MiyazakiTravel

Free Shochu Factory Tour at the Home of Kuro Kirishima

About this spot

A visitor-friendly factory facility operated by Kirishima Distillery in Miyakonojo, their home base and the birthplace of the shochu 'Kuro Kirishima,' known throughout Japan. The expansive grounds feature brick-style buildings and lawns, and on the free factory tour, you can watch up close as sweet potato shochu is mixed, fermented, and bottled. The grounds also include a shop stocked with shochu and limited-edition merchandise, a restaurant where you can taste craft beer, a bakery, and a popular water collection point for 'Kirishima Crack Water,' the natural spring water used in shochu production. It's a prime opportunity for souvenir shopping for alcohol enthusiasts and a chance to experience the energy of a working production facility—a true Miyakonojo highlight.

Tips

Factory tours operate on set dates and times, and advance reservations may be required, so check the official website beforehand. If you're driving, skip the tastings and save your souvenir bottle for home. Bringing an empty plastic bottle allows you to take home some of the brewing water from the collection point.