戸酒類株式会社 (hachinohe-syurui.com)

Hachinohe Shurui Co.,Ltd. / 八戸酒類株式会社　八鶴工場 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)

About the brewery:

 Hachitsuru (八鶴) has a long history: It was started by Hachiuemon Hashimoto in 1786, approximately 230 years ago, when he purchased a Sake brewery.

In the Taisho Period, Kamajiro Eda, an imperial engineer of the ministry of finance, was invited to provide instructions on the Sake production at Hachitsuru, which led to the improvement of fermentation technics. The high level of fermentation technic was proven by records of competition results.

Hachinohe Domain was governed by the Nambu family in the Edo Period. Its brand Hachitsuru was named from the family mark of the Nambu family, facing cranes (鶴, tsuru), and from its location name Hachinohe (八戸).

Representative brand : Hachitsuru (八鶴)

 Hachitsuru is delicious Sake of Hachinohe that is produced by means of artisans’ five senses. The 10^th kyokai-kobo is said to be generated at the Hachitsuru brewery. Its Sake is produced from clear natural water and the high-quality rice of Tsugaru and Nambu regions using the traditionally inherited Nambu-region craftsmanship and five senses to deliver the handmade quality.

Access and brewery visit information:

• 5 minute walk from Mikkamachi Bus Stop
• Brewery visit is available. 500 yen for a guided tour, and free for non-guided tour. Prior reservation is required.

14. Hatomasamune Co., Ltd (鳩正宗株式会社)

鳩正宗株式会社 | 八甲田・奥入瀬の伏流水から生まれた十和田の美酒 (hatomasa.jp)

Hatomasamune Co.,Ltd. / 鳩正宗株式会社 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)

About the brewery:

 In 1899, the brewery started the production of Sake called Inaoi-masamune which was named after Inaoi River running in the region. In 1920s-1930s, one lost pigeon came into the brewery and stopped at the home shrine inside the brewery. The brewers tried to displace the pigeon, but it came back to the home shrine and became settled down. As pigeons are considered to be the symbol of peace, the pigeon came to be worshipped as a protector of the brewery. After the pigeon was dead, the brewery decided to build a shrine box to worship the pigeon. Taking the meaning of pigeon (鳩, hato), the brand was named as Hatomasamune.

Representative brand : Hatomasamune (鳩正宗)

 Hatomasamune had been produced by Nambu Toji over the generations, however it moved to the next step in 2004. Now the production technics are descended by the people of Towada to start a new brewing. Important traditional essence from Hatomasamune is taken in to be mixed with new thoughts to become a new Hatomasamune. Both artisan’s senses and numerical data are used to perform Sake production, which enables a reproducible flavours.

Access and brewery visit information:

• 1minute walk from Jyuttetsu-sambongi Eigyosho
• Brewery visit is not available

15. Marutake Brewing Co., Ltd. (丸竹酒造店)

No website is available

Marutake Brewing Co.,Ltd. / 株式会社丸竹酒造店 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)

About the brewery:

 The brewery was founded in Kuniyoshi (国吉), in 1686 as a designated merchant and village head for the Domain at the time of the 4^th generation General of the Tsugaru Domain, Nobumasa Tsugaru. It has lasted for 14 generations by present. Surrounded by mountains, it enjoys abundant natural resources: it has Iwaki Mountains on the right, and Shirakami Mountains in the centre, water of Iwaki River which comes from Shirakami Mountains. Produced in the rich nature, the brewery features Shirakami Roman-no-utage (Junmai-ginjo) and Dairin Kikumori Genshu (大輪菊盛原酒) Honjozo-shu.

Representative brand : Shirakami Roman-no-utage (白神ロマンの宴）

 Shirakami Roman-no-utage is produced from the Aomori-grown Hanafubuki Sake rice and underground water from the Shirakami Mountains. The brewery uses low-temperature fermentation method and sole pasteurization to maximize umami of rice and fresh fruity taste and flavours.

Access and brewery visit information:

• 1 minute walk from Kuniyoshi Bus Stop
• Availability of brewery visit is unknown

16. Miura Brewing Co., Ltd (三浦酒造株式会社)

三浦酒造 | 豊盃　ほうはい (houhai.co.jp)

Miura Brewing Co., Ltd. / 三浦酒造株式会社 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)

About the brewery:

 The brewery was founded in 1930 and transformed itself into a company in 2007. It is a small-scale family-run brewery which produces no less than 500 Koku, approximately 90k litters per year. Its Sake is produced using the underwater from the Iwaki Mountains and Akakura Mountains, and high-quality Sake rice which are provided by contracted producers. The brewery focuses on the dedicated craftmanship by using ingredients grown by highly trustable producers.

Representative brand : Hohai (豊盃)

 The brand name Hohai was named after the humourous and victorious “Hohai” rhythm sung in the battlefield to inspire the ambitions of soldiers. The Sake is carefully produced from Hohai rice which is the Sake rice exclusively produced for the Miura Sake Brewing, otherwise Sake rice unique to Aomori Prefecture such as Hana-fubuki and Hana-omoi.

Access and brewery visit information:

• 5 minute walk from Hamanomachi 2-chome Bus Stop
• Availability of brewery visit is unknown

17. Momokawa Brewing Inc., (桃川株式会社)

桃川株式会社 | 南部杜氏自醸清酒鑑評会　全国唯一 連続72回受賞 (momokawa.co.jp)

Momokawa Brewing Inc. / 桃川株式会社 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)

About the brewery:

  The brewery was founded in the Edo Period. Its Sake production was started in earnest in 1889. The brewery used water from the Momoishi River (百石川) which is a local name for the Oirase River (奥入瀬川). This is why the brewery was named as Momokawa (桃川). Since its foundation, the brewery is determined to place its priority to the quality.

Representative brand : Momokawa (桃川)

 Momokawa is the Sake that features elegant and rich scents with mild touch. Umami of rice and rich scents spread inside the mouth just with a sip. The Sake was loved by a painter of Japanese paintings, Misa Kosugi. She fell in love with Momokawa and highly evaluated its quality.

Access and brewery visit information:

• 2 minute-walk from Momoishi-chuo Bus Stop
• Brewery visit is currently suspended

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