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Hirase Sake Brewery

Dedicated to sake brewing for 400 years. The oldest brewery in the region

Founded in 1623 (the 9th year of the Genna era), this is the oldest sake brewery in Gifu Prefecture. Today, the 15th-generation brewery master carefully carries on the spirit and techniques of traditional sake brewing.Its flagship brand is “Kusudama.” The brewery primarily uses “Hida Homare,” a sake rice variety grown in Gifu Prefecture, and underground spring water from the headwaters of the Miyagawa River—which is extremely soft—to brew sake during the harsh winter months when temperatures drop significantly.

Among its diverse lineup, the “Junmai Daiginjo Nama Chozoshu”—brewed to commemorate the brewery’s 400th anniversary—is particularly popular.You’ll be captivated by its floral aroma, fresh flavor, and mellow umami. The “Ultra-Dry Genshu,” fermented to its absolute limit, is characterized by a crisp, clean finish. It’s best enjoyed chilled or on the rocks.

Learn as you taste. Discover the charm of sake on a brewery tour

Inside the high-ceilinged machiya-style building, you can enjoy sake tastings for 1,000 yen per 30 minutes. With over 20 varieties available—including seasonal sake and plum wine—it’s the perfect spot for anyone looking to find their favorite bottle.

The brewery tours, available by reservation and open to groups of one or more, are also very popular.This approximately 30-minute experience takes place in the brewery’s warehouse, lined with large tanks, where you can deepen your understanding of Takayama’s climate and sake-making. During the tasting portion of the tour, you’ll learn about the ingredients and brewing methods while sampling the sake, allowing you to better appreciate its unique character. Same-day reservations are available if space permits.

Local Guide
Supporters

This is Takayama’s largest sake brewery, with three traditional earthen warehouses lined up at the back of the shop. The cups featuring illustrations of “Sarubobo”—traditional folk toys from the Hida region—are charming and make great souvenirs.

Hirase Sake Brewery

• 82 Kamiichino-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• About a 15-minute walk from JR Takayama Station
• 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Last admission for tastings at 4:00 p.m.)
• Year-end and New Year's holidays
• 0577-34-0010
• Free of charge
• Reservations for brewery tours are required via the Happy Plus Co., Ltd. website

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Harada Sake Brewery

Brewing sake with a light, delicious flavor using the natural yeast “Hana-koji”

Founded in the late Edo period (1800s), this long-established brewery has continued to preserve the art of sake brewing using the Hida-style “seigou kanzo” (winter brewing) method for ten generations. Upon entering the charming building nestled in the “Old Town” district, you’ll be greeted by a large cedar ball. The brewery’s flagship brand is “Sansha,” named after the magnificent festival floats of the Takayama Festival. The lineup includes over 10 varieties, including seasonal limited-edition offerings.

“Karakuchi,” which emphasizes a clear, umami-rich flavor, is a long-standing bestseller that has been loved for over 30 years. It is a familiar choice at traditional restaurants and izakayas throughout Hida Takayama.“Junmai Ginjo Hana-Kobo-Zukuri Abelia no Hana” uses floral yeast cultivated from the nectar of Abelia flowers. It features a vibrant, fruity aroma and a sweet, apple-like tartness, leading to a crisp, clean finish.

Savor authentic sake-inspired sweets at the irori-heated rest area

Our brewery is also known for its extensive selection of sake-based desserts. The “Daiginjo Soft Serve” features a rich soft serve made with sake lees, with the mellow aroma of daiginjo gently wafting through the air. For drivers or those who don’t drink alcohol, we recommend the flavorful “Amazake Soft Serve.” Both are topped with “Sarubobo” ramune, a mark of their “Brewery-Exclusive” status.

There’s also a wide array of other sweets you’ll want to take home as souvenirs, including “Local Sake Pudding,” “Unblended Sake Jelly,” cube cakes soaked in “Karakuchi,” and karintō. It’s also a delight to take a relaxing break in the store’s irori (traditional hearth) area.

Local Guide
Supporters

Tastings are also available here; if you purchase a sake cup for 500 yen, you can sample about 10 different types of sake, one cup each. “Aberia no Hana” and “Raigin” are also served at Hoshino Resorts KAI Okuhida.

Harada Sake Brewery

• 10 Kami-Sannomachi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 13 min. walk from JR Takayama Station
• 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; December–March: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Open daily (Closed twice a year on unspecified dates)
• 0577-32-0120
• None

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Hirata Sake Brewery

Check out this smooth-tasting sake, infused with the energy of a meteorite

Tracing its roots back to a merchant family that sold hair oil and candles during the Edo period, the brewery was founded as a sake brewery in the Meiji era. As one of the few breweries in Japan that produces small batches, it continues to craft sake with meticulous care, focusing on traditional, handmade methods.

Since the current owner has ties to Ise, the brewery produces sake not only from “Hidahomare” and “Yamada Nishiki” but also from “Ise Hikari”—a rice variety native to the Ise region that is hailed as a “miracle rice.”Their clear junmai daiginjo is highly regarded; it is brewed using mineral-rich, pure local soft water and gently pressed using a traditional press.

The brewery’s signature sakes are “Shoryu no Mai” and “Hida no Hana,” in which the head brewer (toji) has infused tradition with a fresh new spirit.Furthermore, on the day of the new moon in early summer 2026, the Yamahai-style Junmai Ginjo “Meteor” will go on sale. This one-of-a-kind sake is brewed using yeast activated by the vibrations emanating from a meteorite. Please savor it while letting your thoughts wander to the cosmos.

