(Images source: Sawanoi FB Page) 

#1 Sawanoi Brewery In Okutama

You’ll find the Sawanoi Brewery near Ome, the westernmost corner of Tokyo. A long-established local sake brewery, Sawanoi is said to have a history that dates back a whopping 300 years. An easy three-minute stroll from Sawai Station on the JR Ome Line, it’s the perfect place to visit if you’re on the hunt for a boozy escape in a tranquil natural setting that’s not too far from the city. The brewery hosts a number of free sake tours suitable for experts and beginners alike, with Japanese tours running four times a day (English-language pamphlets provided) and special English tours held a few times each month. There are plenty of sake sampling opportunities for a small fee as well, just contact the brewery for more info. For more info: www.sawanoi-sake.com

(Images source: Matsuoka Brewery Fb Page) 

#2 Matsuoka Brewery In Ogawamachi

The Matsuoka Brewery is a leisurely 20-minute stroll from Ogawamachi Station, about 90 minutes from Shinjuku by train. Nestled away in the northern part of Saitama Prefecture, the brewers here use pure water from the mountains of Chichibu to produce award-winning sake. Operating since 1851, just like a fine wine, their product only seems to be getting better with age. What makes Matsuoka’s style of crafting sake so special is the fact that they use the area’s "hard" mineral-rich water, sourced from pools sitting 130 meters (about 427 feet) underground. You can learn more about how this naturally filtered and purified water influences the taste by joining one of the daily tours, which features a free sake tasting at the end. For those who don’t drink, Matsuoka also produces non-alcoholic products like their popular daiginjo sake ice cream, and cosmetics made from malted rice. Bottles of their sake start at ¥813 and are also available online. For more info: www.mikadomatsu.com

(Images source: Tamajiman Fb Page)

#3 Ishikawa (Tamajiman) Brewery In Fussa

The western Tokyo neighborhood of Fussa is typically known as the home of the Yokota Air Base. But what you may not know is that it’s also home to one of Tokyo’s best sake haunts. Established in 1881, the Ishikawa Brewery has spent over 120 years perfecting the art of sake brewing. The best way to really immerse yourself in the local sake community is to sign up for the popular Ishikawa Brewery walking tour, which allows guests to explore the factory and historic buildings, while learning just how their unique Tamajiman sake is created. For those more partial to the amber ale, the brewery also makes a refreshing beer, which you can learn about and sample on site too. For more info: tamajiman.co.jp

(Content source: All About Japan) 

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