Memorandum: Takizan First Moon nama-zake making, Hokkai Nigorizake, Twilight Star Junmai Ginjo, Twilight Star Junmai-shu, sake-kasu shochu, Taizo, aged in wooden barrels. At the beginning of the year, I happened to purchase this sake at an event in Tobu Ikebukuro, and was very impressed. I had always wanted to visit, and by chance, ended up on a family trip to Hokkaido, so my wish came true and I visited. When I went to the tasting corner, I saw the person who had explained the sake at Tobu Ikebukuro! We chatted, my wife kept tasting, and we ended up buying a lot of sake! But "Mashike"... that's an intriguing word, isn't it?

On November 11, 2022, I tried the plum wine from "Kunimare Shuzo," the northernmost sake brewery in Japan, located in the port town of Masumoe along the Sea of Japan. The "Hokkai Oni Koroshi no Umeshu" (500ml) costs 1,320 yen and is a limited edition product. This authentic plum wine is made using only Japanese plums (grown domestically), sugar, and sake (Hokkai Oni Koroshi original sake), without any additives such as flavorings or colorings. The plums used are Nanko Ume, resulting in a refined and refreshing flavor. It was very delicious, and since it's a limited edition, I want to savor it carefully. Thank you for the meal.

I continued my visit to Hokkaido at Mashike, where I visited Japan's northernmost sake brewery, Kunimare Sake Brewery in the Mashike area. The store is located on a lively street in Mashike town. The exterior has a charming appearance with the inscription "Japan's northernmost sake brewery." Inside the store, there are modern goods as well as exhibits that convey the history of the brewery that has been operating for a long time. They were offering tastings at the back, but as the driver, I had to swallow my saliva and leave the place (laughs). On the way, there was a signboard that resembled the "Mashike" station, so I took a commemorative photo (laughs). I bought some sake to take home. The 140th-anniversary commemorative bottle costs 734 yen (tax included) – a limited edition from the brewery. The bottle looks nice and lovely. It is colorless and transparent, with a good aroma and a rich taste. It has a mild flavor and is easy to drink. My wife and I quickly finished it. After seeing the variety of sake lined up, I realized that there are quite a few "brewery-limited" products. Next time, I plan to bring a cooler box and go to Mashike. Thank you for the meal (^o^)丿

I visited a hair salon for the first time in a while in July 2022. This area has a retro atmosphere, and the sake brewery here is a charming wooden building that evokes a sense of the past. The store is filled with stylish goods. This time, I purchased a limited edition sparkling sake. It is fruity and slightly carbonated, making it easy to drink and I finished it in no time. I want to learn more about sake.

On a sunny Saturday, I drove north on the Orolon Line to the town of Mashike, which once prospered with herring fishing. Mashike is famous for its Kunitoki Sake Brewery, a must-visit for sake lovers. The town also has plenty of historical sites to explore. On that day, I browsed through various goods and purchased a small dish with soba miso and the standard Kunitoki sake. The fruity and sweet aftertaste of the sake pairs well with a variety of dishes. After shopping, I visited the former Maruichi Honma House, the predecessor of Kunitoki Sake Brewery, and was thoroughly satisfied.

In December 2021, I visited Mashike Town in Hokkaido. It's not pronounced as "Zoumou" but as "Mashike". Mashike Town is known for being the hometown of the world-renowned chef, Kiyomi Sangoku. He was discovered by Chef Murakami at the Imperial Hotel, became the head chef at the Swiss Embassy, trained under famous chefs in Europe like the Troisgros brothers, and eventually opened his own restaurant, Hotel de Mikuni. The town's sake brewery, which used to be like a remote island on land, has been producing delicious sake. I bought their limited edition sake "Junmai Ginjo First Moon" this year. It has an alcohol content of 16.5% and a modern label. They also have a sake lees shochu called "Taizo" named after the founder, which is aged in wine barrels and has a rich flavor. The brewery, Kuni Sake Brewery, uses underground water from Mt. Atsukabetsu to brew their delicious sake. They offer generous tastings, so I recommend visiting the brewery to experience it yourself.

