On the third day of the "GW Hokkaido trip," I visited at the request of a friend. It was around 2:30 PM on Saturday. The restaurant is located on the southeast outskirts of the town of Kamikawa, along National Route 39. It is on the west side of the "Kamikawa Family Auto Camp Village." The building's wall facing the highway has the large name of the restaurant and its symbol displayed prominently. The building has a sleek and stylish exterior. A white noren curtain hangs at the entrance. There is a spacious unpaved parking space on the east side of the building. The interior of the restaurant is also stylish, with dim lighting creating a calm atmosphere. There are displays, shelves, and refrigerated showcases with sake, related food items, sake utensils, and goods lined up. The lineup was quite attractive. There were several male staff members, all of whom were friendly and polite. When I visited, there were about 6-7 groups of customers, including middle-aged couples and groups of 2-3 middle-aged men. Surprisingly, there was a free tasting event going on. They were offering about 3 types of sake, amazake, and brewing water. Unfortunately, I couldn't participate in the tasting due to various reasons. I ended up purchasing "Kamikawa Taeyuki Junmai Ginjo SHIRO (720mL) for 2,200 yen," "Kamikawa Taeyuki Tokubetsu Junmai Suisei Nama (720mL) for 1,800 yen," and "Sake Kasu Ame for 300 yen each" (excluding tax). I enjoyed the "Kamikawa Taeyuki Junmai Ginjo SHIRO (720mL)" at my friend's house around 8:30 PM that day. We chilled it in the refrigerator before drinking. It had a pleasant and elegant flavor, refreshing taste, and went down smoothly. It was really delicious, and my friend and I finished it in no time. I didn't try the "Kamikawa Taeyuki Tokubetsu Junmai Suisei Nama (720mL)" myself, but according to my friend, it had a mellow richness and a refreshing aftertaste. I tried the "Sake Kasu Ame" after returning to Niigata. It is an original product of "Nagata Seika Co., Ltd." made using sake lees from "Kamikawa Taeyuki Sake Brewery." It does not contain alcohol. The individually wrapped white and hard small candies had a subtly sweet taste with a gentle sake lees flavor. It was the kind of treat you'd want to have when feeling tired. The sake was quite delicious, and the "Sake Kasu Ame" was also enjoyable. I will definitely make sure to participate in the tasting next time (laughs).

On the way back from the Otokoyama Onsen, we passed through Ishikita Pass. It's definitely faster and closer than other routes. The hairpin curves aren't a big deal when going uphill from Kitami. I stopped by the "Kamikawa Taisetsu Sakagura Gift Shop" to buy some sake as a souvenir. It was my second visit. Last time, I tried an amazake and said "Mazoo!!" (not bad, just a play on words). Recently, Taro has been saying "Ikanai!!" everywhere, so I left him in the car with my wife and went in alone. I picked out a sake that was just within budget and paid for it. The Kamikawa Taisetsu Junmai Ginjo sake, 720ml, cost 2420 yen (tax included). I took a sip while watching the Beijing Olympics. It has a light fizziness and a crisp taste, not too heavy or too light. It's a really delicious sake that I'll probably finish quickly.

I visited the Oikawa Daisetsu Sake Brewery "Midorigaoka Kura" which I had always wanted to go to. The brewery is located up a flight of stairs, and although you can look inside through the windows, the view is not very clear. Of course, you can't enter inside, so you can only enjoy the atmosphere from outside. Let's buy some delicious sake at the gift shop and head back. Upon entering through the large curtain, the interior of the shop is very stylish. In addition to sake, they also sell sake sweets like "karinto," cheesecake, and roll cake made with sake lees, as well as goods like hand towels, salt dishes, and sake cups. I have actually tried the sake from this brewery before (as a gift at a restaurant). "I want to buy a sake that I can only get here," I thought to myself. When I asked the staff, they mentioned that there is one type of sake that can only be purchased here (the "Kamikawa" which is a local brand limited to the surrounding areas of Kamikawa Town as a souvenir, but is not available in this shop). However, when I asked about the price, it was 5,000 yen for one bottle (excluding tax). Well, since I had come all the way here, I hesitated and ended up purchasing the "Junmai Daiginjo Shizutori" (5,000 yen, excluding tax). I also bought the rare "karinto" (300 yen) and the sake cup with a crest that I always buy as a collection when I visit a sake brewery (700 yen, not included in the amount spent as it's not food or drink). When I opened the Junmai Daiginjo Shizutori, it had a rich aroma. The taste was very smooth and elegant, with a delicate flavor that did not have any unpleasant notes. The rice polishing ratio is 40%, and it was a refined taste that didn't show any impurities. The sake lees karinto was made using sake lees, and the staff mentioned that they have reduced the sweetness significantly. It's true, the karinto was not too sweet and tasted delicious! Although I bought it on a whim while buying sake, I was satisfied with my purchase. As for the Junmai Daiginjo Shizutori, I planned to enjoy it little by little every day, but I ended up finishing it in just two days (oops). Many of my friends around me are sake lovers, and until the year before last, we often chartered a jumbo taxi to go on sake brewery tours. (If we drove, someone couldn't drink). So, considering that, I thought, "Why not!" Maybe I'll be able to recreate those fun memories soon, and I strongly wish for that day to come...

