Tour a Historic Distillery in the Seto Inland Sea

Learn about craft gin and whisky production with local ingredients and traditional methods

Located on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, the Sakurao Distillery has been brewing and distilling liquor since 1918. Now, through a tour of the premises, you can watch the production processes through which they produce their renowned single malt whisky, grain whisky, and pure Japanese gin.

The tour takes you through four “zones,” or areas of production. See how local botanicals from Hiroshima, including citrus, oyster shells, even cherry blossoms, are used in creating Hiroshima’s only gin. View the stills used to make malt whisky and learn about the milling and mashing of grain whisky ingredients and the slow fermentation process. You’ll hear about the barreling process of the unaged malt whisky and how blended whisky is made. Then visit the storage rooms where the whisky is aged.

There is a tasting at the end of the tour, which highlights the distillery’s location. Sakurao Distilllery is surrounded by nature, and has a mild climate which impacts the aroma and taste of their fine gin and whisky.

Access: It takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes from Hiroshima Airport to the site by bus. 
It takes about 1 hour and 37 minutes from Hiroshima Airport to the site by train.
It takes about 19 minutes from Hiroshima Station to Hatsukaichi Station by train, and about 8 minutes from Hatsukaichi Station to the site on foot.

Sakurao Distillery Tour (Sakurao Brewery and Distillery)