Otokoyama Sake Brewery is one of the oldest sake breweries in Japan, with a history of more than 330 years in sake production. It is renowned globally as a prestigious sake brewery and has received numerous awards in international competitions.
Otokoyama Brewery is located near Asahiyama Zoo, so if you happen to visit the zoo, be sure to make a detour and drop by. Here, you can find a valuable museum where you can learn about the history of sake making.
About Otokoyama
In the Edo period, Itami sake was known as one of the representative brands alongside Kenbishi, deriving its name from Otokoyama Hachimangu Shrine, formerly known as Ishiyamadera. The original brewery ceased operations in the early Meiji period, after which various brands with names reminiscent of Itami sake emerged throughout Japan. However, since 1968, the Hokkai Otokoyama in Asahikawa City has inherited the seal of authenticity from descendants of the family that brewed Itami sake, establishing itself as the legitimate successor brand to Itami sake.
By the way, there are approximately 24 brands of sake across Japan that bear the name Otokoyama.
Open
- 9:00 – 17:00
- closed Dec 31 – Jan 3
Link
Access
- Take a Dohoku Bus(道北バス) #81 bus at JR Asahikawa station to Nagayama2-6 and walk 2 minutes.
At Otokoyama Sake Brewery, you can learn about sake making and see its equipment on the 3rd floor, while the 2nd floor houses a collection of documents about sake dating back to the Edo period.
The name of Otokoyama has been depicted in Ukiyo-e prints. Through these prints, you can grasp Otokoyama’s status as one of the oldest sake brands in Japan.
You can peer inside the brewery through the window.
After visiting the museum, you can sample some exclusive brands of Otokoyama sake available only here.
Old signboard of Otokoyama
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