Murai Jozo (村井醸造株式会社)
Murai Jozo is a sake brewery in Makabe, Sakuragawa, Ibaraki. It brews slightly dry sake with Tsukuba subterranean water and mainly Yamadanishiki, and its historic buildings are registered cultural properties.
What kind of brewery is Murai Jozo?
A merchant from Omi, Murai Juusuke, opened a soy sauce and miso shop in Makabe in Hitachi Province during the Enpo era in the early Edo period. The first Juusuke is said to have started business here because of the good rice and water. Heads of the family took the name Murai Juusuke for generations, and the current head is the 12th generation. The Meiji-era shop, the Taisho-era stone storehouse and side storehouse, and the early Showa chimney are registered cultural properties.
- Water
- Brews with subterranean water from the Tsukuba mountain range, drawn from a well.
- Ingredients
- Mainly uses Yamadanishiki as brewing rice.
- Master brewer
- The toji is a Nanbu toji from Iwate.
- Style
- Slightly dry sake that values the aroma that appears in the mouth.
- Other
- The stone storehouse holds the koji room and is used for making the yeast starter.
Can you visit Murai Jozo?
- Tours
Brewery tours require advance booking via the contact form or phone, and may be unavailable in busy periods or during works. A VR tour is also offered.
Hours and booking rules change, so check before you go. Official website
Other brewery tours in Ibaraki
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: komei.co.jp