Saijo, counted among Japan's three great brewing towns, is the rare 'sake capital' you can cover entirely on foot. Five minutes from JR Saijo Station begins the Sakagura-dori brewery street: white plaster walls, lattticed namako tiles, and a skyline of red-brick chimneys. Kamotsuru, Kirei, Hakubotan and Saijotsuru stand nearly door to door, each with its own tasting room or shop. Hiroshima is the birthplace of soft-water ginjo brewing, and only in Saijo can you compare its results with a few minutes' stroll between kura. Come in October and the whole town turns into the Sake Matsuri, one of Japan's great drinking festivals.
Model course (half day)
Morning — from JR Saijo Station onto the brewery street; start at Kamotsuru's No. 1 Kura visitor hall for the big picture
Late morning — a few minutes' walk to Kirei Shuzo for a dry-sake tasting at its shop
Midday — Hakubotan's Tenpo warehouse and exhibition room: Saijo's oldest house, founded 1675
Afternoon — one last cup at Saijotsuru, then a five-minute stroll back to the station
Breweries & Facilities
Getting There
About 40 min from Hiroshima Station on the JR Sanyo Line to Saijo Station; the brewery street starts just outside. Roughly 25 min by car from Hiroshima Airport.
FAQ
- How much time do I need?
- Half a day (3–4 hours) covers all four breweries with tastings. The street is compact — every kura is a few minutes' walk from the next.
- When is the Sake Matsuri?
- Every October. Brands from all over Japan pour at this famous festival — book accommodation early, as the town fills up fast.
- Are tastings free?
- It varies by brewery — some pour free samples, others charge a small fee. Check each brewery card below for official details.