Entertainment-focused sake breweries pop up in Niigata, Japan

Kikusui's facility becomes latest attraction for young travelers

Niigata Sake Amusement Top 2025-05

Kikusui Kura Garden opened April 29 at the headquarters of Kikusui Sake in Shibata, Niigata prefecture. (All photos by Kei Kimura)

KEI KIMURA

NIIGATA, Japan -- A growing number of sake breweries in Japan's Niigata prefecture, north of Tokyo, are turning themselves into tourist spots by installing cafes and shops on site.  

Kikusui Sake, a major brewer based in Shibata in the prefecture, is the latest to appeal directly to customers in this way. On April 29, it opened an experiential space called Kikusui Kura Garden at its headquarters. The site invites visitors to explore the fascinating world of fermentation. 

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