Kurozu Garden Tsubobatake (黒酢ガーデン壺畑)

Flow of the course

About this spot

This is the black vinegar information center run by Sakamoto Brewing, located on a hillside in Fukuyama, Kirishima City. In front of it spreads a field of more than 50,000 Satsuma-ware aman jars lined up in rows, and beyond them, a view of Kinko Bay and Sakurajima found nowhere else. Fukuyama's black vinegar is made using a traditional method in which rice, malted rice, and groundwater are placed in jars and slowly fermented and aged outdoors, relying on the power of the sun. The exhibits inside the center make it easy to learn about this process and its history. Tasting black vinegar drinks and shopping at the store, which stocks black vinegar of various aging periods, are also part of the fun. Take your time savoring the scenery unique to this home of black vinegar, where a hillside packed with jars, the sea, and a volcano come together.

Tips

The jar fields are outdoors with little shade, so a hat and sunscreen are reassuring. The tour and tasting are free and easy to enjoy. Black vinegar souvenirs are mostly sold in bottles and can get heavy, so it's a good idea to load your purchases into the car right away to move around more easily. Since lunch is planned at Kakuida next, focus here on the scenery and tastings.

Best time to visit

About 1 hour 10 minutes. In the clear morning air, Sakurajima can be seen clearly beyond the jar fields

Access & map

〒899-4501 鹿児島県霧島市福山町福山３０７５