Yuasa-cho in Wakayama Prefecture is a registered Japan Heritage Site, known for being the birthplace of Japanese soy sauce. As you walk through the quaint streets, which all constitute the important cultural heritage site gazetted for preservation, you get to take a sip of its history. In fact, the founder of Yamasa Soy Sauce (now headquartered in Choshi, Chiba), one of the most well-known soy sauce makers in Japan, hails from Wakayama. In the area, soy sauce companies such as Yuasa Soy Sauce also hold factory tours. You will get to see how soy sauce is produced using traditional methods and actual ingredients, and even see and touch some of the equipment like huge cypress barrels in the brewery warehouse! In addition to tasting the soy sauce, for a small fee, you can even try your hand at experiencing some process to make soy sauce yourself at Yuasa Soy Sauce Factory. Note that the soy sauce-flavoured ice cream is a specialty of this area - a delight not to be missed!
Wakayama is also famous for its high-quality plums with about 65% of the nation's plums produced here. Many famous Umeshu plum wine manufacturers, including the world-renowned Choya, use high quality Nanko Plums from Wakayama Prefecture to produce their unique variety plum wines. It is no surprise that Umeshu has been gaining popularity among Singaporeans; take a swig for yourself to experience the wonderful taste! Also, in addition to enjoying plums as tasty food/drink, why not admire the posh and elegant plum blossoms at large plum groves situated in Minabe-cho and Tanabe City too? The flower blooms from early February to early March and is a great winter (or early spring) experience that can rival cherry blossom viewing in Spring.
Yuasa-cho
Access :Yuasa-cho, Arida-gun, Wakayama Prefecture
Operating hours :
How to get there :From Shin-Osaka Station, take the JR Kuroshio Limited Express for approximately 90 minutes and get off at JR Yuasa Station.
Website :http://www.town.yuasa.wakayama.jp.e.ze.hp.transer.com/
Access :1466-1 Yuasa, Yuasa-cho, Arida-gun, Wakayama Prefecture
Operating hours :Factory Tour 9am to 4pm *Reservations required
How to get there :From Shin-Osaka Station, take the JR Kuroshio Limited Express for approximately 90 minutes and get off at JR Yuasa Station. It is approximately another 10 minutes’ walk from there.
