About Us
WATANABESAHEI SAKE BREWERY
About us
Watanabesahei Sake Brewery is a small brewery at the foot of the Nikko mountains (UNESCO World Heritage site). Our English signage, information, and friendly staff make us a popular destination for tourists.
OUR HISTORY
Our brewery was founded in 1842 at the end of the Edo Period (1603-1868), and has been producing sake for about 180 years. The current owner is the seventh generation of our family.
For the past 50 years, our brewery has focused on Junmaishu, pure rice sake. Currently, about 90% of the sake we produce is Junmaishu, which is rare in Japan.
OUR water and rice
For brewing, we use groundwater from the Daiya River, which flows from the Nikko mountain range to produce soft, smooth tasting sake. Our water is pumped from a well on the premises that has been in use since the company was founded.
90% of the rice we use for brewing is grown in Tochigi Prefecture, and 60% of that comes from the local Nikko area.
