Hello everyone! This is Ai, your Sake Days blogger. On a recent workation trip to Chichibu, I had the chance to visit the long-established Bukou Brewery, a place I’d always dreamed of seeing!
Chichibu is known for its beautiful nature and historic townscape, isn’t it? On this trip, I was able to enjoy a blissful time experiencing delicious sake and Chichibu’s culture.
Bukou Brewery: A Long-Established Sake Brewery with Roots in the Edo Period
Bukou Brewery is a long-established sake brewery with over 270 years of history, founded in 1753, during the mid-Edo period. Their signature “Bukou Masamune,” named after Chichibu’s symbol, Mount Bukou, is loved by locals and sake fans alike.
Of course, good quality water is essential for sake brewing. Bukou Brewery still uses water from a famous well that appears in the Chichibu folk tale “Seven Wells.” It’s said to be a precious water source that never runs dry, even in the harshest droughts.
Stepping into the building, which exudes a sense of profound history, feels like stepping back in time. The carefully maintained brewery building conveys the tradition and history of sake brewing.
A 5-Minute Bliss! Tasting 9 Varieties Sake
Unfortunately, I couldn’t tour the sake brewing process this time, but I was able to tour the historic interior and taste nine varieties of sake!
The tasting was held in the space where the employees were labeling bottles. It felt a little intrusive, but also had a welcoming, homey atmosphere, which was exciting.
Starting with Daiginjo, I tasted various types of sake. The aromas, flavors, and textures of each were unique, and I was once again impressed by the depth of sake.
I was particularly impressed by the “Bukou Masamune Honjozo Taru Sake.” The cedar barrel aroma was transferred to the sake, giving it a refreshing scent that made me feel like I was in the forest of Chichibu. There were also 180ml small bottles available, which I thought would make perfect souvenirs.
The tasting time was only 5 minutes! With the timer ticking away, I faced the sake seriously. 5 minutes went by so quickly…! (laughs)
Experiencing Chichibu’s History and Culture
Inside Bukou Brewery, there were sake brewing tools and historical exhibits, like a small museum. I saw a picture of Mr. Rui Yoshida, from the TV program “Sakaba Hourouki” who had also visited.
It was funny to see that the trash can for the tasting cups was a high-tech one that opened automatically when you waved your hand over it!
Although my stay was short, I was able to enjoy Chichibu’s history, culture, and delicious sake, which filled my heart.
“If you have even a little time, take a detour”
“Kaerimichi wa Mawari Michi Shitaku Naru,” this trip to Chichibu was a wonderful encounter with sake and an experience that I could only have had by taking a little time to stop by Bukou Brewery.
If you ever visit Chichibu, please stop by Bukou Brewery and experience the delicious sake and history.
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