Today, I took a train and a bus to Mashike Town. When it comes to Mashike, the northernmost sake brewery in Japan, Kunimare Shuzo, is known. The brewery was established when employees started making sake for themselves on the premises of a kimono store. In the cold Hokkaido, warm sake must have been essential for the workers. As you enter the historic building built in 1918 and walk down the long corridor towards the factory, you will find a room displaying various sake-making tools and sake vessels from that time. Further inside, there is a tasting corner where you can try all the sake sold in the shop. I'm not a heavy drinker, but if I were to drink alcohol, it would definitely be sake! I prefer dry sake, so Kunimare's lineup of dry sake should be a good match. I had the opportunity to try three different types of sake for free at the tasting corner! The staff recommended the "Junmai Ginjo First Moon," which has a good aroma, a light and refreshing taste with a clear transparency, and a richness that I really like. It seems like it would go well with any dish. I also tried the "Oni Koroshi Ume-shu" and the "Ginjo Genshu Yukimasa." Since it's a long journey back to Sapporo this time, I bought the Oni Koroshi Ume-shu and sake manju that are only available here, and I decided to buy the First Moon online. If you love sake, I highly recommend visiting this brewery. The journey back to Sapporo is long, but "Drink while riding, drink while getting off - feeling good today too♪"

During the sunny and scorching hot long weekend, Morimoe was as crowded as usual. The parking lot was packed. This time, I didn't stay long, I bought a souvenir for my brother-in-law and was about to leave when I received a request to buy cold amazake. I bought it and enjoyed it in the car with the air conditioning on full blast. I took a sip and tasted the sweet and deep flavor of sake lees, followed by a gentle fermented acidity in the aftertaste, with a refreshing coolness. Truly a delicious amazake from a renowned sake brewery.

I came here to find a sake to pair with sashimi. It's exciting to try a sake that is not easily found, especially when visiting the brewery. The staff recommended a special Junmai Daiginjo sake called "Nama Chozo Kami Sake no Mikoto." They mentioned that it is a limited edition product from the brewery. The label is quite innovative and unique for a sake bottle. Upon researching online, I found out that it is a collaboration with Bandai Namco Entertainment's sake character project "Kami Sake no Mikoto, Kimi no Mikoto," featuring the label of Kunimare Oko. I bought it at Nagata Sengyo-ten, where I also got some fresh tuna and flounder sashimi to pair with. It was delicious! The refreshing sake flavor spread smoothly in my mouth. Before I knew it, the bottle was empty. Lesson learned (laughs). Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I kept it at home, so my review is late. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, I went on a hair addition trip, and since then I decided that this would be the sake for the end of 2020. The problem was which sake to choose. I see and drink this sake a lot in Sapporo, but I hadn't paid much attention to the different types, so I wasn't sure what to buy... For the two nights of the party, it felt like I was drinking to decide on this one haha. I was thinking of trying something rare that I hadn't drunk before, but in the end I chose this one. - Kasen Kunimare 900ml 807 yen (excluding tax) This traditional standard sake was the most easy to drink with a good balance of umami and spiciness. However, I haven't tried all the varieties, maybe only about 3-4 types (not sure haha). I'm sure I'll have many more opportunities to drink this sake as it represents Hokkaido. Thank you for the meal (^o^)

Now, after visiting the herring shop, let's go to that building over there! What? It has the word "sake" written on it... Yes! It's the Kunitoki Sake Brewery! It's famous as the northernmost sake brewery in Japan! Inside the store, you can freely explore historical materials and listen to stories from the staff. And if you're interested, there's a tasting corner too! So, let's go ahead and... Since I don't have a license, I'll be driving again, so please take care of the driving part for me! Alright, let's go! Kunitoki Sake Brewery Tasting Corner! - Hokkaido Limited Junmai Daiginjo Kunitoki - Special Junmai Sake Kunitoki - Regionally Limited Junmai Daiginjo Northern Sparkle - Seasonally Limited Junmai Daiginjo Farthest North Brewery - Seasonally Limited Junmai Sake Chilled Release - Brewery Limited Junmai Daiginjo First Moon - Hokkai Unfiltered Sake Wow, what an amazing lineup! The Farthest North Brewery has a strong, robust flavor! The mellow taste of the Chilled Release goes well with fish! First Moon has a refreshing sweetness within it! And of course, the classic Kunitoki series has a reliable taste! With 7 varieties for tasting, it might give a slight buzz, right? In total, it's like having a cup of sake! Oh, they also have shochu! Well, let's try it out! I'll have the shochu on the rocks! - Sake Lees Shochu Taizo - Brewery Limited Sake Lees Shochu Taizo Aged in Unglazed Earthenware Jar for 10 Years - Brewery Limited Sake Lees Shochu Taizo Aged in Wooden Barrel So it's shochu made from sake lees! The Unglazed Earthenware Jar aging gives a smooth taste, and the Wooden Barrel aging has a whiskey-like aroma! Alright, here's to a slightly tipsy seal! I'd love to keep drinking, but I feel a cold and sharp gaze... Oh, excuse me... What? If I fall asleep, they'll release me into the Sea of Japan! So, let's buy some souvenirs! Oh, don't forget to thank the driver for the ride... Ready to drive safely to Rumoi! Thank you in advance!

