From bullet trains and Bonsai trees, bento boxes, and Buddhist shrines, Japan’s unique blend of traditional culture, technological innovation, and pop culture has helped to make it a bucket list travel destination for visitors the world over. With friendly, welcoming people, stunning natural beauty, and a rich, storied history, Japan is an amazing destination that truly offers something for everyone.
Niigata Prefecture
Back in the early days of sake production, over 2000 years ago, before tools were available, the traditional Japanese rice wine was ‘mouth-chewed’ – with lucky brewers having the unenviable task of chewing rice grains into mush to release enzymes, then spitting the crushed grains into barrels where they would sit, fermenting for weeks as the flavour and alcohol content grew.
Luckily, today’s sake production is much more science, much less saliva, with the popular drink a revered part of Japanese culture and cuisine, thanks to widespread rice production and modern brewing techniques.
Niigata, considered the best region in Japan for producing high-quality sake, is teeming with commercial sake breweries just waiting to be discovered.
Thanks to its cold climate, and pure, mineral water sources, Niigata produces some of the finest rice found anywhere in Japan. The top-quality grains have a soft texture, and produce a clean, crisp flavour that is highly desirable in sake production. As a result, sake from Niigata is considered the world’s finest, and touring sake breweries is an experience not to be missed.
Here are the top three sake breweries in Niigata that welcome visitors for sampling and tours:
- Hakkaisan Sake Brewery: Hakkaisan is a well-known sake brewery located in the city of Minami-Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture. They use locally sourced Koshihikari rice and pure snowmelt water from the Hakkaisan mountain range to produce their sake. The brewery offers guided tours and tastings, as well as a restaurant and museum.
- Imayotsukasa Sake Brewery: Imayotsukasa is a small, family-owned sake brewery located in the city of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. They specialize in producing small-batch, artisanal sake using traditional brewing methods. The brewery offers guided tours and tastings by reservation.
- Kirinzan Sake Brewery: Kirinzan is a sake brewery located in the city of Shibata, Niigata Prefecture. They produce a variety of sake, including their signature “Kaga no tsuyu” brand, which has a light and refreshing flavor. The brewery offers guided tours and tastings, as well as a restaurant and gift shop.
Ishikawa Prefecture
What could possibly make a scoop of vanilla ice cream more appealing on a warm day? If you’re in Ishikawa, the answer might just be… gold leaf!
For the ultimate in indulgence, Ishikawa specialises in blinged-out ice cream which is made by covering the dessert with a thin layer of edible gold leaf, giving it a shimmering and luxurious appearance. The gold leaf is flavourless, and it doesn’t affect the taste of the ice cream, but it adds a unique texture and visual element that makes it a popular treat among locals and tourists alike.
Ishikawa is known for its high-quality gold leaf production, and the use of gold leaf in cuisine is a common practice in the region. You can find everything from coffee to cocktails, covered in edible golden flakes.
There are many shops and cafes in Kanazawa, the capital city of Ishikawa, that offer Gold Leaf Ice Cream, along with other gold leaf-infused desserts and drinks. Some shops even allow customers to watch as the gold leaf is applied to the ice cream, making it a bedazzling interactive experience.
Feel like eating ice cream fit for royalty? Try these Gold Leaf cafes in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa:
- Hakuichi – a specialty store that offers a variety of gold leaf products, including Gold Leaf Ice Cream. It’s made with local Hokkaido milk and is topped with a generous amount of edible gold leaf.
- Sakuda Gold Leaf Shop – another popular shop that offers Gold Leaf Ice Cream. The ice cream is made with high-quality ingredients and is covered with a layer of gold leaf that is applied by hand.
- Omicho Market – this famous seafood market also serves up Gold Leaf Ice Cream alongside crab, sushi, and sake. The market is over 300 years old, and home to over 200 stalls selling food, traditional Japanese crafts, and souvenirs.