Otaru Style: 2019/11

2019/11/25

Tanaka Sake Brewing, Kikkogura Brewery

Tanaka Sake Brewing

Kikkogura Bewery

Founded in 1899, Tanaka Sake Brewing is the only remaining sake brewery in Otaru. Their Kikkogura Brewery, located just 10 minutes away on foot from

JR Minami Otaru Station, is housed in stone warehouses built in 1905

that are designated as historic buildings by the city.

Most sake breweries only make sake during the winter when its cold,

but Tanaka Sake brews throughout the year. They use only Hokkaido rice and water for their products, including their most famous Takaragawa sake and

Maho-no-itteki Hon-mirin (sweet rice wine used for cooking).

You can tour the brewery at any time during their business hours to see

how sake is made. However, we recommend going in the morning when

you'll have a better chance at seeing the workers actually making sake.

　　Quick Guide to How Sake is Made　　

Dehusk Brown Rice

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Polish/Mill Rice

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Wash & Steep Rice

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Steam Rice

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Koji Production

・koji mold spores are added to steamed rice

・mold's enzymes convert the rice starch to sugar

・takes 2 whole days to make koji

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Shubo (Seed Mash/Yeast Starter)

・cultivate yeast over 10 days to make the seed mash

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Moromi (Main Mash)

・add steamed rice, rice koji and water to the shubo (seed mash) in three batches

・slowly ferments over 30 days

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Pressing

・separates clear sake and sakekasu (undissolved rice and yeast)

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Pasteurization

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Aging

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Bottling

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Distribution

Old Rice Milling Machine

Rice Steaming Machine

Koji Mold Spore Display

Shubo (Fermentation Starter Tank)

Main Fermentation Tank

Sake Storage Tanks

Old Tools Used to Make Sake

Gift Shop

Their products are available for purchase at the brewery gift shop,
but if you are unable to visit the brewery or their main store,
stop by the Canal Plaza Gift Shop where you can shop for their
most popular items, as well as other souvenirs!

Canal Plaza Gift Shop

Takaragawa Junmai Daiginjo Blue Canal

(highest grade sake) (mint shochu)

Otaru Bijin Series Maho-no-itteki Hon-mirin

Tanaka Sake Brewing

Kikkogura Brewery

2-2 Nobukacho, Otaru

+81-134-21-2390
kikkogura@tanakashuzo.com
HOURS: Daily 9:00 - 18:00

Main Store
2-5 3 Chome Ironai, Otaru
+81-134-23-0390
honten@tanakashuzo.com
HOURS: Daily 9:00 - 18:00

Canal Plaza Tourist Information & Gift Shop
1-20 2 Chome Ironai, Otaru
+81-134-33-1661
annai@otaru.gr.jp
HOURS: 9:00 - 18:00 (may vary by season)

2019/11/17

Otaru Aquarium CLOSED Nov. 25~Dec. 13, 2019

The Otaru Aquarium will be
CLOSED November 25 (Mon) ～ December 13 (Fri)
before reopening for their Winter Season starting December 14 (Sat).

Last Day of Season

November 24, 2019 (Sunday)

Business Hours: Daily 9:00 ~ 16:00

(last entry at 15:30 pm)

CLOSED

November 25 (Mon) ~ December 13 (Fri)

Please note the Marine Mammal Park will be closed during the
winter season so this is your last chance to see the Steller sea lions,
walruses, Humboldt penguins, and bearded seals until next March.

Marine Mammal Park

Steller Sea Lions

"Muginoko" born in June

Steller Sea Lion Show

Humboldt Penguins

Penguin Show

"Poku-chan" born last year

Seals

Seal Show

Bearded Seals

Walruses

Special Exhibit

Please note the special exhibit on octopuses also ends on Nov. 24.

Winter Season

December 14, 2019 (Sat) ~ February 24, 2020 (Mon)

(Open everyday, including Christmas and New Year's Day)

Business Hours: Daily 10:00 ~ 16:00

(last entry at 15:30)

;

Otaru Aquarium

3-303 Shukutsu, Otaru City, Hokkaido 047-0047, Japan
Phone:＋(81)134-33-1400 http://otaru-aq.jp 　
E-mail:　info@otaru-aq.jp

2019/11/01

2019 Otaru Snow Story

OTARU SNOW STORY 雪の結晶

Nov. 1, 2019 (Fri) ~ Feb. 16, 2020 (Sun)

Otaru's long winter festival, OTARU SNOW STORY, will begin
Nov. 1 with special events and beautifully illuminated displays,
as well as the famous canal lit with blue LED lights.