Born from the bounty of nature in Hida Takayama! Oita Sake Brewery, famous for its sake “Onikoroshi”

Hida Takayama attracts tourists from all over the world and is becoming more and more crowded every year. Located in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture, almost in the middle of the Japanese archipelago, Takayama City is the largest city in Japan, and each area has its own distinct history and culture.
In this article, we focus on sake brewing as one of the attractions of Hida Takayama and introduce the “Oita Sake Brewery – 老田酒造店,” which has been brewing sake in the rich natural environment for many years. Please enjoy the charm of traditional sake brewing, which has been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

 

Long-established sake brewery with a 300-year history in Hida Takayama

Hida Takayama was rich in resources such as lumber, charcoal, and gold, and during the Edo period (1603-1867), the area was ruled directly by the Edo shogunate and prospered as a castle town. Today, the old streets of Hida Takayama remain as they were during the Edo period, and the town attracts many tourists. Sake brewing has long flourished in the area, and as many as 12 sake breweries still exist today.

Oita Sake Brewery – 老田酒造店, introduced here, has been brewing sake in Takayama City for more than 300 years! It is one of the most well-established of the long-established breweries. The company was founded in the Kyoho era (1720s) during the Edo period, when Takayama City was prosperous, according to documents.

The sake made in the severe winter cold of Hida Takayama is the same dry sake as in the past and is loved under the name of Onikoroshi. The sake carefully produced in the rich nature of Hida Takayama has a taste that grabs the hearts of not only locals but also tourists. A must-see for anyone who wants to drink sake in Hida Takayama! Here we introduce Oita Sake Brewery’s commitment to sake brewing and our recommended products.

 

Commitment to Sake Brewing

Let’s take a look at Oita Sake Brewery’s commitment to sake brewing, which has been brewing sake in Hida Takayama for 300 years.

Hida Takayama’s pure water and rice

Located in the center of the Hida region, Takayama City is surrounded by mountains on all sides, including the Hida Mountains, a series of 3,000-meter-high peaks. Oita Sake Brewery is particular about water and rice, which are essential for sake brewing. First of all, about 80% of sake is made from water, and the abundance and purity of water from the Hida Mountains makes the sake even better quality.

In addition, rice such as “Hidahomare,” sake rice produced in Gifu, is used. This rice is suitable for sake brewing and has the same grain size as Yamadanishiki, a representative sake rice. We offer a special sake that can only be made in Hida Takayama, where delicious water and rice are available.

Suitable environment for sake brewing

Originally, the brewery was located in the center of Takayama City, but in 1991, the brewery was relocated to Kiyomi Town, Takayama City, 30 minutes by car from the center of the city in order to enlarge the brewery. This location has cooler temperatures and deep snow, and the harsh winter environment is ideal for sake brewing. In addition, the brewery used to make sake using tap water, but there is no running water in Kiyomi Town, so 100% natural water is used from brewing to bottling. The location of the brewery was also carefully chosen to ensure a better tasting sake.

The famous “Onikoroshi” to ward off the plague

Oita Sake Brewery’s representative brand “Onikoroshi” means “sake so dry that it kills demons,” and has long been used as a synonym for “dry sake.” It is said to be the originator of “Onikoroshi” because his predecessor was the first in Japan to produce a dry sake with the label “Onikoroshi” and it spread throughout the country.
Oita Sake Brewery’s “Onikoroshi” is also meant to “exterminate demons (bad spirits) in people’s hearts by drinking sake.
The label depicts Shoki, the god of pestilence, exterminating demons. Drink Onikoroshi and get rid of both bad hearts and plague.

 

Oita Sake Brewery Recommendations

Hida Jiman Onikoroshi Honjozo

The origin of “Onikoroshi”, the first sake brewed. “Hidahomare,” carefully selected sake rice produced in Gifu Prefecture, is polished to 68% and brewed with pure, natural water from the Hida Takayama mountains. It is a slightly dry Honjozo sake with a smooth and refreshing taste. The alcohol content is 15-16%. It can be enjoyed cold, at room temperature, or warmed.

[Product Information]
Rice used: Hidahomare
Yeast used: No. 901
Rice polishing ratio: 68%
Sake Meter Value: 3
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acidity: 1.2
Storage: Cool and dark place
How to drink: chilled, room temperature, warmed

[Price]
1800ml ¥ 3,155 (tax included)
720ml ¥ 1,511 (tax included)
300ml ¥ 683 (tax included)

[Taste graph]

Hida Jiman Onikoroshi Junmai Daiginjo Genshu

This dry junmai daiginjo sake is made by polishing up to 50% Hidahomare, Gifu Prefecture’s preferred rice for sake brewing, and brewed with pure natural water from the Hida Takayama mountains. It is packed in the tank without water splitting, allowing you to enjoy the sake’s original presence and fruity aroma. Alcohol content 16-17%.

