Home > Otaru Tourist Portal > Breweries in Otaru

Otaru, a city popular for the nostalgic atmosphere created by the Otaru Canal and historical buildings, is a historic port town that was once a distribution hub for Hokkaido, known as the leading commercial city in northern Japan. Next to it is Yoichi Town, famous for "Massan and Rita" (Nikka Whisky's distillery) and currently Hokkaido's top producer of wine grapes.

The Shiribeshi region of Hokkaido, which includes Otaru City and Yoichi Town, is home to many breweries, distilleries, and wineries that produce sake, beer, whiskey, wine, and gin, thanks to its historical background and climate. Here, we introduce six of these numerous sake-making facilities.

Giving Otaru as a gift.

From UNGAPLUS, which delivers "The Story of Otaru"
that walked with the Kitamaebune from the "Former Otaru Warehouse" overlooking the canal,
we introduce "Places to visit in Otaru."

Please enjoy "Otaru."

See more Otaru gourmet food

Delicious Otaru Alcohol - Otaru Sightseeing ①

Sake - Tanaka Shuzo Kikkogura

Kikkogura, famous for local sake "Takaragawa" and "Year-Round Brewing."

At its peak, Otaru had over 50 sake breweries, but now only Tanaka Shuzo, which produces the local Otaru sake "Takaragawa," remains. Tanaka Shuzo is a brewery that has been in business for 120 years since its establishment in 1899 (Meiji 32), with two stores in the city, and has been loved by the citizens for many years. Kikkogura, which has become a tourist attraction in Otaru, is a one-story (partially two-story) wooden-frame stone building group of the former Okazaki Warehouses, built in 1905, and is designated as a "Historic Building" by Otaru City.

Tanaka Shuzo has three distinguishing features. First, all raw materials for their sake are Hokkaido-grown rice. Second, all the sake they brew is junmai-shu (pure rice sake). Third, they are a "Shiki Jozo-gura" (year-round brewing cellar) that brews throughout the year. While sake brewing typically involves "kanzukuri" (cold brewing) in winter, Kikkogura brews all year. This means you can observe sake brewing at any time of year.

Since 1998, when Hokkaido-grown sake rice was developed, Tanaka Shuzo has been using "Suisei" cultivated in Niseko, Otofuke, Furuhe, Atsuma, and other locations. "Shiboritate Nama Genshu" (freshly pressed raw sake) is a precious sake that can only be tasted at the brewery, but it is available for tasting year-round at Kikkogura.

Delicious Otaru Alcohol - Otaru Sightseeing ②

Wine - OSA WINERY

Making wines that enrich the dining table.

OSA WINERY, established in Otaru in 2015, is an urban winery that renovated a more than 100-year-old stone warehouse into a winemaking facility. Run by a husband-and-wife team, both are certified sommeliers, cultivating grapes in their own vineyard and handling everything from brewing to sales.

Their concept is "happy wine." With the wish that everyone who picks up and drinks their wine feels happy, they value the rich aroma and taste characteristic of Hokkaido, aiming to create wines that make meals enjoyable.

When they started making wine, they traveled all over Japan searching for a place where they could realize their vision. They found Otaru, Hokkaido, to be the most appealing, describing it as "a place with ingredients that pair well with wine, and close to the sea."

Currently, they cultivate grapes in Otaru and Yoichi, producing about 10,000 bottles annually. They strive daily to make wines with excellent aroma that enhance everyday meals and enrich the dining experience.

Delicious Otaru Alcohol - Otaru Sightseeing ③

Wine - Hokkaido Wine

Ranked 1st in Hokkaido for production, and 6th nationwide.

Hokkaido Wine Co., Ltd., headquartered in Otaru City, is a winery that brews only "Japanese Wine" at its Otaru brewery, utilizing its 447-hectare "Tsurunuma Winery" in Urausu Town and collaborating with about 300 contract farmers centered in Yoichi Town. Currently, it ranks first in Hokkaido and sixth nationwide in terms of production volume.

It began when Akemi Shimamura, from Yamanashi Prefecture, who had been involved with grapes since childhood, was impressed by Hokkaido's climate and natural features, believing that "authentic Japanese wine can be made here." In 1972, he pioneered 45 hectares of wilderness and began cultivating grapes. After many hardships and trials, a German Keller Meister joined in 1977, and from then on, Hokkaido Wine developed significantly.