I visited the Kunimare sake brewery in Mashike, known as the northernmost sake brewery in Japan. It has been 20 years since my last visit. I enjoy the various flavors of Kunimare sake. This time, I bought a bottle of junmai sake to take home. The entrance offers not only sake tasting and sales, but also plenty of souvenirs. As you go further inside, you can see the brewing area up close. Even those who do not drink sake can enjoy the visit. Finally, here is how I accessed the brewery this time. I stayed in Asahikawa the night before, where there is a bus from Sapporo. Please note that the nearest station, Mashike Station, was closed in 2016 due to the partial discontinuation of the Rumoi Main Line. In the morning, I took the "Hokkaido North 1 Day Walk" from Asahikawa Station to the final stop, Rumoi Station, and then took a coastal bus from the station to the old Mashike Station. The fare from Rumoi to Mashike is just over 400 yen one way, and it took less than 30 minutes. You can easily explore Mashike city on foot. The coastal bus runs along the seaside road, offering a great view. The only disappointment was not being able to purchase the famous Rumoi Station bento box as it required a reservation. Finally, my return visit was fulfilled!

I had always wanted to visit "Kunimare Sake Brewery" in Mashike-cho. The JR Mashike Line was discontinued before I had the chance, leaving only buses or private cars as transportation options, making it even more difficult to visit. This time, I had to change my schedule to visit Mashike due to weather conditions preventing a visit to Mt. Asahidake. Although I couldn't sample the sake this time since I drove there, I was excited to finally visit this place I had been wanting to go for a long time. I have visited several other breweries in Hokkaido before, each with its own charm. Kunimare Sake Brewery reminded me a bit of Takasago Sake Brewery in terms of atmosphere. The tour area wasn't very large but had a nice feel to it. I bought a bottle of their limited-edition Ginjo sake called "Shokanshizuku" based on the recommendations from the tasting area, as well as some sweets made with sake lees like Monaka, arare, and karinto. The "Shokanshizuku" sake I tried at home was dry yet well-balanced, and I think it might be interesting to try it warm as well. The Monaka was particularly interesting, with sake lees mixed into the filling inside a barrel-shaped design. I may not have the chance to visit again, but if I do, I would like to try the tasting experience next time.

It has been famous since ancient times and now it's a common sight even in small places. I personally prefer the 12-sided town of Asahikawa. Going back to the topic, the name comes from "Nogi Nogizaka" which is not related to Nogizaka46, but to Nogi Maresuke, a distinguished figure in the Russo-Japanese War. It's a dignified sake with a historical background. It might be nice to enjoy it while recalling such trivia. It's tough without the railway, but I hope this liquor store keeps on doing their best.

Heart-pounding sake brewery tour ♡ It was the last day of Golden Week, but the parking lot was full. There were many customers inside, and it was crowded. Since there was a crowd at the register, I went to the tasting area first. Sweet sake was being served as a service, and the sweet aroma of sake lees was so wonderful♪ It was a great atmosphere. I was the driver so I couldn't do any tasting! What a shame! Really a shame!! There were many tastings available, and I could see "sold out" signs here and there. I wonder if all those Kunimare sakes are easy to drink and delicious. My heart was swayed by the experience, and I left with detailed cards filled out to go to the register. I also received a commemorative seal for Reiwa! I purchased two bottles of Japanese sake. They also sold small items like hand cream and face wash soap, so it seemed like a space that could be enjoyed by those who can't drink alcohol.

Actually, I have been visiting sake breweries in Hokkaido quite a bit. This time, I visited Kuni Toki Brewery for the first time. Inside, there was a bear enjoying Kuni Toki sake (for some reason, he had a Kumamon tote bag). Since I had a driver, I didn't worry about it and eagerly headed to the tasting corner. There were about 15 types of sake available, so I sipped on them while also drinking water in between. I haven't had much Kuni Toki sake before, but I found them relatively refreshing and easy to drink. I tried sake lees shochu for the first time, and it had a unique sweet flavor which was interesting. The last one I tried was the "Hokkai Nigori Sake," which had a good aroma but was dry and impactful! I'm considering bringing it to a sake event in the city. There was also a tasting of sweet sake available. On this day, which happened to be the last day of the Heisei era, I bought a limited edition Kuni Toki with a label for the first year of Reiwa (containing Kassen). I think they said it was limited to 130 bottles for the day. After this, there was a slightly unexpected event, but thanks to visiting Kuni Toki Brewery, the last day of Heisei turned out to be a memorable one. Thank you for the delicious experience!

