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| Kobayashi Sake Brewery |
Kobayashi Sake Brewery Details
Kobayashi Sake Brewery, a pioneering force
in the world of sake production, boasts a rich history that spans over 140
years. Located in Kuriyama Town, Hokkaido, this renowned brewery has long been
a symbol of dedication to quality and innovation in sake brewing. Here's an
informative look at the brewery’s storied past, from its humble beginnings to
its celebrated achievements.
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| Kobayashi Sake Brewery - Kuriyama town, Hokkaido |
The Birth of Kobayashi Sake Brewery:
1878-1900
Kobayashi Sake Brewery’s journey began in
1878, during the 11th year of the Meiji era. The brewery was founded in
Sapporo, Hokkaido, as one of the region's first sake brewing companies. This
was a time of great change in Japan, and Kobayashi Sake Brewery was quick to
establish itself as a trailblazer in the sake industry in Hokkaido.
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| Welcome to Kobayashi Sake Brewery |
In 1900, the brewery relocated to Kuriyama
Town, a location renowned for its pristine natural resources, making it the
perfect environment for brewing high-quality sake.
The Transition of Leadership and Early
Recognition: 1914-1936
In 1914, following the passing of the first
president, Kobayashi Yonezaburo, his son, the second-generation Yonezaburo,
assumed leadership of the brewery. Under the new leadership, the brewery began
to gain wider recognition. In 1918, it won the prestigious Excellent Sake Award
at the Hokkaido 50th Anniversary Exposition, cementing its reputation for
quality craftsmanship.
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| Japan Heritage - Charcoal and Iron Port Brick Buildings |
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| Phoenix Crest - Northern Nishiki |
By 1936, the brewery had grown
substantially, with total production exceeding 8,000 koku (a traditional unit
of measurement for sake), and its reach extended as far as Sakhalin and
Manchuria.
Challenges and Resilience: 1943-1968
The tumult of World War II led to
significant challenges for the brewery. In 1943, the company was incorporated
as a joint-stock company under the Enterprise Reorganization Act. Two years
later, in 1945, the brewery was designated a munitions factory by the Ministry
of the Army. After the war, the head office building was requisitioned by GHQ,
but despite these obstacles, Kobayashi Sake Brewery persevered and continued
its operations. In 1968, following the passing of the second president, the third president, Kobayashi Yonezaburo, took the reins of the company, ensuring its legacy continued to thrive.
Sake Utensil Exhibition Storehouse
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| Sake Utensil Exhibition Storehouse |
Inside the Sake Utensil Exhibition Storehouse*
* I posted only a handful of photos of the exhibits and I purposely didn't label them so that you would only get a glimpse of what Sake Utensil Exhibition Storehouse has to offer. Please visit it and enjoy it with your own eyes.
A Century of Excellence: 1978-1997
In 1978, Kobayashi Sake Brewery marked a
major milestone, celebrating its 100th anniversary. The brewery’s dedication to
quality continued into the 1980s, and in 1985, it introduced sake brewed from
100% Kitahikari rice—a long-cherished dream of the company. The sake received
widespread acclaim, and the brewery was awarded the Technology Award from the
Japan Brewers Association.
The brewery’s international presence grew
in the 1990s. In 1997, Kobayashi Sake Brewery began regular exports of its
"Hizo Junmaishu" to New York, USA. Additionally, it was adopted as
the in-flight drink for ANA’s international flights starting in 1998.
Taisho and Showa Lifestyle Exhibition Storehouse*
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| Taisho and Showa Lifestyle Exhibition Storehouse |
* I posted only a handful of photos of the exhibits and I purposely didn't label them so that you would only get a glimpse of what Taisho and Showa Lifestyle Exhibition Storehouse has to offer. Please visit it and enjoy it with your own eyes.
Modern Milestones: 2000-Present
Entering the 21st century, Kobayashi Sake
Brewery continued to build on its legacy of excellence. In 2001, Yonetaka
Kobayashi became the fourth president of the brewery, ushering in a new era of
innovation and expansion. The brewery also received numerous awards, including
gold medals at the National New Sake Tasting Competition for two consecutive
years in 2005.
In 2006, Kobayashi Sake Brewery's cultural
and historical significance was formally recognized when it was registered as a
national tangible cultural property. The brewery made further strides in
sustainability by switching to 100% Hokkaido-grown rice in 2009, ensuring the
continued high quality of its sake while supporting local agriculture.
