Kanazawa Sake 2025: Best Breweries, Local Bars, Must-Buy Bottles & Traditional Kakuuchi Culture
Kanazawa, a representative city of Hokuriku, is also famous for having many Sake Breweries. Blessed with a climate suitable for Sake making and delicious water and rice, the region has produced numerous famous Sakes over the years.
In addition, the city of Kanazawa has not only Breweries but also many bars where you can enjoy Sake along with delicious cuisine. This Kanazawa Sake 2025 guide introduces the must-visit Breweries and bars when you visit Kanazawa.
Table of Contents
-Sake Lovers Visiting Kanazawa Should First Visit "FUKUMITSUYA SAKE BREWERY"!
-Three of Kanazawa's Leading Sake Breweries Recommended for Sake Enthusiasts
-If You Love Sake, Trying "Kakuuchi" is Highly Recommended
-Perfect as Souvenirs! Introducing 3 of the Author's Favorite Kanazawa Sake 2025 Selections
Kanazawa, Rich in Exquisite Cuisine, Has Many Delicious Sakes
Kanazawa is a treasure trove of exquisite cuisine, including seafood, Kaga vegetables, Kanazawa Curry, and Oden. Because Kanazawa is blessed with such ingredients, Sake brewing has been actively practiced since ancient times, captivating many Sake enthusiasts.
There are numerous Breweries around Kanazawa, some with over 200 years of history. Kanazawa is also known as a land where high-quality, delicious water springs forth, and its strength lies in producing mellow, easy-to-drink Sake that can be enjoyed at a wide range of temperatures, from hot to cold.
Sake Lovers Visiting Kanazawa Should First Visit "FUKUMITSUYA SAKE BREWERY"!
Source:Official website
Sake Lovers who want to taste Sake in Kanazawa should visit FUKUMITSUYA SAKE BREWERY. This Sake Brewery has approximately 400 years of history, and at their directly-managed store in the city center, you can purchase all Sakes made by Fukumitsuya.
Inside the store, in addition to Sake, cups and glasses for pouring Sake, as well as Rice Milk and sweets made with high-quality water, and seasonings are also popular. Additionally, cosmetics made from rice fermented with koji and yeast are also sold as souvenirs.
They also offer sake tasting experiences by reservation, so if you want to learn about the depth of Sake or enjoy premium alcohol, please visit.
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Address: 2-8-3 Ishibiki, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business Hours: 10:00-18:00
Closed: None
Phone: 076-223-1116
Official Website: https://www.fukumitsuya.co.jp/
At Fukumitsuya, You Can Also Enjoy Sake and Compatible Snacks and Sweets
Source:Official website
Fukumitsuya operates shops aimed at promoting Sake culture, with two stores in Ishikawa and two in Tokyo. At the shop located about 20 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station, you can purchase all Sakes made by Fukumitsuya.
Additionally, snacks that pair well with Sake, cosmetics made from Sake, and sweets are also popular. The cosmetics are produced utilizing Sake fermentation technology and are natural beauty serums that help maintain healthy, beautiful skin.
I also purchased beauty serum here and successfully achieved healthy skin.
From November to March, Brewery Tours and Tastings Are Available
Source:Official website
At Fukumitsuya, brewery tours and tastings are available from November to March only. Since you actually enter the brewery and learn about the manufacturing process, wearing a white coat and mask for hygiene management is mandatory during the tour.
I experienced firsthand that this thorough hygiene management is the secret to making delicious Sake.
During the tour, after explaining Fukumitsuya's history and the water used for brewing, you learn about the process of how Sake is made inside the brewery. After the tour, sake tasting and shopping at the shop are available.
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Participation Fee: 3,300 yen
Tour Times: Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 15:00
Reservations: Available from one month in advance
Please note that since this is a popular tour, if you don't reserve early, it may become fully booked.
You Can Also Enjoy Exquisite Sake at Fukumitsuya Higashi
Source:Official website
If you want to thoroughly savor Sake made by Fukumitsuya, visit the bar called Higashi in Higashichaya District. Inside the shop with its impressive, atmospheric exterior, you can taste representative Sakes from Fukumitsuya, along with appetizer dishes and ice cream made from Sake.
