Sake Brewery Museum Toko no Sakagura (酒造資料館 東光の酒蔵)

Flow of the course

About this spot

A sake brewery museum opened by Kojima Sohonten, the sake brewer that has served as official purveyor to the Uesugi family of the Yonezawa domain since its founding in the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Open to the public inside an old-fashioned sake brewery said to be among the largest of its kind in the Tohoku region, the museum displays the brewing hall that supported sake-making in deeply snowbound Yonezawa, along with sake-brewing tools and a charmingly recreated bookkeeping office, evoking the work of the brewery craftsmen of old. The cool air of the storehouse itself is part of the exhibit, telling the story of the snow country's sake culture. After touring, try a tasting of the brewery's flagship label Toko at the shop, and pick out a souvenir bottle. Nostalgic for the grandparents' generation and fresh for the grandchildren's, this sake brewery space is a fitting final stop on your historical stroll through the castle town.

Tips

About a 10-minute walk from Uesugi Shrine, or a few minutes by car, with parking available. Tastings are not available for drivers or those under 20, so if you're driving, try the brewing water or amazake to experience the brewery's flavor instead. Even in summer, it's cool inside the storehouse, so something to layer on makes it comfortable.

Best time to visit

About 45 minutes. Things get rushed right before closing, so entering by the 3pm hour allows for a relaxed visit.

Access & map

〒992-0031 Yamagata Prefecture, Yonezawa City, Omachi 2-chome ３−２２