After the earthquake, all I hear is "tourism has decreased, decreased," and it's making me feel uneasy. Dariin seems to want to wander around in the car, which is a good opportunity, so we've been taking action on weekends. --------------------------------------------------------------There are sake breweries in the city where I was born, but they are too close for me to have ever gone inside (laughs). There is also a museum near my house, but I have only gone there to fetch water. But this time, since we went to Makkari, there was no way we wouldn't stop by. Kunimoto-san. Dariin was hesitant, saying, "I can't even taste it," but she decided to stop by. Maybe she felt good because she had eaten something delicious for lunch☆ The peak of autumn leaves is still a little ways off, but since it was a holiday, I was worried it might be crowded...but there was only one bus and a few individual customers. We were able to see it more casually than expected because we were able to park in the parking lot in front of the store. There were also some group customers who had come by bus in the middle of paying. ☆Items that cannot be purchased in Sapporo. ☆Rare items with a dry taste. I asked the male employee who was there about it. At first, I asked the female employee for a recommendation for a dry sake, but it seems she didn't really understand what a dry sake was, so she quickly passed the baton to the male employee. If it's crowded, you can't expect a precise answer even if you ask a question. That was the right decision for this day. I bought sake limited to the brewery for myself and my father, and mountain and sea pickles. I wanted to drink pear juice, but it was sold out around August, so I drank apple juice. The fresh carbonation and the refreshing scent of the apple were delicious and irresistible. I'm glad I tried it! When I got home, I received the limited sake with mountain and sea pickles. Oh. This is what transparency looks like. It was delicious even with mountain and sea pickles and crushed sashimi. I want to go again. I want to try the tasting.

In 2018, on the first day of a trip to the northern region, I visited a certain office in Sapporo. chappytsum: Ah~ summer vacation~♪ Slightly tired from swimming, feeling cool, baby~♪ Boss: I thought I heard a familiar melody coming from somewhere. It must be that guy trying to show he wants a summer vacation. Ignore, ignore. chappytsum: By the way, it seems like a nut shop has opened in the corner of this office building. It's called Nutty Corner! (laughs) Boss: Ignore, ignore, ignore. chappytsum: Oh, by the way, I heard that your uncle passed away? My condolences. By the way, have you attended the wake? Just kidding! (laughs) Boss: Ignore, ignore, ignore, ignore. chappytsum: Chief!! We harvested potatoes from our home garden the other day. Summer spuds, baby! (laughs) Boss: Ugh, you're so noisy! Fine, fine! If you want a summer vacation, just say so!! You're so sarcastic! chappytsum: Oh, I didn't mean it that way... Just kidding! (laughs) Well then, thanks to the kind offer from the chief, I'll be taking a week off for summer vacation. Boss: Jeez... And so, it's summer vacation. chappytsum has been taking solo trips during summer vacation for the past few years. This year, it's a trip to the northern region. Starting from Ishikari City, taking National Route 231, also known as the Orolon Line, straight north to Mashike Town. Among the cities along the Orolon Line, Mashike Town feels a bit damp to me. Well, humidity, you know! (laughs) When in Mashike, you can't not visit this place. That's why I'm here at "Kunimare Sake Brewery." "You can't not visit this place" I said, but my interest is fading before my saliva dries up (laughs) Why is that? When I see the lineup of sake, they're all sake I've tried before. Junmai Daiginjo Kura-dashi... 720ml for 2571 yen. This sake is made by Mr. Kurata, Kurata-san, you know! (laughs) It's a dry and heavy sake. I like dry sake, but I felt this one was a bit too intense. I prefer a lighter sake.

My partner was all dressed up and ready to go out, but we had to cancel our plans due to the unpredictable weather. The cloudy skies and rain clouds in the morning were nowhere to be seen! Instead of taking pictures, let's eat and drink here!! The driver can enjoy amazake and delicious spring water. We already know how delicious the food was from the previous day at Kunimare!

The best tourist attraction in Mombetsu! Kunimare Sake Brewery! The northernmost sake brewery in Japan! They offer free tastings inside, which is very convenient for non-drivers! They also provide a service to take home spring water, which is wonderful! Be sure to visit Mombetsu! ^ ^