Miho Ota is joined on this episode of Sake on Air by Spanish sake educator and promoter Elvira Aldaz to talk about their three-day sake trip to Fukushima in July. They visited 9 breweries in under 72 hours including travel to and from Tokyo! The two friends share their impressions from talking with local brewers, tasting many different styles of sake, and experiencing how the region’s climate, culture, and brewing traditions make Fukushima sake what it is.

Fukushima Trip Itinerary
DAY 1
Niida Honke – Participated in their weekly tour

DAY 2
Aizu Shuzo – Made a prior reservation for a visit
Kokken – Made a prior reservation for a visit
Tsurunoe – Had tasting samples and shopped

DAY 3
Kita no Hana – Had tasting samples and shopped
Mine no Yuki – Saw the brewery from outside
Yoshinogawa – Saw the brewery from outside
Yumegokoro– Saw the brewery from outside
Suehiro – Participated in their daily tour
Yamatogawa – Didn’t visit, but there is a museum

Elvira also talked a little bit about her experience at Gakkogura, a week-long sake brewing workshop on Sado Island, run by Obata Shuzo. Participants have to fully engage in the brewing process, from koji production to three-stage fermentation, and live in the converted schoolhouse that houses the brewery. Throughout the week they connect with the island’s community and environment as they work on their brews.

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