Hokkaido’s 10 Best Breweries, Distilleries and Wineries near the Train Stations

YOICHI

Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery

ニッカウヰスキー余市蒸溜所

▶︎ The main gate (for guided tour) is 3min walk from JR Yoichi Station (museum: 10min walk)

Founded by Taketsuru Masataka in 1934, this 13-hectare Scottish-style distillery is home to Japanese malt whisky. The Nikka Museum has interesting exhibitions about whisky-making and also has a tasting bar. Permission to visit the distillery facilities are granted by the free guided tours (well book in advance).

KURIYAMA

Kobayashi Sake Brewery

小林酒造

▶︎ 15min walk from JR Kuriyama Station

Kobayashi is Hokkaido’s oldest exiting sake brewer established in 1878, this atmospheric place has 18 stone and red-brick sake warehouses. The Kita-no-Nishiki Memorial Hall (北の錦蔵元記念館) exhibits items of about 5000 artistic drinking vessels and living tools, with a tasting room.

OTARU

Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikkogura

田中酒造 亀甲蔵

▶︎ 7min walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station

Built around 1905, the former Okazaki Warehouse is now Otaru’s only existing sake brewery (founded in 1899). You can see the brewery through the windows on the 2nd floor and sample 10 brands of sake in the tasting room.

ASAHIKAWA

Takasago Meiji Sake Brewery

高砂明治酒蔵

▶︎ 15min walk from JR Asahikawa Station / 8min walk from JR Asahikawa-yojo Station

This century-old classical brewery makes sake and they offer tastings amid sakagura (Japanese storehouse) from 1909. Japanese-speaking brewery tours are available, you need to make reservation on the website by five days before.

IKEDA

Ikeda Wine Castle

池田ワイン城

▶︎ 7min walk from JR Ikeda Station

Dating back to 1974 as Japan’s first winery, the town-managed Wine Castle (Wain-jo) is located diagonally behind JR Ikeda Station, on the pleasant hilltop overlooking the town. It has a wine cellar, maturing room, restaurant, shop and rooftop observatory. Guided tours are need to book ahead.

KIYOSATO

Kiyosato Shochu Distillery

清里焼酎醸造所

▶︎ 20min walk from JR Kiyosato-cho Station

This rural, municipal distillery produces all its shochu (distilled spirits from local potato), you can do a factory tour for free. The Kiyorl (きよ〜る), at the gateway of the distillery, has a tasting room, shop and cafe. It is about 1.5km south of JR Kiyosato-cho Station.

OTARU

Otaru Beer Brewery Otaru Soko No.1

小樽ビール醸造所 小樽倉庫No.1

▶︎ 14min walk from JR Otaru Station

This classy German-style pub offers tasty craft beer with affordable snacks, such as chicken and salads, for its use of local foodstuffs at the old warehouse building set along the canal. You can drink all you want (nomi-hodai) on Thursday and Saturday.

HAKODATE

Hakodate Beer

はこだてビール

▶︎ 2min walk from Uoichiba-dori tram stop / 7min walk from JR Hakodate Station

Inside a sizable red brick building, Hakodate Beer offers German-style home-brewed drafts using groundwater of Hakodate-yama. Tasting sets are available (three glasses with a light snack). Menu including local seafood, sausage, fried potatoes and pumpkins. Note that it is closed on Wednesday.

ASAHIKAWA

Taisetsu Ji-Beer-Kan

大雪地ビール館

▶︎ 5min walk from JR Asahikawa Station

In a part of the Kuraimu complex, Taisetsu Ji-Beer-Kan has a good location in an old red brick warehouse a 5-minute walk east of the train station. This company makes its craft beer with Northern Hokkaido malt and fresh water from Daisetsuzan. It has a comprehensive menu of meat-based dishes, set meals and snacks.

KITAMI

Okhotsk Beer Factory

オホーツクビアファクトリー

▶︎ 13min walk from JR Kitami Station

Run by Japan’s first licensed craft brewery, this restaurant offers five beers on tap, ranging from pilsner to stout. A 90-minute nomi-hodai (all-you-can-drink) plan is available. There are lots of food and snacks, using local meats, fishes and vegetables.