Visitors can taste and purchase sake made at Aizu Homare, one of Tohoku's most popular sake breweries. After learning about how sake is made on a brewery tour, visitors can discover their new favorite drink by sampling over 10 kinds of fresh refined sake, liqueur, and shochu. The brewery grounds also contain a vast Japanese garden, which can be explored by visitors. A video of the sake-making process is available to watch on request.
| Website | https://www.aizuhomare.jp/(Japanese) |
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| Contact | Homare Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (+81) 241-22-5151 |
| Best Season | All Year |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Guided tours start at 10:30 AM) Open 7 days a week (closed for the New Year holidays) |
| Parking | Over 50. Parking also available for full-sized buses. |
| Entrance Fee | Free |
| Related info | <b><u>About Sake Brewery Tours: </b></u> Non-Japanese language tours: Available Languages available for tours: English Guide: Only available on days when the brewery is operating Voice Guidance: Not available Foreign-language displays: Yes Please book in advance for group tours. |
| Access | 2706 Tokiwa-cho, Muramatsu, Matsuyama-Machi, Kitakata City, Fukushima Pref. View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car: 40 min from the Aizuwakamatsu I.C. exit (Ban-etsu Expressway) By Bus: Can be reached by bus from Kitakata Station (JR Ban-etsu West Line). 3 min walk from Sekinebetsu Bus Stop. By Taxi: 7 min from Kitakata Station |
Over the course of the year, Kaneyama Fureai Hiroba Viewpoint greets visitors with views of atmospheric fog rising above the Tadami River, mountains frosted with snow or painted with autumn leaves, all surrounding the Taishi Shuraku district of traditional houses.
Oyakuen was used approximately 600 years ago as a villa for the then lord of the Aizu Domain. Subsequently, in the mid-17th century, the lord of the Aizu Domain started growing medicinal herbs within the grounds which he developed to protect the citizenry from epidemics. This lead to the garden gaining the name "Oyakuen", which literally means "medicinal garden." The traditional garden has been preserved as it was long ago, and Oyakuen has now been designated as an important national asset. The buildings within the grounds were used by the lord as a place of relaxation and for entertainment. Accordingly, Oyakuen still contains buildings devoted to Japanese tea. Visitors can enjoy a cup of herbal tea here even today.
Kaneyama Town is a scenic, rural town surrounded by woods. One of the most famous things about Kaneyama Town is its well of naturally carbonated water. Such water is rarely found in Japan. Small bubbles are infused into the water, giving it a gentle and smooth taste. Locals and visitors take empty bottles to the well to fill and take back home. There is a pot at the well that can be used to collect water from the base of the well. Pulling up water from the bottom with a rope definitely makes for a fun and unique experience! Why don’t you try this natural sparkling water while enjoying the beautiful scenery in Kaneyama?
<p>A panoramic view of the arch bridge stretches over Tadami River. On clear winter days, the bridge is reflected in the river, surrounded by deep, glistening snow. Spring's fresh leaves, summer's lush greenery, autumn's red leaves… the view changes with each season.</p>
A lovely café deep located in Ouchi-juku, decorated with adorable items like okiagari-koboshi (traditional monk dolls) and Aizu-made decorated candles. In addition to yukimuro coffee (snow-cured coffee), they’ve put together an original menu full of locally produced drinks and sweets. Feel free to leisurely enjoy a coffee in Ouchi-juku.
Fruit Land Kita-Aizu is the name of the JA Aizu West Agriculture Center. Fruit Land Kita-Aizu serves as a local hub giving information on a number of nearby orchards in Kita-Aizu Town, Aizu-Wakamatsu City. The orchards that make up Fruit Land Kita-Aizu provide visitors with delicious fruit-picking experiences, which can be tried throughout the year. Please enjoy the delicious fruit that Aizu has to offer, and take in the beauty of its nature at the same time.
In keeping with the architecture of Ouchi-juku, Misawaya soba restaurant was constructed with traditional thatched roofs. The Misawaya premises include three stores: a soba restaurant, a Japanese sake shop, and a teahouse. Misawaya soba restaurant is famous is their grated daikon soba, called Takato Soba, otherwise known as Negi-Soba (or "green onion soba"). Your chopsticks are replaced with a chopsticks!
A lovely restaurant where you can savor the flavors of handmade soba and coffee. This restaurant is commited to serving delicious, seasonal food. In summer, the noodles are made thinner. In winter, they’re made a bit thicker. You’ll be able to relish the stone-ground, handmade noodles. Their most popular topping for soba is their large umeboshi (sour pickled plums) from the Kishu Domain, which can be enjoyed as part of Ishiharaya's Grated Plum Soba dish.