After enjoying Sake at the bar, enjoy shopping at the shop where you can buy Fukumitsuya's Sake. This shop sells foods that pair perfectly with Sake and vessels ideal for pouring and drinking Sake.
I often visit this bar and enjoy high-quality Sake.
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Address: 1-14-9 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business Hours: 10:00-18:00
Closed: None
Phone: 076-251-5205
Official Website: https://www.fukumitsuya.co.jp/sake-shop/higashi/
Three of Kanazawa's Leading Sake Breweries Recommended for Sake Enthusiasts
Yachiya Sake Brewery
Source:Kanazawa Tourism Official
Yachiya Sake Brewery is a long-established Brewery that has been producing high-quality Sake in Kanazawa for nearly 400 years. The building was constructed in the mid-Edo period and is designated as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
Brewery tours are conducted twice a day, where you can learn the entire process of Sake making from start to finish. After the tour, Sake tasting is available, making it a recommended tour for those who want to learn about Sake making while enjoying themselves.
Reservations are required for tours, and reservation times are 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 except Sundays, with phone reservations only. The attached shop sells not only Sake but also vessels for deliciously enjoying Sake.
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Address: 8-32 Ohicho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Sundays (If Monday is a holiday, open Sunday and closed Monday), January 1-3
Business Hours: First tour 13:30-, Second tour 15:00-
Phone: 076-252-7077
Official Website: http://www.yachiya-sake.co.jp/
Shata Sake Brewery
Source:Google Maps
Shata Sake Brewery in Hakusan City is a historic Brewery established in 1823. The most famous product is a local Sake called Tengumai, characterized by a harmonious balance of rich umami and acidity. Additionally, all rice used for Sake is produced independently.
While the Brewery itself cannot be toured, you can purchase Sake at the shop attached to the Brewery. The shop has an eat-in space where you can not only compare different Sakes but also offers soft drinks and sweets, so everyone can enjoy it even if there are people in the group who don't drink Sake.
Since you can taste elegant and flavorful Sake, I often visit the shop to purchase Sake.
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Address: 60-1 Bomarucho, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Sundays
Business Hours: 10:00-16:00
Phone: 076-275-1165
Official Website: https://www.tengumai.co.jp/
Yoshida Sake Brewery
Source:Google Maps
Yoshida Sake Brewery is a representative Sake Brewery of Hakusan City with nearly 150 years of history. Sake made from abundant underground water flowing from rivers and rice produced by approximately 30 contracted farmers around the Brewery has been entirely handmade since its establishment.
The signature Sake is Tedorigawa, named after the river flowing through Hakusan City. Sake brewed at low temperatures has a fruity and mellow taste, making it easy to drink even for first-time drinkers.
Tedorigawa can be easily purchased at souvenir shops in Kanazawa or through online shopping.
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Address: 41 Anyoshimachi, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Regular holiday: Irregular holidays
Business hours: Not disclosed
Phone number: 076-276-3311
Official website: https://tedorigawa.com/
If you have a local guide you, you can enjoy Kanazawa's finest sake with delicious food!
If you want to savor Japanese sake with delicious food in Kanazawa, join this tour where you can taste authentic cuisine together with a guide. As part of the Kanazawa Sake 2025 experience, this is an excellent opportunity to explore the city's rich sake culture.
In this tour, you will visit 3 carefully selected restaurants with unique characteristics chosen by the guide, where you can enjoy various specialty dishes together with sake.
Not only will you enjoy food, but you can also stroll through the famous Samurai Residence tourist spot, making you feel like you've traveled back in time, which is another attractive feature.
At the end of the tour, you can experience Kikizake (sake tasting) where you can taste 3 to 5 types of Sake with unique characteristics. If you want to thoroughly savor delicious Sake, this is a tour you should definitely join.
