1
Yachiya Sake Brewery

A prestigious, long-established brewery that has been crafting sake for the lords of the Kaga Domain for over 430 years.

This sake brewery has a history of over 430 years, beginning in 1583 (Tensho 11) when they moved from Owari to Kanazawa to brew sake for Toshiie Maeda. In 1628 (Kanei 5), they received the brand name "Kagatsuru" from the third feudal lord, which combined their trade name "Yachiya" (then Taniuchiya) with the auspicious crane from the region's name, "Kaga".
Their most popular product is the special junmai sake "Maeda Toshiie-ko", named after the founder of the Kaga Domain. With a 60% rice polishing ratio that leaves a gentle lingering aroma of rice, it is a sake suitable for meals that can be enjoyed either chilled or warmed.

Tour the earthen-walled sake brewery built over 250 years ago.

The rice used for brewing is high-quality "Gohyakumangoku" and "Ishikawamon" grown by 15 local contract farmers in the mountains where there is a significant temperature difference between day and night. The water used is clear underflow water from the Mt. Iozen system, and the sake is brewed by Noto Toji (master brewers) and Kurabito (brewery workers) who come from Noto.
Behind the main building, which is designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, lie brewing storehouses built 250 years ago that stand like a maze. If you sign up for a "Sake Brewery Tour", you can see the interior while receiving an explanation of the manufacturing process from the brewery staff, and also enjoy sake tasting.

Yachiya Sake Brewery

• 8-32 Ohi-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
• 10 minutes by taxi from JR Kanazawa Station
• Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 10:00–12:00, 13:00–16:00
  Tue, Thu 13:00–16:00
• Sundays and holidays
• Brewery tour 1,500 yen (discount available when purchasing sake at the shop)
• 076-252-7077
• Free
• Sake brewery tours are held twice a day at 13:30 and 15:00 (40 minutes each). Advance reservation by phone during business hours is required.

2
Kano Sake Brewery

A lineup of 11 varieties of sake, featuring rich yamahai-style brews.

Located about an 8-minute drive east of Kagaonsen Station, this sake brewery is situated in a rural area with distant views of the sacred Mount Hakusan. Founded in 1819 (the second year of the Bunsei era), the brewery is now under the leadership of its seventh-generation owner. Their signature sake, "Jokigen," is frequently seen in liquor stores and restaurants across the Hokuriku region, including Kanazawa, and is popular for its ability to enhance the flavor of seafood. Among their wide variety of offerings, the "Jo" and "Tsune" Daiginjo sakes are hidden gems sold exclusively at the brewery and select retailers. "Jo," made using the Yamahai method, is aged at low temperatures for five years after bottling, resulting in a rich, concentrated flavor. "Tsune," made using the Sokujo method, offers a crisp, refreshing finish bursting with fruity notes.

The lifeblood of their mellow sake brewing is the pure well water that gushes forth endlessly.

The name "Jokigen" originates from a poem recited by the fourth-generation owner at a harvest celebration: "Yaegiku ya, sake mo hodoyoshi, jokigen" (The double-flowered chrysanthemums are beautiful, the sake is just right, and the mood is always cheerful).
The brewery has long cherished and used the water from the "Hakusui Well," which has been bubbling up near the brewery for generations. This soft, smooth water flowing from Mount Hakusan is essential for crafting their flavorful sake. They are committed to using locally grown "Yamada Nishiki" rice, which they even cultivate themselves.

Kano Sake Brewery

• I-6 Yokaichi-machi, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Kagaonsen Station
• 8:00–12:00, 13:00–17:00
• Sundays and public holidays
• 0761-74-1551
• Free

3
Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute

Fine sake brewed with the soul of one of Japan's greatest master brewers.

Master brewer Naohiko Noguchi is often referred to as the "God of Sake." He began his training at the age of 16 and has a long career as a master brewer at companies such as Kikuhime and Kano Shuzo. In 2006, he was recognized as a "Contemporary Master Craftsman" by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
This modern research facility was established in Komatsu City in 2017 to welcome Mr. Noguchi as master brewer and pass on the art of sake brewing to future generations. In the sales area at the building's entrance, you can purchase their fruity and crisp Honjozo, Junmai sake made with rice grown by farmers near the brewery, the Yamahai-brewed "YAMAHAI" series, and their "Daiginjo," whose delicate flavor is often compared to a work of art.

Discover the new appeal of sake at the tasting space, 'Toan'.

"Toan" is a room featuring a counter the same size as a four-and-a-half-mat tea room, created in honor of Komatsu City's connection to the Urasenke school of tea ceremony. Here, you can experience a sake tasting course by reservation only. In this dignified space, you can enjoy comparing sake crafted with the utmost dedication by Mr. Noguchi while snacking on locally produced fermented foods. If you are lucky, you might even meet Master Brewer Noguchi here.
You can also enter the gallery, where you can see exhibits that offer a glimpse into Master Brewer Noguchi's philosophy of sake brewing, and view the interior of the sake brewery, which is equipped with the latest facilities, through glass.

