This is a one-day tour with an interpreter guide to visit the Kobayashi Sake Brewery and the Kobayashi Family Residence in Kuriyama-Town, about one hour from Sapporo.
This tour will visit the Kobayashi Sake Brewery, which has historical and cultural value as the oldest sake brewery in Hokkaido, and guide visitors through the brewing of sake by men rooted in the local climate.
In addition, the Kobayashi Family Residence, the brewer’s birthplace, which still stands on the site, introduces the lifestyle and culture related to sake brewing from the perspective of the women who lived a simple life and protected their family in contrast to the life of a glamorous merchant family.
Plan Outline
- This is a one-day guided tour with an interpreter to visit the Kobayashi Sake Brewery and the Kobayashi Family Residence in Kuriyama Town, about one hour from Sapporo.
- The tour will focus on the stories of the men who made sake and the women who protected their livelihoods behind the glamorous business.
- At the Kobayashi Sake Brewery, visitors can tour the brewery, watch a video to deepen their understanding of sake brewing, and enjoy sake tasting.
- Matcha green tea, dried sweets, and amazake (sweet sake) will be served at the end of the tour of the Kobayashi Family Residence. Warm up your cold body around the Irori（Japanese hearth）. In addition, we will offer “old sake from the Kobayashi Sake Brewery and ice cream,” which cannot be tasted during a regular tour.
- Original goods and Japanese accessories are sold at the Kobayashi Family Residence, and sake is sold at the Kitano-Nishiki Memorial Hall, so please enjoy shopping on your own after the tour.
Tour Dates
2024 December 19th (Thursday)
2025 January 16th (Thursday), 23rd (Thursday), February 6th (Thursday)
2025 January 16th (Thursday), 23rd (Thursday), February 6th (Thursday)
Tour fee
■English Guided Tour : Special Price…JPY10,000
※This is a special price for monitors during the tour setting period! Please take advantage of this opportunity.
Coach(8-passenger jumbo hire car), Tour guide fee, Lunch fee (soba noodle course)
Cost of drinks at lunch and other personal expenses
Tour Summary
Depart from JR Sapporo Station North Exit Taxi Stand
Meeting Time … 8:50AM
Meeting Point … JR Sapporo Station North Exit Taxi Stand＜MAP＞
Meeting Point … JR Sapporo Station North Exit Taxi Stand＜MAP＞
Kobayashi Sake Brewery
Kobayashi Sake Brewery, founded in 1878, is Hokkaido's oldest sake brewery. It features historic brick and stone buildings, with 13 registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties. The tour includes a history overview, video presentation, and tasting session.
Kinsuian（Lunch）
■Soba Course:
- Soba grain porridge
- Kashiwa gobou (with sobagaki)
- Soba (seiro, inaka, or kake
- A choice of dessert or coffee
- Soba grain porridge
- Kashiwa gobou (with sobagaki)
- Soba (seiro, inaka, or kake
- A choice of dessert or coffee
Kobayashi Family Residence
Built in 1897, the Kobayashi Family Residence was the founder's residence and is now a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. The tour features family stories, a tea break, and a special treat of 16-year aged sake over ice cream.
Free Time
Enjoy a relaxing break at the Kobayashi Family Residence and shopping at the Kitanonishiki Memorial Museum.
Arrive at JR Sapporo Station North Exit
Tour Ends at JR Sapporo Station North Exit.
Other (Notes)
(1) Date of application (2) Number of participants (3) Participant’s name (4) Contact information
(5) Whether or not you are allergic to buckwheat
*20% from 10 to 8 days prior to the start of the tour, 30% from 7 to 2 days prior to the start of the tour,
40% on the day prior to the start of the tour, 50% on the day of the tour (before the tour starts),
and 100% for no-show after the tour starts.
*The legal drinking age in Japan is 20 years old; those 19 years old and under are welcome to participate (same fee),
but they will not be able to sample sake. Non-alcoholic amazake can be tried.
*The sake brewery and the Kobayashi family Residence are extremely cold, so please wear sufficient warm clothing.
*Average temperature in Kuriyama-Town : -3℃ in December, -6℃ in January and February.
*The temperature in the Kobayashi family house (tour course) can be as low as -10℃.
*Please bring thick socks (layered socks), gloves, a hat, and a down jacket.
* Please take off your shoes when visiting the Kobayashi family House.
*Average temperature in Kuriyama-Town : -3℃ in December, -6℃ in January and February.
*The temperature in the Kobayashi family house (tour course) can be as low as -10℃.
*Please bring thick socks (layered socks), gloves, a hat, and a down jacket.
* Please take off your shoes when visiting the Kobayashi family House.
Activity Provider
Meitetsu World Travel Inc. Sapporo Branch
☎+81-11-241-4986
Sapporo Brick Cube Bldg. 6F,1-1 Nishi1-chome Kita3-jo,Chuo-ku,Sapporo-city,Hokkaido,
060-0003,Japan
060-0003,Japan
E-mail／inbound.sapporo@mwt.co.jp