The first time I heard about Otokoyama is when I was browsing the Goshu Inchou website for some inspiration for my current Japan trip. When reading the Japanese name of the brewery, it made me giggle a bit. The name translates to ‘Man Mountain’, and a brewery with such a name I simply can’t ignore, right? Located in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, a place I have never been before, I saw this as a double win.
The name ‘Otokoyama’ is not a unique name when it comes to sake. It’s been used history, and at one point it was even sake for the shogunate. It’s commonly depited in woodblock prints and paintings as well. Something that the brewery museum focusses on.
I suggest people take the bus to visit this Otokoyama. I decided to walk to the brewery from the nearest train station, and that took almost 45 minutes. I primarily did it to get my exercise in, but I can imagine it’s not for everyone.
When you enter the terrain of the brewery, first just appreciate the beautiful garden in front of the brewery. Even though it was already late Autumn, it still looked amazing. I also really liked the fact that there was a spot near the entrance to try the water that the brewery uses to make their sake.
Entering the museum part of the brewery, I was able to explore three floors. The top floor has a lot of old equipment that the brewery used in the past to make sake, like poles, mash tuns etc. This is practically a staple feature of a lot of brewery displays. I was able to watch a nice informative video about Otokoyama and it’s history, which was a lot of fun actually.
The second floor had displays that mostly focussed on historical woodprints, celebrities that visited the brewery and awards wonat different sake contests. I also enjoyed the fact that both the second floor and the third floor give you a peek inside the brewery itself.
The ground floor was reserved for the shop and the tasting area. There is both a free and a paid tasting available at the facility. The free tasting has a couple of their Junmai sake available to try, while the paid tasting (100 yen a cup) had (Junmai) Daiginjo sake. Most of the sake I tried where quite mellow, easy to drink and high in umami.
The trip to see this museum/brewery was a very fun one. Although the location isn’t great if you don’t have a car, the museum itself will keep you entertained for a while.
Otokoyama Shuzou
〒079-8412
7 Chome-1-33 Nagayama 2 Jo, Asahikawa, Hokkaido
2 minute walk from Nagayama 2-Jo 8-Chome bus stop
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