Wakabayashi Jozo (若林醸造株式会社)
Wakabayashi Jozo is a sake brewery in Ueda, Nagano, at the foot of Bessho Onsen in the Shiodadaira area, making sake under the Tsukiyoshino brands.
- Makes
- Sake
- Japan Sake Awards
- 2 golds
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
Wakabayashi Manbei founded the brewery in 1896 at Nakano in Shiodadaira, brewing sake and soy sauce. It became a company in 1920 and for years took part in joint production. In 2015 it renovated an unused koji room and resumed its own koji making. In 2016 Wakabayashi Mami, second daughter of the fourth-generation owner, became the toji and the brewery returned to brewing in-house. Since 2024 all rice used for its sake has been grown in Nagano.
What makes it distinct
- Ingredients
- Hitogokochi, Sankeinishiki, Miyamanishiki and Yamadanishiki are grown in fields in Ueda and Tomi.
- Style
- Label colors signal different flavors, from sweet to dry, each bottling with its own concept.
- Also
- Pressing is done slowly without sudden pressure.
Visiting
- Shop
A retail shop is attached to the office; business hours are weekdays 9:00 to 16:00.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: tsukiyoshino.com
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 3 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).