Buko Shuzo (武甲酒造)
Buko Shuzo is a small brewery in Chichibu, Saitama, making sake under the Buko Masamune brand by hand. Its shop building is a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and it offers brewery tours and tastings. It was founded in 1753.
What kind of brewery is Buko Shuzo?
The brewery was founded in 1753, in the mid-Edo period, and is also known as Yanagida Sohonten. It moved several times in search of better brewing water before settling at its present site. The eighth-generation head, Kamekichi, built the current brewing, grain and storage buildings over several years, and the shop is said to date from an earlier generation. In 2004 the shop was designated a nationally registered tangible cultural property.
- Water
- The brewing water is well water from the Bukozan subterranean flow, medium-hard in character. Visitors can take some home in their own containers during opening hours.
- Style
- The brewery continues to make hand-crafted sake in a small kura.
Can you visit Buko Shuzo?
- Tours
Brewery tours run daily through the year (some days unavailable due to work), 8:00 to 16:30, about 40 minutes, free but reservation required (tel. 0494-22-0046).
- Shop
The shop sells the brewery's products and tastings are available on a self-serve machine.
- Tasting & foodOffered
Hours and booking rules change, so check before you go. Official website
Other brewery tours in Saitama
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: bukou.co.jp
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 4 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 3.
Source: the prize lists of the Japan Sake Awards (National Research Institute of Brewing and Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association). Brewing year 2019 had no final judging, so no gold prizes.