Regional Sake Guide: Kanto Region

In the first series of regional sake guide, we talked about important factors characterizing the regional style of sake. In this fourth article of the series, we will travel through the Kanto region which covers seven prefectures including Tokyo.

Historically, sake played an important role in religious ceremonies and festivals, and early sake production and development took place in the Kansai region where we observe many culturally significant shrines and temples. During the era when Kyoto was the capital, cities like Nada and Fushimi became the major sake production regions.

When the new governmental force “the Tokugawa shogunate” came into power in 1603, they established their headquarters in Edo (modern-day Tokyo), and the area rapidly grew as the new center for cultural and industrial prosperity. Throughout the Edo Period (1603–1868) the population in the city flourished, resulting in the heightened demand for foods and beverages. While a large volume of sake was transported from the Kansai region via land and ocean, Edo and the neighboring regions started to explore opportunities to start their own brewing businesses.

In the present day, you will find numerous high-quality microbreweries in the Kanto region. There are many breweries in Tokyo and in the vicinity that offer tasting and tours. It’s definitely an experience to check out on your next trip to Tokyo!

Tokyo

Tokyo is known to produce light and crisp style sake. Since Edomae style cuisines use lots of marinating and simmering techniques involving soy sauce and mirin, the flavors are usually profound. Therefore, such sake style provides a great contrast pairing. There are several old-school breweries as well as new generation sake makers applying modern and hip approaches to sake production.

Local dish: Edomae sushi, soba noodle

Take a look at our previous article on Ishikawa Brewing Company, Tokyo while we prepare to carry sake from Tokyo!

Kanagawa

Kanagawa enjoys premium water sourced from Tanzawa mountain which is, according to Kanagawa Sake Brewers Association, believed to be one of Japan’s Three Great Waters. The sake from the area tends to be smooth and round, attributed to the softness of the water. The prefecture is also famous for its silky tofu as the same high-quality water is used for tofu production.

Local dish: Tofu cuisine, grilled sazae (turban shell)

Tippsy’s recommended sake from Kanagawa:
Kumazawa Brewing Company: Tensei “Song of the Sea”

Chiba

Chiba has access to an abundant water source coming from the Tone River. The prefecture is surrounded by the ocean, so it is known for a variety of fresh seafood, and the sake produced are usually clean and dry, matching with the flavors of simple dishes like sashimi plate and seafood tartare.

Local dish: Sashimi plate, namero (fish tartare)

Tippsy’s recommended sake from Chiba:
Iinuma Honke: Kinoene “Migaki Hachiwari”
Nabedana: Jinyu “100 Poems”

Ibaraki

Ibaraki holds one of the largest number of operating breweries in the Kanto region. The prefecture uses original rice such as Hitachinishiki and sake tends to be a clean, refreshing style.

Local dish: Natto, Hitachigyu sukiyaki

Tippsy’s recommended sake from Ibaraki:
Aiyu Brewing Company: Aiyu “Dry”
Huchu Homare: Watari Bune “Junmai Ginjo 55”

Saitama

Because of its proximity to Tokyo, Saitama was influenced by the growth of sake businesses in Tokyo from early times. A recent development of the original sake rice called Sakemusashi won industry attention, and the rice offers a unique complexity and depth to the finish of sake.

Local dish: Kenchin soup

Tippsy’s recommended sake from Saitama:
Stay tuned!

Gunma

Gunma holds breweries in the area of Maebashi and Tone River basin. The prefecture invented the original yeast called Kaze Kobo, and this is perfect for producing aromatic ginjo sake.

Local dish: Konnyaku oden, sukiyaki

Tippsy’s recommended sake from Gunma:
Nagai Brewing Company: Mizubasho “Ginjo”
Kondo Brewing Company: Akagisan “Daiginjo”
Ryujin Brewing Company: Oze no Yukidoke “Ex Dry”

Tochigi

The cities of Oyama and Utsunomiya were the main sake-producing areas in Tochigi, but currently breweries are pretty dispersed throughout the prefecture.. The prefecture has numerous microbreweries producing artisanal sake which vary brewery by brewery, producing their own unique styles.

Local dish: Ayu fish dish, gyoza

Tippsy’s recommended sake from Tochigi:
Tentaka Brewing Company: Tentaka “Hawk in the Heavens”