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Meeting Point: In front of Korinbo La Moda Building
Tour Area: Korinbo, Katamachi area
Start time: 17:00
3 sake bars with excellent access that are loved by Locals!
Kanazawa Shu Shu
Source:Tabelog
Kanazawa Shu Shu, located in Korinbo, is a Sake-specialized bar where you can taste approximately 100 varieties of Sake. The popular option is the comparison tasting of 3 types, where you get 3 types of Sake at once, with the master's recommended Sake changing daily.
They also serve dishes that pair perfectly with Sake, particularly fish dishes which have an excellent reputation. Once you start eating these dishes, you won't be able to stop drinking Sake either, so you're sure to become addicted.
It's a counter-only shop with a nice atmosphere where you can slowly enjoy Sake. No advance reservation is required, so visit as early as possible to avoid crowds.
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Address: 5-10 Oyamamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Regular holidays: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Business hours: 18:00 - 23:00
Phone number: 076-225-7339
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/kanazawa.sake
Japanese Sake Bar Ikiyoi
Source:Tabelog
Japanese Sake Bar Ikiyoi is a Sake specialty shop located in Katamachi, the entertainment district. Not only can you taste famous Sake produced in Ishikawa, but you can also drink famous Sake from all over the country, so many Sake lovers visit every day.
It's also strong in terms of cost performance, with 150-minute all-you-can-drink for 3,000 yen and unlimited time all-you-can-drink for 4,000 yen. The shop is in a multi-tenant building, so it may look difficult to enter at first glance, but the owner is friendly and will casually teach you how to drink Sake deliciously, so there's no need to be nervous.
Through enjoyable conversations with the owner, Sake tastes even better, so I often visit this shop myself.
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Address: 1-5-26 Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Regular holiday: None
Business hours: 19:00 - 0:00
Phone number: 090-1317-1141
Official website: https://www.instagram.com/japanese.sake.bar.ikiyoi/?hl=ja
Daigo
Source:Tabelog
Daigo, located in the center of Kanazawa, is an Izakaya where over 500 types of Sake from all over the country gather. Not only Sake produced in Ishikawa, but all kinds of Sake from all over the country are available, so it's a shop where you can always taste various Sake.
There are 3 types of all-you-can-drink courses in total, and among them, the 4,500 yen course offers 120-minute all-you-can-drink of approximately 400 brands of Sake from all over the country. The all-you-can-drink course includes not only Sake but also Beer, Shochu, and other alcoholic beverages besides Sake.
They also have a wide variety of dishes that pair well with Sake, such as fish and Oden, so take your time to thoroughly enjoy Sake.
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Address: 19-4 Yasuemachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Regular holiday: Sunday
Business hours: 15:00 - 23:00
Phone number: 076-256-0028
Official website: https://syusuidaigo.com/kanazawa/
If You Love Sake, Trying "Kakuuchi" is Highly Recommended
If you want to fully enjoy sake in Kanazawa, you should try Kakuuchi. Kakuuchi refers to standing drinking at the storefront of shops that sell sake, where you drink the sake you purchase right there.
There are various theories about the origin of Kakuuchi - one popular theory suggests it comes from drinking with your mouth at the corner of a Masu (wooden measuring box), while another says it comes from drinking at the corner of the shop.
Kakuuchi is generally done in a space set up in a corner of the shop. The method varies by shop - some allow you to compare and taste small amounts of multiple varieties before purchasing, while others let you sample the sake you want to buy.
Recently, the number of shops offering casual Kakuuchi experiences similar to Izakayas, where you can order simple snacks, has been increasing.
※Recommended shops for Kakuuchi
1. Sugihara Sake Shop
Address: 2-7-1 Hirooka, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: None
Business Hours: Weekdays 9:30-19:30 / Sundays and Holidays 10:00-18:00
Phone: 076-263-6501
Official Website: https://sugidama.com/eccube4/
2. Higashiyama Syuraku
Address: 1-25-5 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Irregular holidays
Business Hours: 10:00-17:00
Phone: 076-251-1139
Official Website: https://higashiyama-syuraku.com/
Perfect as Souvenirs! Introducing 3 of the Author's Favorite Kanazawa Sake 2025 Selections
Kaga-tombi
Source:Official website
Kaga-tombi is Fukumitsuya's signature sake, characterized by its dry taste with low sugar content. This sake values the umami that is the lifeline of sake, and when you taste it, the umami of rice spreads in your mouth, making it a dry sake with a satisfying drinking experience.
