Japan has always been one of the top choices for Taiwanese people traveling abroad. In addition to friendly international relations and a captivating culture, recent influences such as the Japanese yen exchange rate and the post-pandemic liberation have caused a surge in Taiwanese travelers heading to Japan.
If you're looking for a relaxing trip without the crowds and want to visit some lesser-known attractions that typical tourists might miss, today, we'll take you to three unique breweries in the cultural ancient city of Kyoto. Slow down your pace, enjoying the slight intoxication of these beverages, and truly savor this journey.
1.季の美ハウス House of Kinobi: Artisan Sake Crafted 100% in Kyoto
World-renowned Kyoto Kinobi Sake brand, Kinobi (Photo Credit: Official Kinobi House Website)
When it comes to sake, one iconic brand you should know is Kinobi. The Kinobi House in Kyoto has always been a landmark on the itinerary for sake enthusiasts. Kinobi KINOBI uses pure rice sake as a base spirit, blending the elegance and richness of Japanese sake with Fushimi's famous gentle sweetness, along with local ingredients like Uji tea, Aya's yuzu, and Sansho pepper. All of these come together to create the "Kyoto" Kinobi sake we can enjoy today.
Kinobi's brand spirit is derived from the tradition of Japanese cuisine, where they always prioritize the best ingredients "in season" to capture the beauty of each seasonal moment. You can also feel the influence of Japanese ingredients such as shiso, sansho, yuzu, hinoki, ginger, bamboo leaves, tree buds, lemon, and Uji matcha, which Kinobi frequently uses. They attach great importance to the harmony of sake and Japanese cuisine. Lastly, their labels and packaging adhere to the "local Kyoto" principle, supervised by the nearly 400-year-old Tang Paper Shop, "Unmo Tang Chang," incorporating patterns and gold and silver decorations seen in traditional Japanese paper sliding doors, blending traditional restraint with modern elegance, making it suitable for both gifting and collecting.
Kinobi - Sei, with its strong navy strength, creates a more exquisite and intense Kyoto flavor.
In spring 2020, Kinobi House was opened in Kyoto, not only providing tastings but also allowing visitors to better understand the Kinobi sake-making process. You can even pre-book a sake introduction and experience class. Besides brand introductions, the class delves deeper into understanding the flavors of different sakes, what ingredients and combinations make them unique, and what special characteristics they have. Inside the store, you can also purchase many Kinobi products (of course, much more affordable compared to import channels).
Kinobi House also offers a members-only booth where you can enjoy many discontinued or hard-to-find Kinobi sakes. If you have the opportunity and a special fondness for sake, it's highly recommended to experience it here.
► Address: 358 Kiyomizu-cho, Kawaramachi-dori, Nijo-kudaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
► Business Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 12:00-21:00 (Last Order: 20:30)
► Contact Number: 075-223-0457
► Official Website: 季の美ハウス / House of KI NO BI (Online reservations available on the official website)
2. SVB KYOTO: Centenary Machiya Turned Craft Brewery Restaurant (Kyoto)
SVB KYOTO preserves the rustic charm of the old house, perfectly blending into the enchanting street scenes of Kyoto alleys (Photo Credit: Spring Valley Brewery Kyoto Official Website)
Located next to Kyoto's Nishiki Market, SVB Craft Brewery (Spring Valley Brewery Kyoto) is housed in a century-old machiya (a traditional Japanese architectural style) converted into a restaurant. They craft handcrafted beers with locally sourced ingredients. The exterior style also retains the architectural aesthetics of Kyoto's streets and alleys, maintaining its original charm.
In addition to a variety of distinctive craft beers, SVB offers Japanese-style small dishes specifically designed to complement these beers. Other menu items feature local Kyoto ingredients, making abundant use of seasonal vegetables. All dishes are paired with suitable beers, and you can ask the server for recommendations when ordering. After strolling through Nishiki Market, consider visiting SVB KYOTO, enjoying locally flavored craft beers and small dishes while watching the bustling streets of Nishiki Market slowly transition into the night.
► Address: 587-2 Takamiyacho, Nishikikojidori, Tomikoji-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
► Business Hours: 11:00-23:00 (Last Order 22:00), closed during the New Year holidays.
► Contact Number: 075-231-4960
► Official Website: SPRING VALLEY BREWERY TOKYO (Online reservations available on the official website)
3. Kyoto Brewing Co. (KBC): Three Westerners' Beer Dream in the Eastern Cultural Ancient City (Kyoto)
The atmosphere at the courtyard of Kyoto Brewing Co. on weekends is quite relaxed, like having a beer and a snack at a street corner on the way home (Photo Credit: Kyoto Brewing Co. Official Website)
"Kyoto Brewing Co.", in fact, wasn't founded by Kyoto locals but rather by individuals from the UK, the US, and Canada. They met in Aomori, Japan, shared a love for beer and skiing, and decided to create "Kyoto Brewing Co." in Kyoto to craft the beer they envisioned. The reason for choosing Kyoto over other places in Japan is simple: "Kyoto boasts a proud history of craftsmanship and aesthetic living, upholding tradition while embracing modern innovative thinking." Additionally, one of the co-founders and a brewer at Kyoto Brewing Co., Chris Hainge, had already been living in Kyoto for over 7 years, firmly believing that there is no better place for beer production than Kyoto.
However, when visiting here, it's essential to note that KBC is only open for tastings on Saturdays and Sundays during the day. What's unique is that the establishment doesn't provide food. Instead, they encourage guests to bring their own snacks to enjoy. Sometimes, there's a food truck selling burgers, and they set up beer crates as simple tables and chairs in the courtyard on the first floor, creating a relaxing spot amidst the daily hustle and bustle.
