Kitakata Heritage Walk – Spring-Fed Sake & Storehouse Traditions

【OUTLINE】

Immerse yourself in Kitakata’s rich cultural landscape—sustained by the crystal-clear spring waters of Mount Iide—through guided exploration and authentic exchanges with local residents.

【HIGHLIGHTS】

• Learn about Kitakata’s history and brewing heritage from the 12th-generation owner of a traditional soy sauce brewery with over 270 years of history.
• Visit a historic sake brewery founded in 1790, winner of multiple Gold Medals at the Japan Sake Awards, and enjoy an exclusive brewery tour and tasting.
• Connect with the local community through guided town walks and engaging conversations led by a knowledgeable local guide who knows Kitakata inside and out.

【SCHEDULE】

[10:15]  Meet and registration at JR Kitakata Station

[10:45]  Visit and tour of Wakaki Shoten (traditional soy sauce brewery)

[11:30]  Lunch featuring locally sourced ingredients

[12:30]  Walking tour of Kitakata (stops at cafés and local shops)

[14:00]  Visit to Kitakatafudokan at Yamatogawa Sake Brewery (sake tasting available)

[15:15]  Tour concludes at JR Kitakata Station

Note: As this program is designed as a walking tour, transportation will primarily be on foot.

【DETAILS】

Kitakata: A Town Shaped by Water and Fermentation A Half-Day Cultural Walk
Snow from Mount Iide gradually becomes underground spring water that nourishes the land of Kitakata. This natural water source has supported a rich fermentation culture—miso, soy sauce, and sake—and today more than 4,000 traditional storehouses remain across the town.

●Wakaki Shoten
Visit a 250-year-old soy sauce brewery and experience a traditional wooden storehouse still in use. Learn how local water and historical trade routes helped shape Kitakata’s brewing culture.

●Fureai Street
Walk along a historic street once connecting Aizuwakamatsu and Yonezawa, lined with traditional kura storehouses and long-established shops. Visitors can stop in and interact with local shop owners.

●Yamatogawa Sake Brewery Kitakatafudokan
Explore historic sake storehouses and learn the philosophy of sake brewing—“great sake begins with great rice.”
A tasting of local spring water highlights Kitakata’s natural cycle of snow, water, and culture.

【THINGS TO NOTE】

• Duration：5 hours
• Meeting point：JR Kitakata Station [MAP]
  Machidashimo-nomanchi, Kitakata-shi, Fukushima
• Access：Tokyo Station / Sendai Station→ (Tohoku Shinkansen) → Koriyama → (Banetsu West Line) → Aizu-Wakamatsu → (Banetsu West Line) → Kitakata Station.
• Minimum number of participants：2 people
• Language support：Japanese, English, Spanish 
• Included：Guide Fee
• Excluded：
  ・Round-trip transportation to the venue
  ・Lunch expenses
  ・Personal expenses for souvenirs, food, and drinks.
• Items to bring：None
• Clothes：Comfortable clothes and shoes
• Participation requirements：Ages 20 and above (alcohol tasting available)
• Free Wi-Fi：Not available
• Toilet： Yes (Japanese-style / Western-style) 
• Other things to note：
  ・In the event that the tour cannot be held due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, the tour operator will notify you via email by 3:00 PM the day before the scheduled date.
  ・If the tour is unavoidably cancelled due to weather, a full refund will be issued to the customer.

【CANCELLATION POLICY】

Up to 72 hours before the start time: 0% charge
Within 72 hours of the start time: 100% charge
Cancellation after the start time or no-show: 100% charge