Do I need to make a reservation to visit?

The brewery tour requires advance reservation, but you can visit the Sake Brewery Museum and product center without a reservation. The Sake Brewery Museum is open from 9:00 to 16:30, allowing walk-in visitors to explore traditional brewing tools and historical exhibits at their convenience. The product center, where you can sample and purchase sake, is also freely accessible during operating hours.

What are the admission fees?

The brewery tour and product center are free to enter. The Sake Brewery Museum charges 200 yen for individual visitors and 180 yen for groups of 20 or more people. This modest fee grants access to exhibits showcasing the brewery's history since its founding in 1749 and displays of traditional sake-making implements.

Can I taste sake at the facility?

Yes, sake tasting is available at the product center. The product building offers tastings of Chateau Chichibu wine and other regional products besides Chichibu Nishiki sake. Visitors can sample Yao's brands of sake and Danbe shochu at the attached storefront and tasting bar. This allows you to experience the different varieties and flavors before making a purchase, helping you discover your preferred style of Chichibu sake.

What makes Chichibu Nishiki sake special?

The name "Nishiki" references the fact that the sake is made with both Yamada Nishiki rice and Miyama Nishiki rice, two varieties considered top-class within the sake world. Chichibu Nishiki won first prize at the sake fair for seven consecutive years since 2002, demonstrating exceptional quality and craftsmanship. The brewery produces approximately 18,000 bottles of sake each year using high-quality water from the mineral-rich Chichibu region.

Chichibu Nishiki Sake Brewing Forest

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Chichibu Nishiki Sake Brewing Forest, located in Chichibu city in Saitama Prefecture, is a tourist sake brewery complex nestled within a forested setting. The brewery was founded in 1749 by Yao Kihei (1711–1784) and has a history spanning over 270 years. The facility operates under the name Yao Honten and is the birthplace of the renowned Chichibu Nishiki brand sake.

The Chichibu region's suitability for sake production stems from its rich seasonal nature and high-quality water. The name "Nishiki" references the fact that the sake is made with both Yamada Nishiki rice and Miyama Nishiki rice, two varieties considered top-class within the sake world. The brewery has achieved significant recognition, with Chichibu Nishiki winning first prize at the sake fair for seven years in a row since 2002. The facility produces approximately 18,000 bottles of sake each year.

Visitors to the complex can explore multiple facilities including the working brewery, a sake brewery museum, and a product center. The brewery performs all processes including polishing the rice, which visitors can observe by reservation. The museum displays traditional brewing tools and historical sake bowls, offering insight into centuries-old production methods. The separate product building sells not only Chichibu Nishiki sake but also Chichibu shochu (distilled liquor) and offers tastings of Chateau Chichibu wine and other regional products.

From Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line, visitors can take the Gururin-go bus to the Sakazukuri-no-Mori bus stop, which is a one-minute walk from the facility. Alternatively, from Kagemori Station on the Chichibu Railway Main Line, the site is approximately 30 minutes on foot. For those driving, free parking is available with space for 30 cars and 10 large buses. The facility can also be reached from Hanazono IC via the Kanetsu Expressway.

Admission to the brewery tour and product center is free, while the Sake Brewery Museum charges 200 yen for individual visitors and 180 yen for groups of 20 or more. Credit cards including VISA, MasterCard, and AMEX are accepted. The facility is closed on Tuesdays and during the New Year holiday period.

What other travelers are saying about Chichibu Nishiki Sake Brewing Forest

This is a museum and directly managed sales outlet run by the brewery of the sake "Chichibu Nishiki." As the name museum suggests, there is no factory where the sake is made; only information on sake brewing is displayed here. The store has a large parking lot and is easy to shop at. Stop by during your Chichibu sightseeing tour to try some sake tasting and then purchase your favorite sake. In addition to koji, miso, pickles, snacks, and local beer, you can also purchase sake brewery T-shirts and soft serve ice cream with sake in it. You can also get a Chichibu tourist guidebook.

MYpenRAI

Nov 16, 2025

I made a reservation by phone in advance at the Yao Honten in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, and enjoyed a tour of the sake brewery museum, tastings, and purchasing sake on Sunday. It was about a 30-minute bus ride from Seibu Chichibu Station. This brewery is quite old, having been founded in 1749 (Kan'ei 2). On the day of the tour, we were shown around the brewery's preparation room, which is kept at 12°C year-round. It felt quite chilly. Also, at the sake brewery museum (admission fee: 200 yen including tax for adults (100 yen including tax with a JAF membership card), we were able to see the following fascinating artifacts from the brewery's approximately 270-year history. (Isn't the doll handsome? (^_^;)) ・Old accounting office and equipment ・Old sake brewing paintings ・History of Chichibu Nishiki ・Sake brewing tools ・Sakeware ・Sake brewing props ・Interesting sake brewing tools ・About the master brewer (the master brewer at this brewery is from Iwate Prefecture) (water content) ・Introduction and paintings by the three artists ・Congratulatory masu Also, we were able to sample sake, shochu, plum wine, and craft beer produced here, as well as pickles, which was great! ♪ The sake was dry, probably due to the limestone of Mt. Buko. The craft beer was easy to drink and delicious, and the plum wine was sweet and tasty. In addition to sake, we were also able to purchase Chichibu specialty products like pickled plums and honey, which was great! ♪

I had the opportunity to tour a sake brewery in Chichibu City and was very impressed. It has been open since 1749 and still maintains the same traditional methods, but has added quality control measures to keep up with the technology and developments of the era. Whether it's storing at the right temperature, using containers for storage, or cleaning methods, it's truly worthy of the city's famous brand.

I headed to Chichibu Nishiki in search of a participating store in the Sake Stamp Book. Despite the words "store exclusive," I was most interested in the Honjozo freshly pressed Chichibu Nishiki! You can sample sake in the store and even tour the brewery next door, so next time I'd like to come that way! You'll need a driver, though! And Chichibu Nishiki...it was crisp and easy to drink, just the way I liked it!

After touring the sake brewery museum, we headed to the tourist souvenir shop and purchased two types of soft serve ice cream. We shared them right away. ・Amazake Soft Serve Ice Cream 300 yen (tax included) This pale beige soft serve ice cream is made with Chichibu Nishiki sake lees. One bite and the wonderful aroma of sake lees fills the air, giving it a gentle sweetness and a deliciously cold taste! ・Chichibu Nishiki Sake Soft Serve Ice Cream 360 yen (tax included) This soft serve ice cream contains alcohol from Chichibu Nishiki sake kettle. I was driving so I couldn't eat it, but I heard it had a refreshing sake flavor. Thanks for the treat. The sweet soft serve ice cream had a gentle sweetness, and the sake soft serve ice cream had a clean flavor and was delicious. The two types of cold soft serve ice cream were a refreshing afternoon snack!