Sample the sake and liqueurs that catch your eye using the coin-operated dispenser

The shop features coin-operated dispensers where you can enjoy tastings. In addition to 12 varieties of sake, the selection includes 5 types of liqueurs and limited-edition unpasteurized sake.

The shop also places a strong emphasis on liqueurs; popular choices include “Hassaku Liqueur,” “Chunky Mandarin Liqueur,” and “Berobero Lemon,” all sourced from Wakayama—the head brewer’s hometown—and packed with fruit juice. They offer a rich, refreshing flavor that feels just like drinking the fruit itself.

Local Guide
Supporters

It’s a sake brewery where chatting with the staff is part of the fun. “Shoryu no Mai,” brewed from Ise Hikari rice polished down to 30%, has an elegant rice aroma and a crisp, fruity flavor. They also offer guided brewery tours that include a sake tasting experience.

Hirata Sake Brewery

• 60 Kami-Nino-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• About a 10-minute walk from JR Takayama Station
• 9:30-16:30
• Closed on weekends and holidays
• 0577-32-0352
• None
• Click here for details and reservations for the sake brewery tour

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Funasaka Sake Brewery

A sake theme park featuring traditional premium sakes and Hida Takayama souvenirs

The spacious store spans the historic “Old Town” district, spanning Kami-Ninomachi and Kami-Sannomachi. Founded in the late Edo period, this sake brewery has a history spanning over 200 years.Step inside, and you’ll find yourself in what feels like a sake theme park. In addition to sake brewed using traditional techniques refined over generations, the space is packed with Hida Takayama souvenirs, including folk crafts and food items. In the back, there’s a Restaurant where you can savor Hida beef and sake, as well as a courtyard where you can take a break while gazing at the brewery. It’s a space where you can enjoy shopping, tastings, and dining all in one place.

The flagship brand is “Daiginjo Yotsuboshi,” which offers a gorgeous aroma and a smooth finish. Other popular selections include “Toji no Utage,” a brewery-exclusive sake brimming with richness and umami, and “Daiginjo Miyama-giku,” brewed using the exceptional techniques passed down from successive generations of master brewers.

“Ochoko Gacha” is also a fun attraction at Nombē Yokocho

Be sure to stop by “Nombē Yokocho,” located in one corner of the store. With about 15 coin-operated dispensers, you can easily sample and compare various brands. Seasonal favorites include freshly pressed unpasteurized sake, “hiyaoroshi,” and Japanese liqueurs like “Yuzu-hyōe,” which features the rich aroma of domestic yuzu.

Once you’ve purchased the special coins, start by inserting one into the “Ochoko Gacha.” Enjoy tasting the sake from the random ochoko (sake cup) that comes out of the seven available types. You can take the ochoko home in a bag, making for a lovely souvenir of your trip.

Local Guide
Supporters

The tasting area even has a space where you can dip your sake cup in hot water to make hot sake. You can enjoy sake suited for hot serving at your preferred temperature. Be sure to pick up some of the brewery’s original cosmetics as souvenirs. The face masks and moisturizing gels infused with “Miyama Kiku” are perfect for yourself or as gifts.

Funasa Sake Brewery

• 105 Kami-Sannomachi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 13 min. walk from JR Takayama Station
• 8:30-18:00
• Closed on weekends and holidays
• 0577-32-0016
• None

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Hida Craft

Crafting liqueurs that celebrate the essence of fruit and pursue the ultimate in flavor

From Hida Takayama to the world—we want to create liqueurs that highlight the deliciousness of fruit. Driven by this passion, we launched our small liqueur distillery in 2022. Rather than prioritizing sales or efficiency, we carefully select high-quality domestic fruits—even the peels are safe to eat—to pursue flavors that will delight our customers. Lemons from Hiroshima, yuzu from Kochi, and navel and blood oranges as well as bergamot from Chita. As soon as seasonal fruit arrives, we peel it by hand, squeeze the juice, and blend it with water that springs from the Tannaka Highlands in Hida.

Made using traditional Italian methods that involve macerating the peel to draw out the aroma, our Limoncello, Yuzu-cello, Bankan-cello, and Orange-cello are exquisite creations bursting with the rich fragrance of the fruit and a fresh tartness.

A juicy lemon liqueur recognized worldwide

The production facility is located on the second floor of the Hida Takayama Shishi Kaikan, near Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine. The first-floor shop is lined with stylishly designed liqueur bottles that you’ll find yourself wanting to pick up. A must-try is “LEMONIQ,” a lemon liqueur that has earned international acclaim—including a gold medal at the IWSC, one of the world’s three major competitions. Made without artificial flavors or colors, and with its alcohol content adjusted using lemon juice rather than water, it offers a rich and pure taste.

In addition, we offer a selection of non-alcoholic craft carbonated beverages, such as “Hida Cola,” which has a mild, smooth taste and a hint of the Hida medicinal herb kuromoji, and “Lemon Trap.”
*As of May 2026, the Hida Takayama Shishi Kaikan is currently closed.

Local Guide
Supporters

“LEMONIQ” will make your heart race with the aroma that bursts forth the moment you open the bottle. Enjoy it chilled and straight for a refreshing, crisp taste. Mix it with sparkling water to create a luxurious lemon sour. Since the shop may be closed during production, it’s best to call ahead to confirm before visiting.

Hida Craft

• 53-1 Sakura-machi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 20-minute walk from JR Takayama Station
• 10:00-16:00
• Closed on weekends and holidays
• 0577-33-0018 (Head Office, Morigawara Store)
• Free of charge
• Also available at liquor stores in Takayama City. It’s best to call ahead to confirm business hours.