Leisurely Stroll Through a Designated Historic Townscape of White-Walled Sake Breweries
About this spot
The central street running through Hama Post Town, a port town that flourished with sake brewing since the Edo period, is lined with white-walled earthen-structure sake breweries and traditional townhouses. Designated as a nationally Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District, it thrived as a post town on the Tara Highway and as a transportation hub on the Hamakawa River. Blessed with quality rice and water from the Tara Mountain range, sake brewing took root here. Active breweries still produce sake today, and this street is home to the brewery that created 'Nabeshima,' a world-renowned sake that has topped international competitions. Walking slowly along the street of white walls, cedar balls marking breweries, and latticed windows, you may catch the gentle waft of sake fragrance. This intimate townscape offers another highlight of Kashima, steeped in Japanese aesthetic sensibility.
Tips
The street remains a living community, so be respectful of residents when taking photos. Some breweries offer tours and tastings while others are production facilities only, so enjoy the freedom of peeking into open doorways. Stone-paved and gravel sections are present, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Best time to visit
Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes required. The soft afternoon light beautifully illuminates the white walls, making this the ideal time for a town walk.
Access & map
〒849-1322 Kashima City, Saga Prefecture, Hama Town Otsu 2696
Model course featuring this spot
Kashima: Yutoku Inari Shrine and Hizen-Hama Post Town - Scarlet Pagodas and Sake Brewery Walk
Saga
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