Hokkaido is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan. Everyone in the prefecture knows that Hokkaido, which boasts the largest area, is a treasure trove of mountain and seafood and ingredients.
Sake is indispensable for a variety of ingredients that take advantage of the great nature of Hokkaido. The production of rice, which is the raw material for sake, is thriving to compete for 1 and 2 as well as Niigata, a well-known rice source.
Here are some recommended sakes in Hokkaido.
The history of Hokkaido sake
Hokkaido used to be called “Hiji” and was a land with a different culture and customs from Honshu.
In such Hokkaido, sake brewing began in the Edo period, but sake brewing that meets the current Japanese sake standards is relatively new in Meiji 5.
There is a background that dispatched pioneers to remote areas, the pioneering progressed, the population increased, the demand for sake began to grow gradually, and at the same time, sake brewing was also flourishing.
Although it is not so much now, it is said that there was a sake brewery that exceeded 200 at its peak.
The feature of Hokkaido sake is that it is surrounded by the sea and has abundant seafood.
However, because of the spread of food culture and the increasing number of overseas food cultures, sake brewing with rich and mellow features can be seen.
Compared to sake brewing in other parts of the country, the ratio of pure rice sake is high, and sake made from Hokkaido rice has become a share of 6.
Characteristics of Hokkaido sake
The preparation of sake is done in the cold winter season, as many people know. There was a problem with raw rice, but in terms of water and climate, it can be said to be a very suitable land for sake making.
A feature of Hokkaido sake is that many people mention it as “taste dry”.
If you like dry sake, why don't you try Hokkaido sake once?
However, it's not just dry, but some sake breweries also make rich and mellow types of sake, which is highly appreciated.
For rice that is suitable for sake brewing, which has been a problem until now, rice from Hokkaido is now being used, among which 3 conforming rices of “Ginpu”, “Suisei” and “Kitashizuku” Has become a popular rice brewery popular not only in Hokkaido but also nationwide.
Another feature is that the percentage of pure rice liquor is higher than in Japan.
Many of the pure rice sakes produced in other areas often have a taste that matches the expression of being heavy compared to ginjo sake, but Hokkaido pure rice sake has a high percentage of rice polishing. It has the characteristic of being refreshing and easy to drink by using the sake brewery's original manufacturing method.
Hokkaido recommended sake 8 selection
Recommended for Japanese sake in Hokkaido 1: Kuni Rare Brewery "Kuni Rare Special Pure Rice"
A mountain with an altitude of 3 meters, an area of 4 town in the west of Hokkaido's Sorachi Promotion Bureau and the east of Rumoi Promotion Bureau.
It is a rare feature of the country that it is manufactured using high-quality water that springs from this hot and cold Mt.
The hot spring water of Betsudake is famous for being super soft even in Japan.
In particular, special pure rice is made from carefully selected Hokkaido rice, and no extra ingredients are used.
This sake has the characteristics of Hokkaido's sake, and it has a fresh taste of sake + 4.
Making full use of the umami of rice to achieve a refreshing mouth. It is famous as the northernmost sake brewery in Japan, and it has a desire to provide good sake that is rarely seen in Japan.
It uses 500 million stones that are brewing-compatible rice, and the rice polishing rate is 55%. One of the insults that has been politely pouring the traditional skills possessed by Mr. Nambu is becoming popular among restaurants in Hokkaido, especially the coffee shop.
| Manufacturer Kazuma Shuzo | Click here for Amazon sales site |
| Home page https://www.kunimare.co.jp/ | National rare brewing |
Recommended for sake in Hokkaido 2: “North Inaho Daiginjo”
Kita Inaho is a sake brewed by the historical sake brewing man mountain corporation founded in 1887 (Meiji 20).
Among them, Daiginjo Sake is a sake that incorporates Mr. Tsuji's will and pride, and is a must-try for Japanese sake from Hokkaido.
In the Edo period, you should know the sake called “Otokoyama” that is famous as the manufacturer of the Kinoya Yamamoto headquarters in Itami, Hyogo.
Otoyama Co., Ltd. is famous as the successor to this Otoyama party. The distinctive ginjo incense that is gorgeous and fruity, and the ginjo sake that is attractive for its soft taste, are the characteristics of Kita Inaho.
In 1977, it is the first sake in the world to receive the Mondo Selection Gold Award, and it is highly regarded as a sake that can be used to create marijuana with various dishes.
| Manufacturer Otokoyama Co., Ltd. | Click here for Amazon sales site |
| Home page https://www.otokoyama.com/corp/ | Kitanoho Daiginjo |
Recommended for Japanese sake in Hokkaido 3: “Junmai Ginjo Daiyukinokura Kinyuki”
If you want to enjoy the “local sake” that is unique to Hokkaido, Daisetsukura is a sake that is highly recommended because it is made using rice from Hokkaido.
In pursuit of the silky smooth taste in the name, Kinyuki is a sake made using “Ginfu” from the local Asahikawa.
Among them, Junmai Ginjo Kinyuki is a gem that has been carefully refined at a low temperature, with a milling rate of 50%.
Regarding the brewery, we cannot overlook the so-called joint refinement that a brewery company in Hokkaido was born after the merger of 4.
There is no doubt that each historic brewery is the brewery that meets the original technology and produces the best sake.
While inheriting sake brewing from Asahikawa, where quality rice and water, and a temperature suitable for each, are inherited, the style of brewing that actively incorporates cutting-edge technology is not limited to Hokkaido. It is a situation that attracts attention from the brewery.
