Kojima Sohonten (株式会社小嶋総本店)
Kojima Sohonten is a brewery in Yonezawa, Yamagata, founded in 1597 and making sake under the Toko brand. Visitors can tour the sake museum and shop at the Toko no Sakagura site. KIKI lists 2 of its bottles.
- Bottles listed
- 2
- Makes
- Sake
- Japan Sake Awards
- 3 golds
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
The brewery was founded in 1597 by the first head of the Kojima family as Kojima Sakaya on its present site, and in the Edo period it served as a sake brewer to the Uesugi family's domain. In the mid-18th century it also ran a dyeing business, and in 1757 the head of the family was made a town elder with samurai status. The business became a company in 1952, and in 1984 the former brewhouse was renovated to open the sake museum Toko no Sakagura.
What makes it distinct
- Water
- The brewery's well water rises at about 11 degrees Celsius, the annual average temperature of Yonezawa.
- Ingredients
- The brewery set up the Yonezawa Sake Rice Study Group and grows rice with contract farmers.
- Also
- The brewery values brewing that starts in the rice paddies and handmade work.
Visiting
- Tours
- Shop
- Tasting & food
The sake museum Toko no Sakagura offers tours, tasting and shopping. It opens from 9:00 to 16:30. It is closed on December 31, January 1 and 2, and on Tuesdays from January to March. Shopping at the sales counter needs no admission fee.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: sake-toko.co.jp
Bottles from this brewery
The app finds 26 bottles from this maker by their label (2 on this site).
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 8 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 3.
- Prize (nyusho)東光PDF
- Prize (nyusho)東光PDF
- Gold prize東光PDF
- Prize (nyusho)東光PDF
- Prize (nyusho)東光PDF
- Gold prize東光PDF
- Gold prize東光PDF
- Prize (nyusho)東光PDF
Source: the prize lists of the Japan Sake Awards (National Research Institute of Brewing and Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association).