TOUR DATES: November 13-19, 2023 (one week).
GROUP SIZE: Minimum 8 / Maximum 12
TOUR COST: $3,700 USD
TOUR INCLUDES:
• Train and chartered bus transportation during the tour
• 6 nights hotel
• Meals included: 5 Dinners, 6 Lunches, 6 Breakfasts, and a lot of sake!
• Fees for all scheduled sightseeing and cultural activities (optional excursions excluded)
• 6 Jizake Brewery Visits
• Professional licensed tour guide
• Certified Advanced Sake Professional
Participants must be at least 21 years of age at commencement of tour.
Itinerary Highlights
Our first Tohoku Tour happened during the week from November 13-19 2023. Our tour took us through the heart of Tohoku, a region that is not on the usual tourist track, yet contains some of the most beautiful natural scenery in Japan.
Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
We began our tour by taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, the largest city in Tohoku. We started with a visit to Katsuyama Shuzo and then proceeded to a specially-curated dinner at the elegant Shozan Restaurant, situated in the original building of Katsuyama's brewery. We enjoyed an elegant sake pairing opening dinner featuring Katsuyama sake, curated by Euka Isawa.
Day 2 featured visits to Zuihoden Temple and Zuiganji Temple, paying homage to Date Masamune, a key figure in the history of the Sendai Region. Cultural activities included a gold-stamping lacquerware experience, a visit to the Kanrantei Tea House and a cruise on Matsushima Bay.
Shiogama & Natori City, Miyagi to Akita
On Day 3, we visited Urakasumi Shuzo in Shiogama hosted by Urakasumi's President Mr. Koichi Saura, whose family has supported so many cultural aspects of the Sendai region for many generations.
In the afternoon, we visited Sasaki Shuzo in Yuriage, a brewery that shows resilience after being destroyed by an 8-meter tsunami from the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. The brewery has been rebuilt and started brewing at its original location in 2019 after brewing in a temporary warehouse space for 7 years.
On Day 4, we took the shinkansen up to Akita to visit Kodama Jozo and learn about the Akita Kimoto Method that produces a light and clean sake style. Dinner at a local izakaya in Akita City featured an appearance by a Namahage which was enjoyed with a special dinner attended by representatives of three local Akita breweries. An excellent sampling of Akita sake was enjoyed by all.
Morioka & Ninohe, Iwate Prefecture
Day 5 took us to Morioka for the wanko soba challenge. After lunch, we traveled by train into Iwate to visit Nanbu Bijin Brewery.
Hachinohe, Aomori
Day 6 started with a trip to Hachinohe Yaki, for our lesson in pottery making. Each participant crafted 2 pottery pieces such as sake cups and plates. The proprietor took our creations, painted them and fired them and sent them back to our homes after the visit.
After a visit to the Nejoh Castle Ruins, we visited Hachinohe Shuzo, makers of the Mutsu Hassen and Mutsu Otokoyama sake brands.
On the last day of our Tohoku Tour, we visited the Tatehana Wharf Morning Market, the largest morning market in Japan with over 300 vendors.
Afterward, we packed our bags for the shinkansen trip back to Tokyo reminiscing about our week and planning ahead for our next Jizake Quest!
Note: Please let us know if you would enjoy attending a Tohoku Tour in the future. We will return to the Tohoku Region in the near future.