[Product Information]
Rice used: Hidahomare
Yeast used: No.1801
Rice polishing ratio: 50%
Sake Meter Value: 4
Acidity: 1.6
Amino acidity: 1.5
Storage: Cool and dark place
How to drink: chilled, room temperature

[Price]
1800ml ¥ 6,957 (tax included)
720ml ¥ 4,870 (tax included)

[Taste graph]

Hida Jiman Onikoroshi Junmai Genshu Dohatsusyoten

It is an authentic dry junmai sake made in pursuit of dryness, heavy and dry to the max level. It has a high alcohol content of 18-19%. We recommend drinking it cold or at room temperature. It goes well with fatty Chinese food, miso stew, and other strong-flavored dishes. Currently, it is Oita Sake Brewery’s main product and is popular among dry sake lovers.

[Product Information]
Rice used: Hidahomare
Yeast used: No. 901
Rice polishing ratio: 58%
Sake Meter Value: 10
Acidity: 1.9
Amino acidity: 1.9
Storage: Cool and dark place
How to drink: chilled, room temperature

[Price]
1800ml ¥ 3,371 (tax included)
720ml ¥ 1,753 (tax included)

[Taste graph]

Takayama Junmai Daiginjo Sakura

This is a rare sweet sake from Oita Sake Brewery, which is known for its dry sake. It is a junmai daiginjo-nama genshu with a soft sweetness spread by polishing up to 50% “Hidahomare” sake rice produced in Gifu Prefecture. It has an alcohol content of 16-17%. The pink cherry blossom (Sakura) label is sure to make it a great Japanese souvenir.

[Product Information]
Rice used: Hidahomare
Yeast used: No. 901
Rice polishing ratio: 50
Sake Meter Value: -10
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acidity: 1.2
Storage: Refrigerated
How to drink: chilled

[Price]
720ml ¥ 2,851 (tax included)

[Taste graph]

Junmai Ginjo Hida Takayama

This soft dry junmai ginjo is made from 50% Hidahomare, a Gifu Prefecture rice suitable for sake brewing, and brewed with the pure natural water of Hida Takayama. It has a gentle mouthfeel and a fresh, fruity aroma. The alcohol content is 14-15%. Recommended as a souvenir from Hida Takayama!

[Product Information]
Rice used: Hidahomare
Yeast used: No.1801
Rice polishing ratio: 50
Sake Meter Value: 1
Acidity: 1.3
Amino acidity: 1.1
Storage: Cool and dark place
How to drink: chilled, room temperature

[Price]
1800ml ¥ 3,650 (tax included)
720ml ¥ 1,824 (tax included)

[Taste graph]

Honkaku Shochu Yomogi & Sukuna Pumpkin

Oita Sake Brewery produces not only sake, but also shochu, a Japanese distilled spirit. Among them, we recommend “Honkaku Shochu Yomogi” and “Honkaku Shochu Sukuna Pumpkin”. Please try these rare shochu that you cannot taste anywhere else.

●Honkaku Shochu Yomogi

Shochu made from Yomogi(mugwort), a specialty of Hida Takayama Asahimachi. It has a strong aroma unique to mugwort and tastes like whiskey.

[Product Information]
Ingredients: Rice (produced in Japan), sake lees, rice koji (produced in Japan), Yomogi (mugwort)
Distillation method: Single distillation
Alcohol percentage: 25
Type: Single distillation shochu
Storage: Cool and dark place
How to drink: On the rocks, straight, with water or hot water

[Price]
720ml ¥ 2,630 (tax included)

[Taste graph]

 
●Honkaku Shochu Sukuna Pumpkin

Authentic shochu made from the rare Hida-grown sukuna pumpkin. The pumpkin is long and thin like a loofah, and has a sweeter taste than chestnuts.

[Product Information]
Ingredients: Rice (produced in Japan), pumpkin, rice koji (produced in Japan)
Distillation method: Decompression distillation
Alcohol percentage: 25
Type: Pumpkin shochu
Storage: Cool and dark place
How to drink: On the rocks, straight, with water or hot water

[Price]
720ml ¥ 3,298 (tax included)

[Taste graph]

 

Visit Oita Sake Brewery when sightseeing in Hida Takayama

Oita Sake Brewery has been brewing sake for many years in the rich land of Hida Takayama. Oita Sake Brewery Kamisannomachi Store is located about a 10-minute walk from Takayama Station. The shop is housed in a renovated old machiya (traditional townhouse), and sells sake and shochu directly from the Oita Sake Brewery’s brewery. There are also limited edition sake available only at the directly-managed store, so you can enjoy a special experience!

In addition to purchasing products, you can always sample 10 different types of sake at the coin server. Sake not listed on the coin server can also be tasted if you ask the staff. We encourage you to compare and find your favorite sake.

Since many foreign tourists visit the store, product descriptions are written in English and staff members use translation tools, so you can enjoy Japanese sake with peace of mind.
We are located in the middle of the old streets of Hida Takayama, one of the most popular tourist spots in Hida Takayama, so please visit Oita Sake Brewery on your trip to Hida Takayama.

Directly managed store “Older Sake Brewery Kamisannomachi Store”
[Address] 67 Kamisannomachi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture

Oita Sake Brewery official website
https://onikorosi.com/