Saijo Sake Brewery Street: The Charm of One of Japan's Three Great Sake Regions

Saijo in Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, is a town representative of Japanese sake brewing, counted among the three great sake regions of Japan alongside Nada in Hyogo and Fushimi in Kyoto. Within walking distance of Saijo Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line, seven breweries, Kamotsuru, Hakubotan, Kirei, Saijotsuru, Kamoizumi, Fukubijin, and Sanyotsuru, are concentrated and beloved as Sake Brewery Street. The townscape lined with red brick chimneys and white namako-plastered walls holds a distinctive charm, as if time has been turned back.

Highlights

Saijo sake is characterized by a fine, mellow, and rich flavor born from the soft-water brewing method using mineral-poor soft water. In the Edo period, brewing with soft water was considered difficult because fermentation progressed poorly, but in the Meiji era the brewer Miura Senzaburo, a native of Akitsu, established this method through much trial and error, lifting Hiroshima into one of the nation's leading sake regions.

Along Sake Brewery Street, many breweries offer tours and tastings, letting you enjoy the differences in flavor while comparing each brewery's flagship brands. Wells of famous water used for brewing stand throughout, and being able to draw and taste it freely is a hallmark of a true sake town. Strolling while looking up at the retro chimneys is a popular, photogenic route, and sake sweets and dishes made with sake lees are not to be missed either.

Seasonal Enjoyment

Brewery tours can be enjoyed year-round, but winter into spring, when new sake circulates, is especially recommended. Every October the Saijo Sake Festival is held, drawing visitors on the scale of several hundred thousand from across the country and making it one of Hiroshima Prefecture's largest festivals. At the Sake Plaza, where local sakes from all over Japan gather, enthusiasts flock from nationwide to taste and compare renowned brews.

Access and Basic Information

The base is Saijo Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line, with Sake Brewery Street a 5 to 10 minute walk away. From Hiroshima Station, figure on 30 to 40 minutes by rapid or local train. The seven breweries gather on the south side of the station and can be leisurely toured on foot. Tour and tasting days, times, and fees differ by brewery, and some may charge, so it is reassuring to check each brewery's official information in advance.

Practical Travel Notes

Because Sake Brewery Street is toured mainly on foot, comfortable shoes are recommended. If you plan to enjoy tastings, access by rail without driving is the safe choice. After comparing brews, do not forget to hydrate at the famous-water wells. Allow about half a day for strolling; touring all seven breweries can fill a whole day. Direct-sale shops offering tastings and souvenirs dot the area, with a budget of a few thousand yen including tastings and gifts. During the Sake Festival, lodging and trains become extremely crowded, so early planning is essential.

A Word of Advice

Because each brewery has a distinctly different flavor, the real joy of a Saijo stroll is comparing brews to find your favorite. Taste in small amounts and at a comfortable pace. If you are driving, never drink, and use public transportation.

📚 Sources

The information in this article is organized from tourism details on Saijo published by the city of Higashihiroshima and the Higashihiroshima tourism association, along with public guidance from the breweries along the sake-brewery street. Reception for brewery tours and tastings and information on the sake festival can be checked through each operator's official information. Fees, hours, and access may change, so please always confirm with official sources before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About 2 to 3 hours to walk the brewery street and visit a few, or half a day to enjoy it slowly.
• What to bring: Prepare cash for tastings and souvenirs, and refrain from tasting if you will be driving.
• Getting around: The brewery street is within walking distance of JR Saijo Station, so access by train is convenient.
• Suggested route: Starting from the station, walk the breweries along the street and take in townscape features such as the wells and chimneys.
• A note on use: If you enjoy tastings, use public transport and keep within a comfortable limit.