Story Sake in the Slow Lane: Chugoku’s Hidden Breweries By JNTO on 26 December 2025

 From castle town to riverside breweries, enjoy a peaceful sake journey designed for slowing down together with friends, siblings, or by yourself.

 

Japan is full of travel highlights from temples and shrines to hot springs and natural scenery. But if you are looking for something different to experience, something immersive and meaningful (and maybe a little bit off the beaten path), a sake brewery visit offers a unique, hands-on way to experience traditional Japanese culture with friends, siblings, or on your own. 

 

In the Chugoku region, known for its pristine water, scenic landscapes, and centuries-old brewing traditions, you’ll find breweries where you can get a glimpse of sake making, discover local history, and experience the regional lifestyle.  

 

A Taste of History in Every Sip 

Inatahonten, Tottori Prefecture 

 

Founded in 1673, Inatahonten stands as one of Tottori Prefecture’s oldest and most respected sake breweries, preserving more than three centuries of brewing tradition in Yonago City. Set against the backdrop of the region’s fertile land and pure water sources, the brewery emphasizes the timeless essentials for great sake: good water, good rice, and dedicated artisans who craft the sake with care. 

 

 

At Inatahonten, tradition and innovation work together. While the brewery honours centuries-old methods, it has also pioneered new ideas—from producing one of Japan’s first cold sakes, to experimenting with modern sake varieties.  

 

 

If you make a reservation beforehand, you can take a free guided tour of the brewery, stroll through displays of the brewery’s history, and even enjoy a tasting of the brewery’s recommended sake. The tour lasts an approximate 30 to 40 minutes and is completely free, so you can take this opportunity to learn about sake up close. 

 

 

Inatahonten also produces a variety of beverages under different labels, including their classic sake brand Inatahime, offering an authentic taste of Tottori’s regional sake culture.

 

*Brewery tours are available by advance reservation only and are not held on weekends or public holidays.

 

 

 

Heritage and Harmony in Matsue 

Rihaku Sake Brewing Company, Shimane Prefecture 

 

 

Nestled in the historic castle town of Matsue, Rihaku Sake Brewing Company has been crafting sake since 1882. Its name honours the legendary Chinese poet Li Bai (known in Japanese as Rihaku), a tribute suggested by a prominent local figure, linking the brewery’s identity to poetry, culture, and history.  

 

 

From its earliest days, Rihaku has committed itself to preserving the traditional sake-making values of the region: using pure water, carefully selected rice, and the skills of local brewers who carry generations of technique. The brewery’s philosophy emphasises harmony between nature’s bounty and human craftsmanship, reflecting the rich landscapes of Shimane, where water, greenery, and rice fields surround both town and countryside.  

 

 

Walking into Rihaku’s shop or visiting the brew house, you will feel this blend of tradition and subtle refinement. Their sake lineup is extensive, ranging from classic junmai and ginjo to seasonal and special-edition expressions. It’s not just an opportunity to sample sake, but also to take home a piece of local heritage, in a bottle that carries the spirit of the region and its people. 

 

 

If you are seeking a gentle pause during your journey through Japan’s countryside, a visit to Rihaku offers something more than a tasting. It is a brief immersion in history, nature, and the subtle ritual of sake appreciation, especially for solo travellers, or anyone sharing their travel moments with friends or siblings. 

 

 

 

Sake Crafted with Purpose

DASSAI, Yamaguchi Prefecture

 

 

Established in 1948, DASSAI is a premium sake brewery based in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, a prefecture shaped by a long history of sake brewing. Over the decades, the brewery has become widely recognised both in Japan and internationally for its refined sake and consistent pursuit of quality.

 

 

DASSAI brews with a clear purpose: to create sake that is truly delicious, not for the purpose of getting drunk, but to be enjoyed and appreciated as part of a lifestyle. The brewery’s flagship offerings focus on junmai daiginjo, a premium sake category made with highly polished rice and no added alcohol, showcasing refined flavour and craftsmanship that has become synonymous with the DASSAI name.

 

At the brewery, you can explore DASSAI’s lineup, enjoy tastings, and purchase bottles that reflect the brand’s dedication to quality and innovation. Paid brewery tours are also available by advance reservation, offering an opportunity to learn about the brewing process and the philosophy that guides DASSAI’s approach to sake making. 

 

A visit to DASSAI offers an easy, unhurried stop that invites you to slow down and appreciate sake crafted with intention. 

 

 

More than a drink, sake tells a story of water, rice, craft, and community. A story that unfolds in places that are calm, welcoming, and rooted in everyday life. Travelling solo, with friends, or with siblings, you will find that these small brewery towns invite not only appreciation, but connection—an easy, heartfelt way to see Japan from a different angle, and perhaps to fall in love with it all over again. 

 

Date of Publication: 26 December 2025