▶Click here for a detailed article on the "Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute".

Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute

• Wa-1-1 Kannondo-machi, Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 30 minutes by car from JR Komatsu Station
• 10:00–16:00
• Year-end and New Year holidays, Obon, and Wednesdays for Toan
• Sake pairing from 5,500 yen; a non-alcoholic course for drivers is also available for 2,000 yen
• Free
• Tasting course 3 times a day at 11:00/13:00/15:00, capacity 8 people. Reservation required (book via website)

4
Fukumitsuya

A junmai brewery dedicated to "junmai-zukuri," which expresses the true flavor of sake.

A sake brewery in Kanazawa City founded in 1625 (Kanei 2). Above all else, they value the power of nature, including water, rice, and the microorganisms that brew the sake. The water is clear underflow water from the sacred Mt. Hakusan, which springs from 150 meters directly below the brewery. For sake rice, they contract farmers in Hyogo Prefecture to grow "Yamada Nishiki" and "Fukunohana," and contract farmers in Nagano Prefecture to grow "Kinmon Nishiki." All sake is brewed using the Junmai method, achieving a "delicious and light" sake that fully utilizes the umami of the rice.
"Kagatobi," which was born in 1992, is named after the daimyo firefighters of the Edo period. It is a sake characterized by its dry taste and crisp finish.

A wide range of experience courses, including brewery tours and tastings of premium sake.

From November to March, they hold a "Brewery Tour Course" where you can walk through the brewery to see the actual Junmai brewing process up close and enjoy tastings. You can also learn about the history and dedication of the sake brewery. In addition, the "Premium Sake Tasting Course," which includes watching a video on sake brewing and tasting rare, long-aged sake released from the brewery in limited quantities, is available year-round. You can easily compare popular brands and enjoy the experience according to your preferences and travel plans.

Fukumitsuya

• 2-8-3 Ishibiki, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 20 min. by Hokutetsu Bus bound for Tobu Shako from JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, get off at "Kodatsuno" and walk approx. 1 min.
• 10:00–18:00
• Open every day, closed during New Year holidays
• Brewery Course: 3,300 yen (Held only on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays from November to March *excluding holidays)
  Premium Sake Tasting Course: 3,300 yen (Held daily; the number of sessions varies by season)
• 076-223-1161 (Weekdays) 076-223-1117 (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
• Free
• Please check the website for details on the experience.

5
Shata Shuzo

A golden-colored sake that pairs perfectly with the flavors of the Hokuriku region, brewed with painstaking care by skilled craftsmen.

The sake brewery stands amidst rice fields overlooking Mount Hakusan. Founded in 1823 (the 6th year of the Bunsei era), the current owner is the eighth generation. Even today, at the end of autumn, kurabito (brewery workers) come from Noto to practice the Noto style of sake brewing. The foundation is the Yamahai-jikomi method of the "Tengumai" style, established in the 1970s by the legendary master brewer Saburo Naka, who was known as one of the four heavenly kings of Noto Toji. By using koji with strong enzymatic power and brewing with a Yamahai-moto starter nurtured over time, then allowing it to age slowly, the resulting sake glows with a golden hue. The "Yamahai-jikomi Junmai-shu" primarily uses "Gohyakumangoku" rice grown by farmers around the brewery.

A brewery blessed with mineral-rich water suitable for sake brewing.

The water used for brewing is drawn from deep underground veins of underflow water from Mount Hakusan. It contains almost no iron and has the perfect mineral content for sake brewing.
Opened on the premises in April 2023,"Tengumai SAKE SHOP mau." isa store designed for "Tengumai"and is a place to convey the charm of Tengumai in its best possible state (or "mau," meaning to dance).From rare, brewery-exclusive "Tengumai" to standard Junmai-shu, seasonal sake, as well as homemade amazake, snacks, and yuzu soft-serve ice cream, we offer a lineup that can be enjoyed by everyone from sake enthusiasts to beginners.

Shata Shuzo

• 60-1 Bomaru-machi, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10 min. by car from JR Matto Station
• 10:00–16:00
• Sunday
• 076-275-1165
• Free

6
Yoshida Sake Brewery

Sake with a gentle flavor, brewed using local rice and the power of nature.

A sake brewery that uses rice grown in Ishikawa Prefecture, underflow water from Mount Hakusan, and their own cultured "Kanazawa yeast" to craft sake using the Yamahai method, a specialty of Noto Toji (master brewers). They develop two brands: "Tedorigawa" and "Yoshidagura u".

Since its founding in 1870 (Meiji 3), "Tedorigawa" has been loved by locals for its crisp, refreshing taste that enhances the flavor of any meal. On the other hand, "Yoshidagura u," which launched in 2021, is a sake with an alcohol content of 12% or less, crafted using a unique "Modern Yamahai" method, and is characterized by a well-balanced sweetness and acidity. It is a natural, gentle sake that contains no additives, even those not required to be listed on the label. It is a flavor you will want to enjoy in a wine glass.

