Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery ニッカウヰスキー 宮城峡蒸溜所

Masataka Taketsuru (1894-1979) turned away from Japan's traditional drink, sake, to devote his entire life to creating whisky, and opened a distillery in Hokkaido . 35 years later, he opened a second whisky distillery in the unspoiled mountains of Sakunami outside Sendai's city center.

Access the Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery from Sendai Station via the JR Senzan Line to Sakunami Station in about 40 minutes. From there, it is a 40-minute walk. You can also catch the free hourly shuttle running on weekends and holidays from the same station. Note that he service does not operate on weekends and holidays when the distillery is closed.

Taketsuru went to Scotland in his twenties and returned with the secrets of whisky making and a Scottish wife, Rita. His whisky business quickly expanded, and before long, all of Japan would know the brand name Nikka. See the fruits of his labors on a factory tour.

The whisky tours are in Japanese, but they are easy enough to understand with the English-language pamphlet and visuals. Take in the eye-catching red brick warehouses, smell the aromas of barrel-aged whisky, and freely sample several styles of whisky at the end of the tour.

A gift shop sells various branded goods and snacks. You can purchase limited edition whiskies here.

The latest information may differ, so please check the official website