The rice used in this sake is high-quality sake rice cultivated by contract farmers, carefully finished with techniques cultivated over many years. The Kaga-Tombi depicted on the label refers to firefighters from the Edo period, expressing the strength of the sake itself through their sharp gaze.
※Recommended shops
1. SAKE SHOP Fukumitsuya Kanazawa Store
Address: 2-8-3 Ishibiki, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: None
Business Hours: 10:00-18:00
Phone: 076-223-1116
Official Website: https://www.fukumitsuya.co.jp/sake-shop/kanazawa/
2. SAKE SHOP Fukumitsuya Higashi
Address: 1-14-9 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: None
Business Hours: 10:00-18:00
Phone: 076-251-5205
Official Website: https://www.fukumitsuya.co.jp/sake-shop/higashi/
Tedorikawa
Source:Official website
Known as the signature sake of Yoshida Sake Brewery, Tedorikawa is made using underground water from the Tedori River that flows through Hakusan City. It features a sweet aroma where acidity and umami intertwine in a complex way, with a fruity taste that is very easy to drink.
With a relatively low alcohol content of 13%, the acidity and sweetness blend together for a light mouthfeel, making it a sake that tastes even better when enjoyed with meals. The price is also reasonable, so I often purchase it as a souvenir when visiting Kanazawa.
※Recommended shops
1. Kagaya Sake Shop
Address: 1-3-9 Hikosomachi, Kagaya Building, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Sundays
Business Hours: 9:00-20:00
Phone: 076-261-1756
Official Website: https://www.kagatani.co.jp/
2. Tazuru Sake Shop
Address: 6-4 Kubo, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Tuesdays
Business Hours: 9:30-19:00 (Sundays 9:30-18:00)
Phone: 076-241-1215
Official Website: https://tazuru.jp/
Kikuhime
Source:Rakuten
Kikuhime is one of Ishikawa's representative sakes, a highly popular brand where you can savor the authentic umami of sake. Known for its commitment to the rice used as raw material, it is recognized as the first sake in Japan to use 100% Yamadanishiki, famous as the king of sake rice.
Kikuhime's flavor is characterized by its powerful taste and elegant mouthfeel. Another characteristic is the change in taste between the beginning and end of drinking. When you start drinking, you feel sweetness, and at the finish, it becomes refreshingly crisp.
I also often purchase Kikuhime and thoroughly enjoy its superior drinking experience.
※Recommended shops
1. Tazuru Sake Shop
Address: 6-4 Kubo, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Tuesdays
Business Hours: 9:30-19:00 (Sundays 9:30-18:00)
Phone: 076-241-1215
Official Website: https://tazuru.jp/
2. Fujita Sake Shop
Address: 19-1 Akatsuki-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month
Business Hours: Weekdays 9:00-18:00 / Sundays and Holidays 10:00-19:00
Phone: 076-231-4542
Official Website: http://www.sakefujita.com/
With a Local Guide Showing You Around the City, You Can Deeply Enjoy Not Only Tourist Spots but Also History and Culture
If you want to efficiently tour Kanazawa's main tourist attractions in half a day, participating in this tour is recommended. The tour allows you to enjoy major tourist spots such as Ohomicho Market, Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen, and Higashichaya District with a guide's commentary.
After enjoying a meal while viewing Japan's oldest fountain at Kenrokuen, you can enjoy traditional Japanese sweets such as Wagashi and Matcha. If you want to learn about Kanazawa's history and the beauty of the city, please try participating in this tour.
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Meeting Point: FamilyMart + Drug Komeya Kanazawa Musashi Store
Tour Area: Ohomicho Market, Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen area
Start Time: 10:00
