Sasaiwai Sake Brewery
Ryosuke Sasaguchi
It is said that “to produce sake is to nurture people”. We put the most value on “harmony” of all.
We always pay good attention to the hygiene of the brewery and greet the sake production season with a thorough cleanup of the brewery.
Good sake which can please people to say, “it tastes delicious” is what we, SASAIWAI SHUZO aims to produce.
New Arrival Information & Event Information
Origin of SASAIWAI SHUZO
This area used to be a town which had many inns for travelers to stay for rest on their way to their destinations. The first head of the SASAGUCHI family used to run an Ocha-ya, Japanese old café, where sake was sold like hot cakes. Then they thought of producing sake themselves and started it. The brewery started with the name, “SASAGUCHI SHUZOTEN” after the family name of the founder.
Maintain the Local Culture
We have a history of 118 years since the foundation. SASAIWAI SHUZO has developed and is still developing with the local culture. While producing sake, we make a part of our brewery open to the public to act as a storyteller of the local history.
Prayer for Good and Safe Sake Production
SASAIWAI SHUZO makes it a rule to pray for good and safe sake production on a lucky day on the Japanese calendar in the middle of October each year. In principle, we should have a Shinto priest pray for us. But as our Buddhist denomination, Shingon-shu, which Kukai spread, admits the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism, our temple priest can handle Shinto exercises. Therefore, we ask him to pray for safety at our brewery’s Shinto altar before we start sake production each year.
Feel the History of SASAIWAI SHUZO
“SASA” of our brand name, “SASAIWAI” came from our family name, “SASAGUCHI”. Old Japanese people used to call sake “Sasa” such as say, “Let me offer you a cup of Sasa.” We made the brand, “SASAIWAI” (sake celebration) in the hope that it would be drunk at celebrations. It has come to be our best seller. After that, when we established a stock company in Showa period, we named the company “SASAIWAI SHUZO Inc.”
Buildings of SASAIWAI SHUZO
The staircase on the picture leads to Koji-Muro, a room for making Koji. SASAIWAI SHUZO uses its old wooden Japanese-style building with mud walls as a brewery. Its huge crossbeams and pillars and old plastered walls are regarded precious these days.
Tools Fully Used Since the Old Days for Sake Production
Inside the building, you can see the high ceiling supported by huge pillars and crossbeams. All of them tell the history of SASAIWAI SHUZO.
Attentive Sake Production Continuing Since the Old Days
At SASAIWAI SHUZO we steam rice with a sake production tool called “Koshiki”. Around the end of February when we finish the process of steaming rice, we remove Koshiki for cleaning. We call the operation “Koshiki-daoshi”. Around the end of March, we go through a filtration process to finish sake production each year.
Bamboo Forest of SASAIWAI SHUZO
SASAIWAI SHUZO has a bamboo forest on the premises. A lot of bamboo shoots grow in spring. One of our brands, “CHIKURIN-SOFU” meaning a bamboo forest in a refreshing wind, was created with the image of this bamboo forest.
Kura with Atmosphere of Taisho Period
SASAIWAI SHUZO’s wooden building with mud walls. Such a tall wooden Kura is now rarely used as sake production facilities even in Niigata Prefecture. As it was well structured on the solid ground, it has gone through several big earthquakes without any severe damages. We owe so much to the excellent techniques of carpenters of the old days.
Colorful Sake Cups
Sake cups of various kinds, colors and shapes are on display. You can taste our sake with a sake cup of your choice when time permits.
Fully Enjoy the Taste of SASAIWAI SHUZO’s Sake
You can taste our sakes we recommend according to each season.
Message
Founded in 1899, SASAIWAI SHUZO has continued its operation for five generations in the Kanbara Plain, one of Japan’s best rice producing areas in terms of both quality and quantity. Since 2015, the 6th owner-to-be, Ryosuke Sasaguchi, has joined in sake production.
Our sake is called “a Jizake, local sake of Jizakes”. One of the reasons is that most amount of our sake is consumed within our neighborhood. Another reason is that our craftsmen engaged in sake production are all locals. With the motto of “aiming to produce good sake that we, brewers and locals, feel delicious”, we are trying to make a new type of sake fit for a current life-style.
We, SASAIWAI SHUZO produces sake in historical wooden buildings. To give you a chance to feel the atmosphere, we have newly made a tasting corner on the premises where you can taste our sake. Its counter and showcases were made reusing old wooden barrels and other tools which had been used for producing our sake in the old days.
Our neighborhood has many good sightseeing spots, such as a hot spring, a park where waterfowls fly over the sea, a farmer-run restaurant and a winery open to the public. We would be happy to be helpful to our visitors by playing a role as an information desk to introduce such local charms to them.
Information for Kura Visit
Kura(brewery) Visit
Opening Hours for Kura Visit
10:00〜16:00
Closing day is not fixed.（Please check the details on the website of SASAIWAI SHUZO.）
Admission fee : Free
Tasting sake : Free
※ Advanced reservation is requested.
Reservation
We accept your reservations by phone.
Please let us know of the date and time and number of visitors of your plan.
Business Hours
10:00〜16:00
Outline of the company
| Company | Sasaiwai Sake Brewery |
|---|---|
| Address | Matsunoo3249, Nishikanku, Niigata City, Niigata 953-0015 |
| TEL | 0256-72-3982 |
| FAX | 0256-72-3986 |
| Homepage | http://www.sasaiwai.com/ |
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