On your next trip to Japan visit a sake brewery
As you may or may not know, there is a tourist boom in Japan with the number of tourist skyrocketing in the millions. You have Spring and Summer months, which are the peak travel seasons for visiting here. Then, you have February which is considered off season, and is less popular since it’s very cold. Also, there aren’t very many really major cultural events this time of year either unless you are into Valentines’s Day.
In this post I’d like to offer up an alternative on your next trip here. Sake brewery tours. February seems to be very popular for many sake houses to host educational tours on how Japanese sake is made. It is always one of the snowiest time of year in many parts of Japan; colder temperatures make better Japanese sake.
Every year in February I take part in drink tours with sake clubs and social groups. We travel around to different sake breweries sampling some of the best Japanese sake in the world! If you do not know a lot about the country’s national drink it’s “ok.” Just remember it is a highly refined rice brew that’s been a part of the culture for nearly 2000 years. It is a drink that infuses the heart and soul of the nation that is often used in ceremony and fine dining.
In the picture, you can see a huge vat and ladle for scooping out sake. This liquid is called “moromi” and it s the freshest and most original taste of the Japanese sake. Only in February can you experience sampling the mother base sake before it is bottled.
If you love snow scenes, hot spring spas, winter cuisines, and beautiful sake come in Feb. Stay in a traditional Japanese Inn. Experience the camaraderie with the locals. Add skiing to the itinerary and you’ll have one of the most perfect Japan trips.
Cheers,
Share your favorite activity in February!
