Hi everyone! I’m Ai, your blogger, and today I want to share my report from a visit to a sake brewery I’ve been wanting to go to for a long time: “Sawanoi.”
The Sawanoi brewery is located in the beautiful, natural surroundings of Mitake Gorge in Ome City, Tokyo. The breeze was so pleasant, and the air was so fresh—just being there felt like a cleanse for the soul. A lyric from my favorite group, Nogizaka46, came to mind: “If I can do it someday, if I can do it someday, I’ll add sky to the sky, so you add sky to the sky.” Seeing such a beautiful landscape, I couldn’t help but feel that way.
A Historic and Romantic Earthen-Walled Brewery
The history of Sawanoi dates all the way back to the Genroku era! Thinking about over 300 years of history gives me a sense of romance. Inside the brewery, the earthen-walled structure keeps the air cool and fresh, even in the middle of summer. I was told that the temperature is maintained at around 25℃, which is crucial for sake brewing. The wisdom of our ancestors is truly amazing, isn’t it?
On the tour, they explained each step of the sake-making process in detail. The sight of large tanks lined up was simply breathtaking! “We’re in the middle of assembling the pressing machine now,” they told me, and it felt like I was witnessing the very moment sake is born—it was so exciting. I also learned that they have smaller tanks, some as tiny as 100 liters.
“Kuramori”: The Secret Cellar of Aged Sake
What truly captured my heart was “Kuramori,” the storage cellar for aged sake. “Kuramori” (蔵守) has a wonderful sound to it, like a guardian spirit watching over the sake. Here, various aged sakes were lined up, including some from as far back as 2016. The rich aroma unique to aged sake, the deep colors, and the labels that felt heavy with history… I could have spent all day just gazing at them.
The Lifeblood of Sake: The Well Water
The sake at Sawanoi is brewed using the pure well water from this land. The brewery has two wells: one is a medium-hard water well dug 180 years ago, and the other is a soft water well that draws water from a source 4km away. It’s truly fascinating how the water quality can change the flavor of sake! I had a tasting, and the sake made with soft water had a smooth, gentle taste, while the one with medium-hard water felt more full-bodied.
A Post-Tour Treat: A Break at the Cafe
After the tour, I took a break at the cafe on the premises. They offer delicious food and sake, as well as shaved ice and amazake made with the sake brewing water. I had the shaved ice and amazake. The cool shaved ice combined with the gentle sweetness of the rice koji was the perfect treat on a hot day! It was a wonderful day that left both my mind and body feeling refreshed.
Thank you so much, Sawanoi! I highly recommend everyone to visit and experience the charm of history and sake in the heart of nature.
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