Matsui Shuzoten (株式会社松井酒造店)
Matsui Shuzoten is a sake brewery in Funyu, Shioya, Tochigi Prefecture, where the president Matsui serves as owner and toji and brews the Matsu no Kotobuki brand.
What kind of brewery is Matsui Shuzoten?
The brewery began in 1865 as the Matsui Kurouji shop and started sake making. It became Matsui Shuzoten Co., Ltd. in 1953, and the Shojukan office and exhibition hall was completed in 1996. Anticipating an aging toji workforce, the president Matsui trained himself and now works as both owner and toji. He was certified as the first Shimotsuke toji in 2006, and the taste does not change with a change of toji.
- Water
- The brewing water is ultra-soft spring water from the hill behind the brewery.
- Style
- Brewing is done in the cold season, using winter's chill, with careful small-scale methods.
- Master brewer
- The president, Matsui, brews as owner and toji.
Can you visit Matsui Shuzoten?
- ToursOffered
- Shop
The shop is open 10:00 to 17:00 and closed Sundays and holidays (open in December).
Hours and booking rules change, so check before you go. Official website
Other brewery tours in Tochigi
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: matsunokotobuki.jp
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 7 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 2.
- Prize (nyusho)松の寿PDF
- Prize (nyusho)松の寿PDF
- Prize (nyusho)松の寿PDF
- Prize (nyusho)松の寿PDF
- Gold prize松の寿PDF
- Prize (nyusho)松の寿PDF
- Gold prize松の寿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.