Every Bottle Has a Beginning
Every bottle of sake begins long before it reaches the brewery.
It starts in the brewery’s own rice fields, where each season’s harvest is carefully grown by the people who will later transform it into sake.
Over two days, President Takao Kurosawa will personally guide you through every stage of that journey. Explore areas of the brewery that are normally closed to the public, discover the history of one of Nagano’s oldest sake breweries, and—depending on the season—either witness sake brewing in progress or visit the brewery’s own rice fields where the next vintage begins.
Stay at Kurosawatei Hanare, a beautifully restored residence connected to the Kurosawa family, and spend the evening sharing local food, carefully selected sake, and conversation with the brewery owner himself.
By the end of the journey, you’ll understand that great sake is not only crafted in the brewery, but also shaped by the people, the land, and the changing seasons.
Why You’ll Love This Journey
Meet a sixth-generation sake brewer
Follow the journey from rice to sake
Explore parts of the brewery closed to visitors
Stay in the Kurosawa family’s historic residence
Share dinner and conversation with your host
The Story Behind Every Bottle
Follow the Story from Rice to Sake
Walk through the brewery’s own rice fields and discover how the rice for Kurosawa sake is grown. Depending on the season, you’ll experience a different stage of the journey—from young rice plants in summer to the brewery in full production during the brewing season.
Go Behind the Scenes of a Working Brewery
Step into exclusive areas of Kurosawa Brewery that are normally closed to visitors. During the brewing season, witness freshly steamed rice rising from the koshiki (traditional rice steamer) and watch the brewers at work as the day’s sake production begins.
Learn Directly from President Takao Kurosawa
President Takao Kurosawa personally guides this experience, sharing not only how sake is made, but also the traditions, philosophy, and craftsmanship that have sustained his family’s brewery for more than 160 years.
Stay at Kurosawatei Hanare
Spend the night at Kurosawatei Hanare, a beautifully restored residence connected to the Kurosawa family, where the story of the brewery continues beyond its walls.
Share a Table, Share a Story
Enjoy seasonal cuisine, carefully selected sake, and relaxed conversation with President Takao Kurosawa. It’s an opportunity to hear stories and ask questions in a setting that few visitors ever experience.
Meet the Brewer
Takao Kurosawa
Sixth-Generation President, Kurosawa Brewery
For Takao Kurosawa, sake is more than something to drink. It is the result of a year’s work, beginning in the brewery’s own rice fields and continuing through months of careful brewing.
As the sixth-generation owner of Kurosawa Brewery, he is committed to preserving traditional brewing methods while ensuring they remain meaningful for future generations. Together with his team, he oversees every stage of production—from growing rice to brewing sake—believing that great sake reflects not only craftsmanship, but also the people, the land, and the changing seasons.
Throughout this journey, President Kurosawa personally shares the stories behind the brewery, the philosophy that guides his work, and the passion that has sustained his family’s craft for more than 160 years.
The Legacy of Kurosawa Brewery
Founded in 1858, Kurosawa Brewery has been crafting sake in the foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains for more than 160 years. Blessed with pure mountain water and a climate ideally suited to brewing, generations of the Kurosawa family have remained deeply connected to both sake making and the local community.
Over the generations, members of the Kurosawa family helped shape the region through businesses in banking, textiles, food production, and pharmaceuticals, while the third son’s line continued the family’s sake brewing tradition. Today, that tradition lives on under Takao Kurosawa, the brewery’s sixth-generation president.
The name Maruto has been associated with the Kurosawa family for generations. Originally used as the family’s traditional trade name, it continues today as the name of the brewery’s signature sake brand—a symbol of the family’s enduring commitment to craftsmanship and quality.
Today, Kurosawa Brewery cultivates its own sake rice, allowing every stage of production—from the rice fields to the finished bottle—to be guided by the same philosophy of quality, patience, and respect for nature.
During this experience, you’ll discover how more than 160 years of history continue to shape the sake being brewed today.
Experience Details
Seasonal Note
The experience changes throughout the year, offering a different perspective on sake making depending on the season. Please contact us for details about what you can experience during your visit.
Follow the Journey from Rice to Sake
Depending on the season, begin your experience either in Kurosawa Brewery’s own rice fields or inside the brewery during the sake-making season. Throughout the year, you’ll discover a different stage of the journey—from growing rice to brewing sake.
Explore the Brewery with President Takao Kurosawa
After changing into indoor footwear and a hair cap, step inside areas of the brewery that are normally closed to visitors. Guided by President Takao Kurosawa, you’ll learn how rice, water, kōji, yeast, and time come together to create Japanese sake.
During the brewing season, you may also witness freshly steamed rice, active fermentation, and the brewers at work as the day’s production begins.
Discover More Than 160 Years of Brewing History
Continue to the brewery museum, where historic brewing tools, sake vessels, and family artifacts tell the story of Kurosawa Brewery’s long history. The collection offers a fascinating glimpse into both traditional sake making and everyday life in rural Japan.
Stay at Kurosawatei Hanare
Spend the night at Kurosawatei Hanare, a beautifully restored residence connected to the Kurosawa family. Combining traditional architecture with modern comfort, it provides a peaceful setting to reflect on the day’s experiences.
Share Dinner with the Brewer
The day concludes around the table with President Takao Kurosawa. Enjoy seasonal local cuisine paired with carefully selected Kurosawa sake while sharing stories, asking questions, and learning more about the people and philosophy behind the brewery.
