Imayo Tsukasa Sake Brewery
Niigata · Niigata City
37.9269°N, 139.0700°E
Imayo Tsukasa Brewery (今代司酒造) is a 250-year-old sake producer in central Niigata City that has committed entirely to junmai sake — no added alcohol, pure rice fermentation only — a relatively rare stance that prioritizes traditional methods over production efficiency. The brewery offers guided tours (Japanese/English) showing the entire sake-making process: rice polishing, koji cultivation, fermentation tanks, and bottling. The tour concludes with tasting of 5–7 sake varieties ranging from everyday junmai to ultra-premium daiginjo.
The brewery's flagship product, 'Iku' (生酛 daiginjo), is made using the kimoto method — a labor-intensive, pre-modern fermentation starter that requires manual mashing of rice/koji paste for 2 weeks. The resulting sake has more acidity and complexity than modern styles, and represents what Niigata sake tasted like in the Edo period.
Essential Information
Opening Hours
Varies by restaurant — confirm before visiting
Closed: Open year-round
Entrance Fee
Tour and tasting free
Best Season
October–February for active brewing season with most processes visible; year-round for tours and shop
Visit Duration
1–1.5 hours for guided tour and tasting; add 30 minutes for shop browsing
Getting There
Access Information
Insider Guide
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