Aiyu Shuzo (愛友酒造株式会社)
Aiyu Shuzo is a brewery in Itako, Ibaraki, making sake with water from the Omi-ido spring and rice from the Itako area. It traces its origins to the late Edo period.
- Makes
- Sake
- Japan Sake Awards
- 1 gold
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
Aiyu Shuzo grew out of a koji-making shop trading under the name Kotomo in the Edo period. Using that craft, the first head of the family, Kanehira Tsunenana, founded the brewery in Itako in 1804 (Bunka 1). The name Aiyu carries the wish that friends should love each other and drink together. The company was established as a corporation on 1 May 1958, and the eighth head of the family, Kanehira Rikako, now leads it.
What makes it distinct
- Water
- Brews with water from the Omi-ido spring at Ogou Shrine.
- Ingredients
- Uses rice from Itako in Ibaraki and carefully chosen rice from across Japan.
Visiting
- Tours
- Shop
- Tasting & food
Free brewery tours run every day, with check-in from 9:00 to 16:00 on the hour and about 45 minutes per visit. Tastings follow the tour and the on-site shop sells the brewery's products, open year-round from 9:00 to 17:00. Bus groups need a reservation.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: aiyu-sake.jp
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 2 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 1.
Source: the prize lists of the Japan Sake Awards (National Research Institute of Brewing and Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association).