Tottori Prefecture, with its wealth of off-the-beaten-path adventures, rarely fails to delight travelers looking to experience rural Japan. As Japan’s least populous prefecture (~538,000 residents), it’s an unheralded escape from the sometimes overwhelming bustle of the country’s sprawling, densely populated cities. Large swaths of nature parks and preserves mixed with vast stretches of farmland occupy…
Production of Okinawa’s homegrown beverage awamori emerged in an atmosphere of cultural cultivation that was threatened at times by violent conflicts and political struggle. The collection of islands that today make up Okinawa Prefecture has a long history rich in cultural developments and maritime commerce. The island chain was formerly known as the Ryūkyū Kingdom,…
I was afforded the exquisite pleasure of participating in a two-day sake-centric tour of Tochigi Prefecture conducted by Sake Voyage over the summer. The trip centered around visits to four sake breweries coupled with a lesson in soba making and an exquisite French-Japanese fusion dinner with well-conceived sake pairing. The tour originated in the prefectural…
In the waning days of the Edo period (1603~1868) Shitara was a thriving post station and lodging town along the major route from coastal Aichi to landlocked Nagano Prefecture. Salt harvested from the sea moved inland as lumber logged from the forestland surrounding the town was transported to oceanside communities. After a long day on…
The prefecture of Shimane stretches over 1,000km along the western coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu. Its shoreline scenery runs the gamut from sandy, secluded beaches to rugged precipices with an occasional fishing port making an appearance. As one would expect, there is a wealth of seafood, and also not surprisingly, a plenitude…
Countryside towns in Japan, while short on residents, never seem to be lacking in folklore or legends. Some are so outlandish, one wonders if sake may have been a major influence in their creation. The small town of Agamachi in Niigata, home to some 11,000 or so residents, has one of the more interesting legends…
Not every kura can be a rustic reminder of the past. As technology advanced it became more efficient to house a brewery in a modern building that eschews traditional architecture. Surely the romantics among us love that old wooden kura with its elegant, aged beams and signature chimney. But let’s be honest–when it comes down…