► Address: 25-1 Nishikujo Takahatamachi, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
► Business Hours: Fridays 17:00-21:00 (Last Order 20:30), Weekends and Holidays 12:00-18:00 (Last Order 17:30)
► Contact Number: 075-574-7820
► Official Website: Kyoto Brewing Co. (Online reservations available on the official website)
4. Must-Have Travel Essentials
One of the most frustrating things about traveling is dealing with too many items and feeling disorganized. While these may seem like minor issues, these small details can quietly affect the quality of your trip and your mood. But don't worry; Bone Collection has you covered!
Bone Crossbody/Lanyard Phone Tie 4 frees up your hands for a hassle-free journey.
When you're out and about, you need your phone at all times, whether it's for checking maps, snapping photos, making calls, or sending messages. It's inconvenient to keep it in your pocket when the crowd is thick, and sometimes there's no place to put your phone, especially when you want to dress up nicely. But don't worry; Bone Collection has you covered! What you need at this time is the Bone Crossbody/Lanyard Phone Tie 4! It frees up your hands for a hassle-free journey.
Bone Lanyard Passport takes care of all your travel essentials, from tickets and passports to vaccination records and SIM cards/SD memory cards.
When you return home, your luggage, big and small, is filled with souvenirs and gifts. If you casually toss around important items like passports and tickets, not only will they be difficult to find when you need them, but losing them in the chaos could be disastrous. But don't worry; Bone Collection has you covered! The Bone Lanyard Passport takes care of all your travel essentials, from tickets and passports to vaccination records and SIM cards/SD memory cards, making your trip hassle-free!
Bonus Recommendation: Upcoming Ski Season
Japan has many ski resorts suitable for beginners or casual players (Photo Credit: Pexel-Toni Cuenca)
As the ski season approaches, I believe many friends who love skiing or want to try skiing can't wait to plan their trips. In addition to world-famous Sapporo and Karuizawa, the Yuzawa Onsen and conveniently located Echigo Yuzawa region are also popular choices. After skiing, having a drink, filling your stomach, and returning to the hotel in a comfortable, slightly tipsy state is a great pleasure.
5. Echigo Sake Museum Ponshukan: Try 130 Types of Sake at Echigo Yuzawa Station (Niigata)
A whole wall of sake vending machines is a major feature of Ponshukan (Photo Credit: Ponshukan-Facebook Fan Page)
Have you ever seen a station where you can exchange tokens for drinks? The Echigo Sake Museum Ponshukan at Echigo Yuzawa Station is such an interesting place where you can taste various types of sake from nearly a hundred breweries in Niigata Prefecture. It is a must-visit spot for many tourists on their skiing trips.
Here, you only need to spend 500 yen to get a tasting cup and 5 tokens. The sake on the whole wall varies in price from 1 to 3 tokens, and the sake vending machine also displays information such as whether the sake is light or heavy, alcohol content, and the brewery. If you find a sake interesting after tasting it, you can even buy a bottle from the adjacent shop. If your itinerary aligns with this and you don't mind trying sake, it's a highly recommended and fun experience.
► Address: 2427-3 Yuzawa, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata Prefecture
► Opening Hours: 09:30-17:00
► Contact Phone: 075-574-7820
► Official Website: Echigo Sake Museum Ponshukan
6. Nozawa Onsen Distillery (Nagano)
Nozawa Onsen Distillery combines the beauty of tradition and modern craftsmanship, making it a great place for visitors even if they don't drink. (Photo Credit: HYPEBEAST)
The Nozawa Onsen Distillery opened at the end of 2022, adding a new category of tourist attraction to the local area beyond skiing and hot springs. The distillery's overall architecture and interior decoration are very beautiful, with modern wooden structures, sake distillation barrels, warm yellow lighting, and the texture of wood. Combined with the faint snowflakes and distant mountain views in the wind, just seeing it from afar warms the heart. You can drink many unique gins produced locally here. What's even better is that the staff here have excellent foreign language skills, so there's no problem communicating in English.
What's special about Nozawa Onsen Distillery is its emphasis on "water." It's not just about insisting on the quality of raw materials for production, but it's also a part of the Nozawa culture. After all, Nozawa Onsen Village is not just a tourist spot with skiing and hot springs; it includes rich traditional culture, cuisine, and natural environment. So, for Nozawa Onsen Village, water is not just a resource; it's also a proud symbol of their local culture.
The price for tasting inside the distillery is 500 yen per glass. In addition to the recommended three gins (Nozawa Gin, Classic Dry Gin, Iwai Gin), you'll also receive a glass of "water." This glass of water is said to be the distillation water used as a raw material for brewing. You can start with the basic combination of three gins and a glass of water and feel the effort they've put into sake brewing and local culture.
► Address: Toyosato 9394, Nozawaonsen Village, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture
► Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday 12:00-19:00, Closed on Tuesdays
► Contact Phone: +81 (0)269-67-0270
► Official Website: Nozawa Onsen Distillery
※ Consume alcohol in moderation and responsibly. Do not operate any form of transportation under the influence of alcohol. When drinking in a foreign place, please ensure your own safety and image, and do not cause trouble to others.
※ Personal imports of alcoholic beverages to Taiwan: The first liter is duty-free, and the second to fifth liters are subject to taxation. Any amount exceeding five liters will be confiscated, and a fine will be imposed. Please check the relevant regulations before making a purchase.
※ Importing meat and fresh fruits into Taiwan is strictly prohibited. Please do not attempt to evade the law and take legal risks.