The third stop on the sake brewery tour was at Kamikawa Taisetsu Sake Brewery. It is a stylish and modern brewery, and you can feel the freshness in the sake labels. Unfortunately, the paid tastings are on hold due to the pandemic. I was interested in trying the Junmai Daiginjo Shizukutori priced at 5,500 yen, but I will wait to sample it when the paid tastings resume before making a purchase.

There is a new sake brewery in Kamikawa Town, and their sake is very delicious. It is not available at New Chitose Airport or Sapporo, but can be purchased through their online store. After trying the limited edition sake, it was so smooth and tasty that I finished a whole bottle in no time. I decided to visit Kamikawa to buy more, and after a long drive, I arrived safely. The store had a simple yet appealing symbol mark on the curtain, and the interior had a modern Japanese style with a sweet aroma. I ended up buying a bottle of daiginjo, a limited edition bottle, and a bottle of ginjo sake. I also bought four bottles of brass amazake. The amazake had a pleasant sweetness and was easy to drink. Back home, I shared the sake with my family, and they enjoyed it, especially the amazake. Each sake had a unique flavor profile, and they were all enjoyable. I still have the daiginjo bottle saved for a special occasion or a delicious meal. The term "nomasaru" was used to describe the sake, meaning it was so easy to drink that you unintentionally keep drinking it. Overall, I had a great experience with the sake from Kamikawa.

"The start of the drive to Asahikawa was delayed due to Yome-san's oversleeping assistance. The main purpose was to see the autumn leaves in Sounkyo, but Yome-san, who was invited, was trying hard to raise the mood. However, as I said, it's still 10 days early, the redness was as expected, but it was okay. Is October 15th the peak?? So, we head to Asahikawa. Along the way, we found a sake brewery in Kamikawa. Yome-san was excited, saying, 'I heard it was open.' but I don't remember hearing that. Next to it was a factory with a sign that said 'Feel free to look around.' So, we went upstairs, but just looking through the window from the outside was not very enjoyable. It's definitely clean, though. We went into the shop. The new facility had a stylish feel. They were selling sake, but there were also various items like plates and sake cups that I wanted, but I couldn't afford them unless they were half price. I bought a bottle of sake. A 720ml bottle costs at least 1,100 yen or more, so it's quite expensive. Yome-san picked the second from the bottom. 'Is this good?' she said. 'Of course, it's good!' It's a good choice for poor people. I took a sip. It's refreshing and light. It tastes young. So, sour?? Yome-san said, 'Is it like the Beaujolais Nouveau of sake?' The glass was full of bubbles. It must be related to the acidity. It's not that the glass is dirty."

I finally made it to the beloved Kamikawa Taiyō Sake Brewery that I encountered at a restaurant in Sapporo two years ago. The ambiance of the shop, the noren curtain, and the atmosphere inside the store all scream a new era of sake brewery. The displays and products inside the store are too stylish (^○^) With oak barrels lined up, it feels like a whisky distillery (lol). Today, to commemorate my first visit, I bought the Suisei Namazake, a special Junmai, and a special Ginjo that has been fire-sealed. I also purchased a glass with the Kamikawa Taiyō family crest. As a gift for purchasing over 4,000 yen, I received a flat sake cup with the family crest on it. Tonight, I am enjoying the Suisei Namazake for my evening drink, and it has a refreshing taste with a hint of richness, which I love. The label on the special Ginjo bottle features a stylish design with the Sounkyo gorge depicted below, which is not visible at contracted retail stores but only available for online sales. I only peeked through the glass window and did not tour the sake brewery. There was a map of local retail stores in Kamikawa Station. Next time, I will purchase online.

The story started with the manager of the Daisetsu Kogen Sanso saying that the new sake brewery in Kamikawa might be the northernmost sake brewery in Hokkaido. However, after some research, it was found out that the brewery in Moso is actually the northernmost. Intrigued by this, the writer and fellow guests decided to visit the second northernmost brewery, the Ryokkyu Brewery, which is part of the Kamikawa Daisetsu Sake Brewery. The shop was established in May 2017 and is known for its meticulous craftsmanship and dedication to making delicious sake. The shop exuded a refreshing atmosphere, and the staff, including a lovely female employee, were all young and passionate about sake brewing. The writer purchased a bottle of Kamikawa Daisetsu Junmai Daiginjo 35D Suisei, which had a vibrant aroma and a smooth, fruity taste. The sake paired well with dishes like tofu and pickled eggplant, highlighting the delicate flavors of the sake. The writer marveled at the simplicity and perfection of pairing good sake with quality ingredients, just like the experiences of famous personalities like Yuzan Kaihara and Yoshida Rui. The Kamikawa Daisetsu Sake Brewery uses high-quality natural spring water from the Daisetsuzan mountain range and locally grown rice for their sake production, ensuring a truly authentic and delicious product.

