Visiting a Japanese Whisky Distillery in Hokkaido ・ Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery
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CONTENTS
This part of Hokkaido is so known for its whisky, it’s sometimes called Japan’s “Little Scotland”!
Over the years, whisky has become increasingly popular in Japan, as domestic Japanese distilleries have refined their processes and their products, and the highball (whisky soda) has become a staple of Japanese businessmen after a long day of work. Popular culture has caught on, and in recent years, the story of whisky has even become the topic of a popular Japanese TV show. The 2014~2015 NHK television drama "Massan" drew viewers' attention to the life and legacy of the real 20th-century distiller Masataka Taketsuru, who found a love of Scotch and a Scottish wife while living abroad, and was determined to open his own distillery upon returning to Japan.
The whisky distillery that Taketsuru finally established was in Yoichi, Hokkaido, and the whisky came to be known as Nikka Whisky, as it's called to this day. Nowadays, sightseers and whisky lovers can visit the Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery to learn about the ins and outs of Japanese whisky, and then taste it for themselves.
Like Scotland in Japan
Nikka Whisky is one of the two biggest brands of domestic whisky in Japan, alongside its more internationally-known big brother Suntory. The truth is that when Masataka Taketsuru came back to Japan, fired up and ready to promote the drink in his home country, his first step was to become factory manager of Suntory. At Suntory, he worked with founder Shinjiro Torii to make Japan's first whisky at their Yamazaki distillery, in a part of Osaka just outside of Kyoto. The pair had a falling out, however, causing Taketsuru to leave the company and head to Yoichi, Hokkaido with his wife, ready to build his own distillery. Torii and Taketsuru's disagreement was focused on the whisky itself: Torii believed that they should adjust their whisky to suit the palates of their Japanese customers, while Taketsuru insisted that they should maintain the flavors of traditional Scotch whisky. Those key distinctions are still clear in the whiskies produced by the two brands to this day, and each of the men clearly achieved their unique whisky goals.
Taketsuru chose Yoichi, Hokkaido as the location of his distillery because it seemed as close as he could get to Scotland. Hokkaido's high latitude and resulting climate come with cold, humid weather throughout the year, which Taketsuru hoped would help him make whisky similar to what he had tasted during his years in Scotland.
The origin of the name Nikka is actually found in the earliest years of the distillery's creation. Taketsuru started distilling his whisky at the new facility in Yoichi right away, but the process takes several years before any product is available. So in the meantime, Taketsuru needed to keep the lights on. He decided to make use of the local apples grown in Yoichi to make apple juice, and he used the profits to maintain factory operations. As an apple juice maker, the company took on the name "Dainippon Kaju Kabushikigaisha" (大日本果汁株式会社), AKA the "Great Japan Fruit Juice Company," and the abbreviated nickname "Nikka" just stuck.
Visiting the Distillery
The free tasting lets you try three drinks: the Yoichi Single Malt, the Super Nikka, and their apple wine. No need to rush to drink it straight, though! They also have ice, water, and soda available as mixers, so everyone can really enjoy their drinks. Keeping with Yoichi Distillery tradition, there's even apple juice available!
Even in their modern distilleries, Nikka maintains a tradition of coal-fired distillation, which is said to be particularly hard to control, but it leaves the whisky with a bold hint of burnt, toasty flavor.
The apple wine, on the other hand, was comparatively mild and easy to drink. Whether you're a die-hard Scotch whisky fanatic, or you're just interested in this unique little sliver of Japanese history, the Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery is a fascinating destination for your next trip to Hokkaido.
▲ See more of the Japankuru team's visit in the video above!
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Details
NAME:Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery (ニッカウヰスキー 余市蒸溜所)
MAP
ACCESS:Yoichi Station (余市駅)
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Hokkaido (北海道) is the northernmost of the four main islands that make up Japan. The area is famous for Sapporo Beer, plus brewing and distilling in general, along with fantastic snow festivals and breathtaking national parks. Foodies should look for Hokkaido's famous potatoes, cantaloupe, dairy products, soup curry, and miso ramen!
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Niki, in south-west Hokkaido, is about 30 minutes from Otaru. The small town is rich with natural resources, fresh water, and clean air, making it a thriving center for fruit farms. Cherries, tomatoes, and grapes are all cultivated in the area, and thanks to a growing local wine industry, it's quickly becoming a food and wine hotspot. Together with the neighboring town of Yoichi, it's a noted area for wine tourism.
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Niseko is about two hours from New Chitose Airport, in the western part of Hokkaido. It's one of Japan's most noted winter resort areas, and a frequent destination for international visitors. That's all because of the super high-quality powder snow, which wins the hearts of beginners and experts alike, bringing them back for repeat visits. That's not all, though, it's also a great place to enjoy Hokkaido's culinary scene and some beautiful onsen (hot springs).
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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