Junmai Ginjo Daiyukinokura Kinyuki, produced by Joint Seiki Co., Ltd., which has both history and innovation, is one of Hokkaido's sakes.
| Manufacturer joint spirit | Click here for Amazon sales site |
| Home page https://www.oenon.jp/product/sake/taisetsunokura | Oyukinokura |
Recommended for sake in Hokkaido 4: “Kamikawa Daisetsu”
Kamikawa Daisetsu Brewery is located in Kamikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, where it gets cold to minus 20 degrees in midwinter. This is a brewery founded in 2016 that founded the land at the foot of the Daisetsuzan range in Hokkaido and founded the founder at first glance as being suitable for making sake.
We have a commitment to making only pure rice ginjo sake and pure rice daiginjo sake from Hokkaido's comet, Ginfu and Kitashizuku.
The raw rice is made from high quality rice made by producers who can see the face. Sake produced under the theme of “drinking sake”, which means “drinking alcohol” in Hokkaido dialect, is a local priority.
Sake made with care to make it easier to handle at home is lined up mainly in the four-combined bottles.
Sake, which has been confidently sent out by the attention-oriented storehouse, which is expected to grow in the future, including the background of collecting funds through crowdfunding, is one that I would like to say once.
| Manufacturer Kamikawa Daisetsu Brewery | Click here for Amazon sales site |
| Homepage http://kamikawa-taisetsu.co.jp/ | Daisetsu Kamikawa |
Recommended for sake in Hokkaido 5: “Kokushi Musou Junmai”
Kousashi Musou, produced by Takasago Sake Brewery, is one of Hokkaido's leading sake.
It has become popular as an orthodox Japanese sake that has a unique richness and deliciousness using Miyama Nishiki, which is famous for sake brewing as a rice, but this time, it has been sticking to local products and changed to Hokkaido rice. Realizes a good taste and a refreshing aftertaste.
Among them, pure rice has a rice polishing ratio of 60%, sake degree + 3, alcohol degree 15 to 16, and it demonstrates the delicious taste of cold and warm rice.
If you are a traditional Japanese sake fan who knows Kokushimusou, this is a must-try for Kokushi Musou, reborn in Hokkaido.
| Manufacturer Takasago Sake Brewery | Click here for Amazon sales site |
| Home page https://www.takasagoshuzo.com/ | Kokushi Musou |
Recommended for Japanese sake in Hokkaido 6: “Underwater Power Junmai Ginjo”
The feature of Hokkaido sake is that it is easy to drink because it is dry and dry, but among such sakes in Hokkaido, the “underwater power (from there)” of Fukuji Sake Brewery has a reputation for being “easy to drink and drink like water”. .
Fukuji Sake Brewery is a historical brewery founded in 1919 (Taisho 8) and is the only brewery in Kushiro.
It owns a submarine coal mine that extends into the Pacific Ocean. It is stored in the tunnel and is carefully stored so that it is not exposed to ultraviolet rays.
We have succeeded in realizing a soft and mellow taste by devising such a device.
Among them, the dry Junmai Ginjo, which has a gentle ginjo fragrance, is definitely one that you want to get.
| Manufacturer Fukuji Sake Brewery | Click here for Amazon sales site |
| Home page https://www.fukutsukasa.jp/ | Fukuji Sake Brewery |
Recommended for Japanese sake in Hokkaido 7: “Kita no Katsumata”
In the eastern Hokkaido area, Kita no Katsu is famous as a classic sake. Katsunori Kita is the upper class of the 1-class liquor in the previous sake-class system.
Taste with a core and dry sake that won't get tired of drinking is a favorite among restaurants in Hokkaido, and is a liquor that many shops purchase.
Kuramoto is the famous Usui Katsaburo store that is famous as the sake brewery located in the eastern part of Japan. A long-established sake brewery founded in 1887 (Meiji 20).
The freshly squeezed Kita Katsura is sold for limited sale every year from mid to late 1 without notice. The fact that local sake enthusiasts make long lines at stores is also featured in the local media and has become a feature of Nemuro.
| Manufacturer Katsaburo Usui | Click here for Amazon sales site |
| Homepage http://www.marimo.or.jp/~honda/cybermkt/mall/usui/ | North Victory |
Recommended for Japanese sake in Hokkaido 8: “Chitose Crane Hokkaido Limited Special Pure Rice”
A pure rice sake that uses the specially prepared water of the Toyohira River, which is sourced from the mountains rich in nature, and uses the “Ginfu”, the preferred rice produced in Hokkaido, as a raw material, and brings out the full flavor of rice. Chitose crane Hokkaido limited special rice.
Nippon Sake, the only brewery in the Sapporo area, is a major company that also manages wineries and miso breweries.
In the national new sake appraisal meeting, we have won the Gold Prize for the 14 year in a row, and the ability of ginjo sake brewing is often said to be top class in the country.
| Manufacturer Nippon Sake | Click here for Amazon sales site |
| Home page https://www.nipponseishu.co.jp/ | Chitose crane Hokkaido only |
How to get sake from Hokkaido
Hokkaido sake has attractive characteristics, but what should I do to stock Hokkaido sake?
There are ways to get sake from Hokkaido, such as using a mail-order site on the Internet, but it is recommended that you use a wholesaler that specializes in sake rather than using a major site. The
In addition, since each brewery now has a homepage, it is possible to purchase directly from famous breweries as introduced in this article.
If you browse the homepage of Kuramoto, what kind of commitment is sake made?
It introduces the ingredients and the sake-making process, so you can say it with confidence.
Try the fresh and dry Hokkaido sake
There are many products with many appeals that can be made because of the extremely cold Hokkaido environment suitable for sake brewing.
Hokkaido has a history of Hokkaido sake brewing. So far, rice from other prefectures has been purchased, but nowadays there are many sake breweries that make use of locally grown rice, and sake brewing, especially pure rice sake, is flourishing.
Please try Hokkaido's sake, which has a light and dry character.
