Shimazaki Shuzo (株式会社島崎酒造)
Shimazaki Shuzo is a brewery, founded in 1849. This brewery in Nasukarasuyama, Tochigi Prefecture makes the sake Azumarikishi. It ages sake over the long term in a cave brewery built in a former wartime underground factory.
- Makes
- Sake
- Japan Sake Awards
- 2 golds
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
In 1849 the first head, Shimazaki Hikobei, began brewing in Nakagawa Village, Haga District (today's Motegi). The second head, Kumakichi, took over a brewing house in Karasuyama. The Azumarikishi name comes from Kumakichi's love of sumo. Since 1970 the brewery has worked on long-aged sake, mainly daiginjo, in a cave that was once an underground factory built late in the war and has served as a sake storehouse since 2007. The sixth head took over in 2012.
What makes it distinct
- Water
- Brewing uses subterranean water of the Naka River, which rises in the foothills of Mt. Nasu.
- Style
- It makes sake aged long in a cave where the temperature averages about 10°C year-round.
- Also
- The cave runs 600 m in total and holds about 100,000 bottles.
Visiting
- Tours
- Shop
The cave brewery opens on weekends, public holidays, Golden Week and Obon from 10:00 to 16:00, with no reservation needed; admission is 300 yen for adults and free for under 20. On other days tours are possible with a booking two days ahead, and the main store sells sake and offers tastings.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: azumarikishi.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 2.
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.