HokkaidoLeisure

Takasago Shuzo Co., Ltd. (高砂酒造㈱)

Flow of the course

About 70 min here

About 20 min to the next stop

Next stop: Catch the river breeze in a garden on the banks of the Chubetsu River (忠別川)

About this spot

A brewery that has operated in Asahikawa since the Meiji era opens its wooden sake storehouse, built in the Taisho era, as a shop. Inside, the thick beams and board-lined space remain exactly as they were, and it is strikingly cool, as if the heat outside did not exist. The explanation that Asahikawa became a sake-producing area because it is blessed with underground water from the Daisetsuzan Mountains (大雪山系) is a discovery children can relate to right before a day of water play. The shop also carries sake lees, amazake and other items you can share with children. Admission is free and it does not take long, making it a perfect first stop for the day.

Tips

Admission is free, but check the opening hours and closing days in advance. There is a tasting corner, so decide in advance who will drive so that person does not drink. Products are displayed throughout the shop, so hold hands with children as you walk around rather than letting them run. Follow the signs at the brewery for the parking area.