Yamauchi Shuzo (山内酒造株式会社)
Yamauchi Shuzo is a small sake brewery in Nakatsugawa, Gifu, in the Ura-Kiso area, making junmai sake by hand with traditional methods such as wooden-tub steaming and wooden-press pressing.
What kind of brewery is Yamauchi Shuzo?
The founding year is unknown; tradition holds that a samurai who fled from Kamakura began brewing sake in these mountains. The brewery continued for 21 generations, making Haru Ichibanchi and Onozakura. With no successor in sight, the current owner, who had run a liquor shop in Nakatsugawa, took it over, studied for the toji qualification in Hiroshima, became the 22nd head, and added the new brand Fukamori.
- Water
- Brewing water is very soft subterranean water from Onozawa, behind the brewery.
- Ingredients
- Rice is mainly local Naegi-grown rice from Nakatsugawa, plus Hidahomare and Gohyakumangoku from Gifu.
- Style
- Rice is steamed in a traditional kettle with a wooden-tub koshiki and pressed in a wooden press.
Can you visit Yamauchi Shuzo?
- Tours
Brewery tours show traditional wooden brewing tools and require advance booking. Phone 0573-65-2619.
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: yamauchisyuzou.com