I purchased two bottles of "Kamikawa" junmai ginjo sake. It is also available at my favorite convenience store. This sake is quite popular and the junmai sake sells out quickly. After trying the ginjo sake, I realized it has a fruity flavor that makes it hard to pair with certain dishes. I discovered that I prefer dry sake with fresh seafood, but the ginjo sake enhances the fishy taste. On the other hand, pairing it with sweet fruits or desserts would overpower the sake's sweetness. So, should I just drink the sake on its own? I don't drink that much. Today, I tried pairing it with edamame and squid tempura seasoned with salt. It was a great match! Both the food and sake complemented each other well. I recommend chilling the sake and sipping it slowly to fully enjoy the blissful moment.

Representing the Kamikawa region, Kamikawa Taisetsu-san has opened a wonderful shop. The interior of the shop has a special and sophisticated atmosphere. The first thing that catches your eye is the wall refrigerator, lined with a variety of sake bottles. In addition to sake, they also offer coffee, amazake, sake vessels, and other items that catch your interest. I want to buy everything! Since I'm here, I might as well purchase the shop's limited edition sake, "Suisei" Junmai Ginjo (unpasteurized) for 1980 yen (including tax). It's a Ginjo, so it might be on the sweeter side, right? It's unpasteurized, so it's "raw". The brewing method is the same, but the type of rice is different. The staff at the shop are kind and very polite, explaining the Kamikawa sake passionately and calmly. They also have cute "Otesho" (salt dish) with "ramen" design that I definitely want! I ended up buying three of them. I usually like to choose just one when I travel, but I love the versatility of these dishes for various purposes. I'll start by using them as sake saucers. You can also observe the brewing process on the premises, which is very clean and beautiful everywhere. I'm looking forward to tasting the rice and water produced by Kamikawa Brewery. Both Hokkaido rice and sake have been getting tastier in recent years. Could it be because of the changing climate in Hokkaido? If it's delicious, that's all that matters!

The two types of rice used for sake in Japan are said to be this. This time, I bought special junmai sake and nama sake. It uses Suisei rice. It is fruity.

If you drink the sake here, you might not be able to drink others anymore⁉️ Pure rice sake made from Hokkaido sake rice❗ The unique drinking experience of pure rice sake‼️

It's been a while since I reviewed the Up Kamikawa Daigetsu. I visited a roadside station in Shibetsu that I had never been to before. I checked the location before heading to Nayoro to see the sheep. It was the beginning of Golden Week and the parking lot was full. Many food trucks were gathered there. I moved inside the station. I remembered that there was Up Kamikawa Daigetsu sake, so I headed straight to the refrigerator. There it was. The label with the red samurai characters looked cool. A 1.8 liter bottle was priced at 2,000 yen, which is a bit on the expensive side. But it's a fresh sake, so it's understandable. I enjoyed it at home. Ah, the slightly low spicy sensation is still there. The sharpness of the comet is also still there. I had a delicious sake from Midorigaoka Brewery after a long time. Thank you for the meal. Ingredients: Rice (grown in Hokkaido), rice koji (made from Hokkaido rice) Raw material rice: Shibetsu-grown comet 100% Polishing ratio: 60% Alcohol content: 16%

There is a restaurant near the Kamikawa Sounkyo Interchange. The parking lot was empty and we had the place to ourselves. They sell a variety of items, but they didn't have any T-shirts. I bought a red label sake from the refrigerator. I decided to give it to a sake enthusiast. We brought it to a party later on and tried it. It was spicy and lacked the usual bitterness. It's amazing that a ginjo sake can taste like this. Even though I wasn't feeling well, the feedback from others was great. Thank you for the meal. Special Junmai, dry. Ingredients: rice (100% ginjo), rice koji (Hokkaido rice). Polishing ratio: 60%. Alcohol content: 16%.

I haven't been to a sake brewery, so I'll post under "Other." The other day, I bought Tsuru Rei at Morinoya Sake Store in Aobadai. I asked, "Do you have any other recommendations?" They recommended a sake based on my preferences. It was Tokachi Junmai Ginjo, with an alcohol content of 16% and a polishing ratio of 55%, priced at 2370 yen for a 720ml bottle. It's from a sake brewery in Kamikawa-cho, Hokkaido. I heard it's a relatively new brewery, only 2-3 years old, and the sake is made at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. I tried it. It's a delicious sake with a slight acidity, a hint of spiciness, and a touch of fruitiness. A refined taste for a 55% polished rice sake, with a distinct "sake" flavor. I've been choosing Ginjo instead of Daiginjo recently, looking for that "sake" flavor. Very satisfied! It's a bit pricey, probably because I bought it at a store in Aobadai. If you buy it in Hokkaido, it might be a bit cheaper. Thank you for the meal! Additional note: A few days ago, I received a souvenir from my craftsman friend who went on a trip to Hokkaido. It was Todoniku Daikon Nabe! I enjoyed it with sake as a side dish. The ginger was strong to remove the odor, but the fat was sweet and delicious. I was able to enjoy this rare treat.