Konotomo Shuzo (此の友酒造株式会社)
Konotomo Shuzo is a brewery in Asago, Hyogo, making sake and shochu under the Konotomo, Tajima, Kakoya and Ame no Hiboko names. It was founded in 1690.
What kind of brewery is Konotomo Shuzo?
The Kimura family is said to descend from a retainer of the Takeda clan and later settled in Tajima. They began brewing and trading in Yanase under the Kakoya name, and the brewery traces its founding to 1690. A lord of the Toyooka domain is recorded as having rested at the house during his travels. The business became a company in 1919 as Kakoya Sakaten, and took its present name in 1988.
- Water
- Spring water from Mount Awaka is used for everything from rinsing rice to brewing.
- Ingredients
- The brewery uses Hyogo-grown sake rice, Yamada Nishiki and Gohyakumangoku.
- Master brewer
- Sake is brewed by the toji's craft in the Tajima tradition.
- Style
- The brewery keeps traditional methods and ferments slowly at low temperatures.
Can you visit Konotomo Shuzo?
- Tours
Tours are by advance booking and free of charge, with guided visits from May to October, 9:00 to 16:00.
- Shop
The shop next to the brewery sells its brands.
Hours and booking rules change, so check before you go. Official website
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: konotomo.jp
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 7 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 5.
- Prize (nyusho)但馬PDF
- Gold prize但馬PDF
- Gold prize但馬PDF
- Gold prize但馬PDF
- Prize (nyusho)但馬PDF
- Gold prize但馬PDF
- Gold prize但馬PDF
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.