2022
I organized the 7th meet-up on the 3rd of May 2018. 4 people gathered (me included).
Unfortunately, on our way to the destination, Sapporo was rainy, we were worried about the weather in Yoichi-cho and Otaru city.
We arrived at Nikka Whisky Distillery at Yoichi Hokkaido then suddenly, it cleared up. We were so lucky!
Nikka Whisky, one of Japan's top whisky makers, has its main distillery in Yoichi (余市蒸溜所, Yoichi Jōryūsho), the neighboring town of Otaru. The company was founded by Taketsuru Masataka, known as the father of Japanese whisky, who studied whisky making techniques for several years in Scotland before bringing the trade to Japan. He was instrumental in establishing the country's first whisky distillery, the Yamazaki Distillery near Kyoto, before he set out on his own to start Nikka Whisky here in Hokkaido.
We took a lot of photos there, and also enjoyed cherry-blossom viewing during photo walk.
It was the first visit to Yoich for my fellow local guides. And they said the place was amazing!
The tour ends at a tasting room where visitors can sample various Nikka whiskies. We tried the whisky tasting there.
There is also a restaurant and a gift shop.
After the photo walk tour at Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery, we went back to Otaru city.
Otaru (小樽) is a small harbor city. It takes about half an hour northwest of Sapporo by train and car. Its a beautifully preserved canal area and interesting herring mansions that make Otaru a pleasant day trip from Sapporo.
Also, tourists are allowed to rent a car, too, if they have an international car license.
In Otaru, we had a lunch at local fried chicken restaurant, then we ate ice cream at local cafe. Unfortunately, both cafe and restaurant allowed indoor smoking.
After the lunch, we had second photo walk at Otaru canal and Sakaimachi shopping street close by the canal.
Otaru Canal (小樽運河, Otaru Unga) was a central part of the city's busy port in the first half of the 20th century. Large vessels were unloaded by smaller ships, which then transported the goods to warehouses along the canal.
We had a awesome meet-up this time as well with local guides friends.