They brew a wide variety of wines highly praised in domestic and international wine competitions. The headquarters brewery, with a view of Otaru's sea and cityscape, houses a direct sales store called "Otaru Wine Gallery." Here, visitors can learn about the challenging history of the company's founding, tour the winery through glass, and taste delicious seasonal wines.

Delicious Otaru Alcohol - Otaru Sightseeing ④

Beer - Otaru Beer Otaru Soko No.1

Authentic German beer made only with water, malt, and hops.

"Otaru Beer" is an authentic German-style beer brewed primarily at the Zenibako brewery in Otaru City. Otaru Soko No.1 was established in 1995 by renovating a stone warehouse on the Otaru Canal, functioning as a facility where visitors can enjoy Otaru Beer and experience the atmosphere of a German beer pub, complete with an attached brewery. German brew engineer Johannes Braun oversees everything from sourcing malt and hops to brewing guidance, ensuring authentic German beer, complemented by a chef's proudly prepared dishes made with local ingredients.

Otaru Beer, brewed according to the German Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law), is an authentic German beer made only from water, malt, and hops. In addition to the three regular types—Pilsner, Dunkel, and Weiss—seasonal beers, fruit beers, herb beers, light beers, and Schnapps (a popular German spirit) are also available.

Otaru Soko No.1 allows visitors to enjoy fresh Otaru Beer by the Otaru Canal while watching the active brewing kettles. The attached brewery is also open for free tours at any time.

Delicious Otaru Alcohol - Otaru Sightseeing ⑤

Craft Gin - Shakotan Spirit

Passing on the new history and culture of Shakotan to the next generation.

"Shakotan Spirit," which creates craft gin using abundant local botanicals, opened in Shakotan Town in the spring of 2020. Botanicals are the plants used to flavor gin.

The company name "Shakotan Spirit" embodies "spirits" meaning distilled liquor, and also the "spirit" of the people of Shakotan and gin lovers. Gin not only warms people but also ignites their hearts, giving them courage and hope. The name also reflects their determination to create a new history and culture for Shakotan, riding the "wind" of gin, and pass it on to future generations.

By making gin from plants that grow wild in the vibrant land of Shakotan and from plants harvested from their own botanical garden, they hope that local people will also pay attention to the unique vegetation of this area. Shakotan Spirit believes that if interest in regional vegetation expands, attention will also be directed towards nurturing the trees in the forest that bring abundant harvests, leading to further conservation of the natural environment not only in Shakotan but also worldwide.

Delicious Otaru Alcohol - Otaru Sightseeing ⑥

Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery

Traditional techniques unchanged since its founding.

Yoichi, Hokkaido, was chosen by Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky and known as "the father of Japanese whisky," as the location for his first distillery. In a climate and rich natural environment often likened to Scotland, the distillery continues to produce robust and rich malt whisky using traditional techniques unchanged since its founding.

"I want as many Japanese people as possible to drink authentic whisky." With this passionate desire, Masataka Taketsuru traveled alone to Scotland in 1918 and learned whisky making with an indomitable spirit. The Yoichi Distillery is Nikka Whisky's first distillery, founded by Taketsuru, who sought an ideal place for whisky making. To faithfully recreate the whisky making he learned without compromise, Taketsuru searched for a climate and natural environment similar to Scotland among many candidate locations, and chose Yoichi, located in the northern land, at the base of the Shakotan Peninsula, west of Otaru.

In February 2022, several facilities, including the kiln tower (first drying tower), were designated as Important Cultural Properties, recognized as invaluable historical assets in the development of Japan's whisky industry. The Yoichi Distillery sells several types of whisky, including "Yoichi Distillery Limited Blended Whisky," exclusively at the distillery's shop.

UNGAPLUS

Good fortune from Otaru, a city of maritime transport...
May your luck open up, powered by the continuous flow that has been preserved.

During the Meiji era, Otaru prospered as the gateway to the development of Hokkaido.
Kitamaebune ships sailed the vast ocean with their white sails, bringing many goods and cultures to this land through their trade with Honshu.

UNGAPLUS delivers original products reflecting the history and culture still remaining in Otaru, along with quality goods from Kitamaebune ports of call, from the "Former Otaru Warehouse Main Building," the first commercial warehouse in Hokkaido built by Kitamaebune ship owners Sozaemon Nishide and Shohachi Nishitani.

From this place, the story of Otaru, which walked with the Kitamaebune.

We look forward to your visit, offering a selection of unique original items that make great souvenirs.

"UNGAPLUS" Details here