In 2018, the brewery celebrated its 140th
anniversary, with a notable achievement—its Kita no Nishiki Junmai Daiginjo won
gold medals in both the Junmai Ginjo and Junmai Daiginjo categories at the Kura
Master sake competition in France.
Old Boiler and the Red Brick Buildings
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| Kobayashi Sake Brewery's Red Brick Buildings |
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| Kobayashi Sake Brewery's Old Boiler |
Kobayashi Sake Brewery Today
Today, Kobayashi Sake Brewery remains a
cornerstone of Hokkaido's sake culture. The brewery not only produces
award-winning sake but also preserves its heritage through its Kitano Nishiki
Brewery Memorial Museum, which opened in 1995, and its “Kobayashi House,” a
historical site opened to the public in 2014. With its dedication to quality,
innovation, and tradition, Kobayashi Sake Brewery continues to be a beacon of
excellence in the world of sake brewing.
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| Kitano Nishiki Brewery Memorial Museum |
The Kitano Nishiki Brewery Memorial
Museum, established in 1944, is housed in a historic building originally
part of an Otaru bank. It was repurposed and made into a memorial museum which
opened in 1995. Inside, visitors can explore a wide array of artifacts,
including sake bottles, sake cups, and everyday items used by sake brewers
throughout history. These exhibits provide valuable insights into the tools and
traditions that have shaped the art of sake brewing over the years.
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| Kitano Nishiki Brewery Memorial Museum's Business Hours |
The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to
4:00 PM (with extended hours until 5:00 PM during the summer months), except
for the New Year holidays, making it accessible to visitors year-round. For
those looking to delve deeper into the brewing process, guided tours of the
Taisho and Meiji-era breweries are available by reservation. A particularly
popular offering is a combined tour, which lasts about an hour and includes
both the Memorial Hall and the brewery—an experience highly recommended during
the summer months.
Kobayashi Family Home: A Glimpse into
the Past
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| Kobayashi Family Home |
In addition to the Memorial Museum,
visitors can also explore the Kobayashi Family Home, which opened in
July 2014. This historic residence is the birthplace of the Kobayashi sake
brewing family and one of the largest traditional houses in Hokkaido. Step back
in time as you tour the home, where you can enjoy tea such as amazake, a
sweet, non-alcoholic drink traditionally enjoyed by sake brewers. For a small
fee, you can take an explanatory tour of the interior, gaining further insight
into the history of the Kobayashi family and their role in the sake brewing
industry.
Team Nicerio visits Kobayashi Sake Brewery
My family and I visited Kobayashi Sake
Brewery for the first time during our “Wedding Anniversary” road trip on May 13, 2023. It also marked my 558th day in Japan as an ALT with the JET Programme. I didn’t miss including this destination in our itinerary, as this is
one of the main tourist destinations of the town of Kuriyama. My family and I
learned a lot about Hokkaido’s oldest sake brewery during our visit.
Kobayashi
Sake Brewery Kitano Nishiki Brewery Memorial Museum Admission Fee
It’s FREE to enter and explore the memorial
museum. Make sure to bring cash though as you might want to bring home one sake bottle or two as souvenirs.
Kobayashi
Sake Brewery’s Kitano Nishiki Brewery Memorial Museum Operating Hours
The memorial museum is open from 10 AM to 4
PM.
It is closed from December 31st to January
3rd and also during the third Monday of April.
Why
visit Kobayashi Sake Brewery Kitano Nishiki Brewery Memorial Museum?
A visit to Kobayashi Sake Brewery offers a
unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich traditions of one of Japan’s
most renowned sake producers. From its humble beginnings in 1878 to its
international acclaim today, Kobayashi Sake Brewery is truly a must-visit
destination for anyone seeking to explore the art of sake brewing in Japan.
Getting to Kobayashi Sake Brewery
From Kuriyama Station, it takes around 15 minutes on foot to reach Kobayashi Sake Brewery.
Another option is to ride bus #26 Iwamizawa Kuriyama Sen or bus #25 Iwamizawa Naganuma Sen to Chuo 1 Chome [Kuriyamacho] bus stop. Once there, you need to walk for about 600 meters to Kobayashi Sake Brewery.
Travel time: 9 minutes
Fare: 240 yen
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