Sake Brewery Tour at Matsuoka Brewery
experiences
Unlocking the Secrets of Sake!
Matsuoka Brewery has achieved the remarkable feat of winning gold at the National New Sake Competition for eight consecutive years. The key to this achievement lies in their process, which includes utilizing Japan’s finest hard water, renowned for its suitability in sake production, together with a curated selection of rice varieties sourced from across the country. Employing artisanal techniques, these rice grains undergo careful polishing, while the fermentation process is rigorously controlled, drawing upon years of expertise. The culmination of these efforts results in sake imbued with a rich bouquet and exquisite flavor profile.
A direct sales shop is also attached to the brewery, allowing visitors to purchase Mikadomatsu, Matsuoka Brewery’s flagship brand of sake, straight from the brewery. The shop also has tastings, encouraging visitors to immerse themselves in the sake’s distinct flavor and depth, as well as other enticing offerings such as daiginjo sake ice cream and amazake.
Located within the brewery’s garden is the restaurant Shofuan, which serves cuisine unique to the brewery using sake, brewing water, koji, and sake lees. Renovated from a storehouse that dates back 100 years, guests can enjoy a leisurely meal while admiring the Japanese-style garden. The restaurant’s Japanese cuisine embodies the flavors of the four seasons, and is paired with fresh sake.
Basic Information
Business hours / Fee
Direct sales shop: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (also open Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)
Direct sales shop: 1-3 January
How to get there
15-minute drive from the Ranzan-Ogawa IC
Parking available (approx. 100 vehicles)
By Train:
25-minute walk from Ogawamachi Station on the Tobu-Tojo Line and JR Line
(5 minutes by taxi)
By Bicycle:
10-minute ride from Ogawamachi Station on the Tobu-Tojo Line and JR Line
Bicycle racks available
Map
Nearby spots
To make traditional Japanese washi paper, you need icy cold and clear water. Ogawamachi, in northwest Saitama Prefecture, is a region that has both of these conditions. The Hosokawa paper made here is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and is highly regarded worldwide, having even been used to restore the Louvre and the British Museum.
The Ogawa Washi Learning Center is a historical building constructed in 1936 for the study of washi paper, and is a place where craftspeople can learn and practice papermaking. Papermaking experiences are available for visitors with an advance reservation.
*Brochures in English and Chinese are available, but staff explanations are in Japanese only, so if you need an interpreter, please contact the Saitama Tourism Support Desk.
Experience the art of traditional Japanese washi paper making at the Traditional Crafts Facility, located within the newly renovated Roadside Station Ogawamachi. A variety of hands-on workshops are available, offering a fun and engaging activity for both children and adults, using authentic tools and techniques.
For groups of 10 or more, advance reservations are required. Please contact the Saitama Tourism Support Desk for assistance.
Please note: On-site English support is not available. If needed, please arrange your own interpreter or translator.
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