Toshimaya Sake Brewery
This is one of the few sake breweries in Tokyo and it is the only brewery in Tokyo boasting a history of more than 400 years.
Sake brewed there is popular as “local sake in Edo and Tokyo,” and during a brewery tour (reservation required), you learn about the brewers’ passion for sake brewing through their comments.
In 1596 (Keicho 1), the first Toshimaya Juemon started the business of a liquor store and a tavern offering cheap drinks under the name of “Toshimaya” on the right bank of Kanda Kamakura in Edo, which later became “Toshimaya Main Store.” In 1935 (Showa 10), a “Toshimaya Sake Brewery” was established as a brewery in what is now Higashimurayama City.
The tavern at the time of its birth is said to have the roots of today’s izakaya, and Toshimaya is said to be the originator of the custom of the “Kagami Biraki” ceremony held at weddings and celebrations and “white sake” widely known to the general public as a drink to be drunk on the Girls’ Day and by women.
In addition, “Kinkon Masamune” sake is the only sacred sake used in Meiji Shrine and Kanda Shrine, which are special shrines in Tokyo.
In addition to regular brewery tours (reservation required), various events are held such as drinking sake bought on the premises in the brewing room every month, evening brewery tours, and collaborative projects with other industries.
The Toshimaya Festa, which is held every November, attracts many sake lovers from both inside and outside the city.