Practicing sustainable sake brewing to connect with the future.

The theme set by the current seventh-generation brewery owner is "sustainable sake brewing for the future." They have switched all electricity used in sake brewing to renewable energy and have also begun "solar sharing" by installing vertical solar panels in their own fields, allowing them to grow both electricity and sake rice simultaneously. They are focusing their efforts on creating systems that coexist with the environment.

They also practice sake brewing that values local connections, actively using native rice varieties like "Kinchaku" and Ishikawa-exclusive sake rice such as "Ishikawamon" and "Hyakumangoku no Shiro." Their approach to sake brewing, which looks toward the future while protecting tradition, is supported by many fans.

Local
Supporter

The store offers about 20 types of sake, including seasonal limited editions, and you can purchase them while hearing detailed explanations for each. You might even come across sake that is sold exclusively at the store.

Yoshida Sake Brewery

• 41 Ankichimachi, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10 min. by car from JR Matto Station
• 8:15–17:00
• Open every day *Irregular holidays may apply
• 076-276-3311
• Free

7
Kikuhime

A premium sake manufacturer that continues to brew flavorful aged sake.

Along the Tsurugi Kaido road, which has bustled since ancient times with pilgrims visiting the Shirayama Hime Shrine, the main shrine of the sacred Mount Hakusan, lies a brewery with a fine, traditional atmosphere. It is a highly acclaimed brewery that has won a total of 24 gold awards at the Annual Japan Sake Awards. We do not mass-produce; instead, we keep a watchful eye on our sake as it ages slowly—for one year, five years, or in some cases, ten years.
For those trying it for the first time, we recommend the "Kikuhime Ginjo," a sake limited to the Hokuriku region. It is a bottle that can be enjoyed casually, with a clear, refined taste free of off-flavors. The Junmai-shu "Tsurunosato" is sold exclusively by Kikuhime-kai members nationwide. You can fully enjoy the acidity and umami characteristic of the Yamahai-jikomi method.

Over 400 years of history, crafting sake with a core that remains unswayed by the times.

The sake produced in this region was once praised as "Kaga no Kikuzake" (Kaga's Chrysanthemum Sake), and it is said that Toyotomi Hideyoshi even had it brought in for his cherry blossom viewing parties. The Kikuhime brewery was founded around that same time, during the Tensho era (1573–1592). They are deeply committed to the rice used as their raw material, utilizing high-quality "Yamada Nishiki" rice—considered the finest sake rice—sourced specifically from the Yoshikawa district of Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture, which is a special A-rated area. While actively incorporating advanced technology, such as hiring science graduates as "sake meisters," the brewery continues to craft sake that remains unaffected by passing trends.

Kikuhime

• 8 Tsurugi-shinmachi, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 13-minute walk from Tsurugi Station on the Hokuriku Railroad
• 9:00–17:00
• 076-272-1234
• Free

8
Matsuura Sake Brewery

"Shishi no Sato," a fine sake made with naturally flavored yeast.

Located in the heart of Yamanaka Onsen, it is the perfect place to visit while sightseeing or hopping between hot springs. All "Shishi no Sato" sake is brewed using the junmai method, with brewing water sourced from the ultra-soft water that springs up within the grounds of Ioji Temple on the hill. Their unique style of brewing incorporates traditional methods, such as adjusting water absorption time by the second depending on the rice variety and using "yeast with bubbles" to preserve natural flavors.
They also explore the appeal of new types of sake, having produced lightly sparkling sake since 1997. "Sen," which is perfect for toasts with its fine bubbles and fresh aroma, is sold only at the brewery and a few select shops.

A spacious shop where you can enjoy sake tasting, soft-serve ice cream, and amazake.

Founded in 1772 (the first year of the An'ei era). The shop was built in 2004 with the image of a traditional "sake brewery" in mind. You can purchase various "Shishi no Sato" sakes, and at the "Kikizake-dokoro" (tasting area), you can compare different sakes recommended by the owner, which change monthly. Wanting to welcome customers who cannot drink alcohol, the owner developed "Sake Kasu (sake lees) Soft Serve Ice Cream" after learning from a French chef; it is alcohol-free due to heat treatment, so it can be enjoyed by drivers and children alike.

Matsuura Sake Brewery

• 2-chome, Yamanakaonsen Honmachi, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
• 20 minutes by car from JR Kagaonsen Station
• From Kagaonsen Station, take the Kaga Loop Bus
  Can-Bus Yamanaka Route → approx. 50m from the 19 Yamanaka Onsen Kikunoyu/Yamanakaza bus stop
• 9:00–18:00 *Open only in the morning on December 31
• Wednesdays, January 1–4
• 0761-78-1125
• Free