Sake tasting in Nada at Nishinomiya-go

My sake brewery tour continues in October. This time I visit the Nishinomiya city side of Nada. Nada spans Kobe city and Nishinomiya city.

I take Hanshin railway from Osaka Umeda station before noon. As playoff game is to take place in Koshien baseball stadium between Hanshin Tigers and Hiroshima Carps, many baseball colors are on board. The name makes it obvious that Hanshin railway and Hanshin Tigers are related, so using Hanshin railway is perhaps the most convenient way to go to the stadium. My destination is one stop further Koshien station in Express train.

Perhaps I have never been to Nishinomiya city. I sometimes go to Kobe, but do not stop between Osaka and Kobe. Nishinomiya is located between Kobe and Osaka.

Nishinomiya breweries are in walking distance from the station. First stop is at Hakutaka-rokusui-en(白鷹禄水苑). Hakutaka means "white falcon". There is authentic restaurant inside to enjoy sake with food, but all on the menu are too expensive to me, so I take sake sampler of the season at Kura bar. As a sake novice, I can not tell the description of the three sake on offer, but I just tell that all are fresh, dry, and very good when served cold. Also each is served in rather small quantity, so I enjoy each sip by taking enough time. As it is just after noon and I am the only person taking sake, Kura bar is very quiet and atmospheric.

Entrance to Hakutara-rokusuien

Sake sampler at Kura bar in Hakutara-rokusuien

Kura bar in Hakutara-rokusui-en

After taking nourishment of sake at Hakutaka-rokusuien, I go on to sake museums of Hakushika. Hakushika means "white deer". Somehow, shiro(白) or white is often used for the name of breweries in Nada. There may be a historic meaning of this naming that I am not aware of.

You have to pay 400 yen entrance fee that is valid for both Sake museum and memorial hall. And better yet, you get 180ml miniature Sake bottle as souvenir for this fee. It is more than worth it.

Entrance to Hakushika Sake museum

Like its counterparts in Kobe city side of Nada, Sake brewing processes are displayed and explained in the museum. It must be very interesting to understand each process, but I can't still get the gist. I have been to whisky factory tour at Suntory Yamazaki twice, in Jameson Dublin twice, in Bushmills once, but still can't understand the whisky distillation process. My interest is focused on tasting, not learning the process. Someday, my attitude may change.

Hakushika Sake museum

Hakushika Sake museum

Souvenir miniature Sake bottle of Hakushika Sake museum

After museum and memorial hall complex of Hakushika, I walk along Sakagura street to another Sake spot of Nihonsakari brick building hall. Sakagura street literally means "Sake storehouse" street. There seems to be many activities on offer in this hall besides Sake. As bar-restaurant is fully reserved, I only take free Sake tasting. As it is free, the quantity is too small to fully appreciate Sake.

Nihonsakari brick building hall

On my way back to Nishinomiya station, I paid a visit to two places that makes Nada the center of Sake brewery. Miyamizu high quality water that was found in Nishinomiya is one of the several factors that makes Nada famous for Sake. There is one garden and one monument that are related to this high quality water, but not so interesting, to be honest.

Miyamizu(high quality water) garden

The place of origin of Miyamizu(high quality water)