Schedule
Day 1
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 13:05 | Meet at Kurosawa Brewery (Recommended arrival: JR Koumi Line, Yachiho Station at 12:55 PM) |
| 13:10 | Welcome & Introduction Meet President Takao Kurosawa and begin your journey with an introduction to the brewery’s history and the story of how rice becomes sake. |
| 13:40 | Exclusive Private Brewery Tour Explore areas normally closed to visitors, including the brewing facilities, museum, and historic buildings. Depending on the season, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of each stage of sake making directly from President Kurosawa. |
| 15:00 | Check in and Unwind at Kurosawatei Hanare Settle into the beautifully restored traditional house and enjoy a relaxing afternoon at your own pace. |
| 18:00 | Dinner with President Takao Kurosawa Enjoy a seasonal dinner paired with carefully selected Kurosawa sake. Around the table, hear stories about the brewery, sake making, and life in Sakuho while sharing an evening of conversation with your host. |
| 19:00 | Free Evening at Kurosawatei Hanare Your guided experience concludes after dinner. Relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Kurosawatei Hanare. |
Day 2 (Seasonal Experience)
October to March – Brewing Season
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| Around 8:40 | Enjoy a relaxed morning and check out of Kurosawatei Hanare. Breakfast is left open so you can enjoy the morning at your own pace before rejoining the experience at the brewery. |
| 8:40 | Early Morning Brewery Experience Return to the brewery before the day’s work begins. Watch freshly steamed rice rise from the koshiki (traditional rice steamer), see the brewers preparing for another day of sake making, and experience the unique atmosphere of a working brewery during the brewing season. |
| Around 9:40 | Your sake journey comes to an end at Kurosawa Brewery. |
April – Preparing for a New Brewing Year
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| Around 8:40 | Enjoy a relaxed morning and check out of Kurosawatei Hanare. Breakfast is left open so you can enjoy the morning at your own pace before rejoining the experience at the brewery. |
| 8:40 | Visit the Rice Seedling Nursery Learn how Kurosawa Brewery prepares for the next brewing season by raising young rice seedlings. Discover why great sake begins long before the rice is planted in the fields. |
| Around 9:40 AM | Your sake journey comes to an end at Kurosawa Brewery. |
Mid-May to September – Rice Growing Season
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| Around 8:40 | Enjoy a relaxed morning and check out of Kurosawatei Hanare. Breakfast is left open so you can enjoy the morning at your own pace before rejoining the experience at the brewery. |
| 8:40 | Walk Through the Brewery’s Rice Fields Visit Kurosawa Brewery’s own rice fields with President Takao Kurosawa. Depending on the season, you’ll see young rice plants, lush green fields, or ripening ears of rice before harvest while learning how every bottle of sake begins in these fields. |
| Around 9:40 AM | Your sake journey comes to an end at Kurosawa Brewery. |
Travel Details (Terms & Conditions)
| Availability | Year-round (Seasonal experiences vary) |
|---|---|
| Price | 2 guests: ¥90,000 per person 3 guests: ¥80,000 per person 4 guests: ¥75,000 per person |
| What’s Included | -One night’s accommodation at Kurosawatei Hanare (exclusive use) -Meals included as part of the itinerary (1 dinner) -English-speaking interpretation support during scheduled experiences -All scheduled experiences and entrance fees -Exclusive experiences arranged through KMJ’s local relationships -Coordination with local hosts before and during your experience -WhatsApp support before and during your trip -Domestic travel accident insurance |
| Not Included | -Transportation to and from Kurosawa Brewery -Breakfast (Intentionally left open for a relaxed morning at your own pace.) -Personal expenses -Optional purchases at the brewery shop |
| Location | Kurosawa Sake Brewery 1400 Hozumi, Sakuho-machi, Minamisaku-gun, Nagano 384-0702, Japan (Google Maps) |
| Accommodation | Kurosawatei Hanare Private traditional house (exclusive use) More than simply a place to stay, Kurosawatei Hanare offers the chance to experience the slower rhythm of life in rural Nagano. Connected to the Kurosawa family, this beautifully restored traditional house combines historic character with modern comfort. Breakfast is intentionally left open so you can enjoy a slow, relaxed morning at your own pace. The house includes a kitchen and refrigerator, making it easy to enjoy a simple breakfast whenever you like. Before your stay, we’ll be happy to recommend nearby shops where you can pick up breakfast items in advance. Official Website (Japanese) View additional photos of Kurosawatei Hanare → |
| Access | By Train (Recommended) 5-minute walk from Yachiho Station (JR Koumi Line). From Tokyo Station (approx. 2.5–3 hours): Tokyo Station → Sakudaira Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) → Komoro Station (Shinano Railway) → Yachiho Station (JR Koumi Line) Please note that train schedules may vary depending on the season. |
| Minimum Participants | Minimum: 2 guests Maximum: 4 guests |
| Clothing | During the sake brewing season (winter), guests will be asked to change into a white coat before entering the brewery. Please note that the brewery can get quite cold. We recommend wearing warm inner layers such as thermal underwear and tights. |
| What to Bring | No special items required |
| Cancellation Policy | ・20 days before the experience: 20% of the total fee ・10 days before the experience: 50% of the total fee ・Same-day cancellation or no-show: 100% of the total fee |
| Booking Deadline | Applications must be submitted at least 14 days before your desired tour date. |
| Payment Method | Credit card (VISA, MasterCard) Detailed payment instructions will be sent by email after your reservation is confirmed. |
| Additional Notes | ・Avoid fermented foods (such as natto or yogurt) before your visit ・Please avoid wearing strong perfume ・Sake selections vary by day ・Brewing takes place only in winter |
| Language Support | Most experiences are hosted in Japanese. A professional English-speaking interpreter accompanies the journey to support communication while allowing conversations with local people to remain natural and authentic. Italian-language interpretation is also available upon request. |
Meet Your Host
Want to learn more about your host?
Discover the story of the Kurosawa family and their generations of sake brewing tradition.
