I joined a distillery tour of 13.10. There is free shuttle bus service taking there and back to Gotemba Station, which I used this time.
It took 80 minutes, going around with a tour guide in the distillery's facility and having a tasting of two whiskies in different ways, neat, on the rick and highball.
It was quite informative and it was useful to know how to make a highball properly.
As I am not a big whisky drinker, after the guided tasting, I didn't do paid tastings ranging from 100 yen to 5000 yen.
We've been travelling through Japan for two months and one of the few whisky bottles I bought was one from Kirin Fuji Gotemba. It made me want to go to the distillery. The tour was organized very well, we had an earpiece with English audio while walking through the distillery and at the end a tasting. Some outstanding whisky's and you had the possibility to buy whisky's that you can only buy there.
Definitely recommend it when you're in the neighbourhood or even a little trip from Tokyo.
One of the worst whiskies bearing the Japanese label. Kirin should stick to making beer.
Fuji Gotemba Distillery Visitor Entrance. Hostile Hospitality
A great distillery experience usually starts with warm hospitality, but here, the disappointment began before a single drop of whiskey was poured. The front-of-house staff set an incredibly poor tone right from the start. We were met with rude, cold, and utterly dismissive customer service at the main entrance. Instead of feeling welcomed to a premium distillery, it felt like we were a massive inconvenience to the staff just by showing up. If you expect the typical, polite Japanese hospitality (omotenashi), you won't find it here.
Unpleasantly hot right out of the gate. For a whiskey sitting at a modest 46% ABV, the ethanol burn is surprisingly sharp. Once the alcohol vapors clear, you're left with artificial vanilla extract, cheap nail polish remover (acetone), and a faint, chemical banana note. It smells less like a premium Japanese distillery and more like a mass-produced Canadian mixing whisky.
The Palate: Thin, watery, and completely lacking texture. The youth of the grain spirit hits you first—it’s sweet, but a harsh, metallic kind of sweet, like sucking on a copper penny coated in corn syrup. There’s a bit of oak bitterness and a hint of white pepper, but it lacks the rich, buttery, tropical fruit complexity that great grain whiskies (like Nikka Coffey Grain) manage to achieve.
The Finish: Short, dry, and bitter. It leaves behind a lingering medicinal aftertaste and a raw throat burn that begs for a splash of water or a ginger ale mixer to mask it.
Fuji Gotemba is proof that great water and a famous volcano on the label don't automatically equal a great spirit. If you are looking for a complex, contemplative sipper, this is an absolute pass. It is too harsh to enjoy neat, too thin to carry flavor over ice, and entirely too expensive for what it offers.
If someone hands you a glass, dump a generous amount of club soda and ice into it to turn it into a Highball—because as a standalone sipping whiskey, it’s a total dud. Save your money and buy a bottle of Nikka or Suntory Toki instead.
This was an amazing experience. I came here with 3 others, only knowing English, however the guide named Shimode was extremely nice and helpful as there was a translation feature, where the guide could speak Japanese, and there was an English translation, that could be easily viewed from your phone. She was extremely helpful, as we could ask questions by communicating through translation apps, and was very passionate and joyful in her work. She was also extremely polite. Although i only came with 3 others, they still led us on a tour on the whole distillery and had a tasting. I did not book this experience either, and just walked in to a breathtaking experience.
Visiting the Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery was a fantastic experience! As a fan of Japanese whisky, this was a must-visit, and it didn’t disappoint.
Upon arrival, the staff greeted us and asked if we drove there. If you’re the driver, they’ll give you a wristband to indicate that you’re not allowed to drink any alcohol during the tour or tasting. It’s a thoughtful system to ensure safety, so drinkers, take note—plan accordingly or "ACT" accordingly!
The distillery offers a great selection of whiskies, including some exclusive Mt. Fuji whiskies at reasonable prices. The whisky tasting session was a highlight, allowing us to sample some of their finest offerings.
Overall, it’s a wonderful place for whisky enthusiasts or anyone interested in learning more about Japanese whisky. Highly recommend for a unique and enjoyable experience! 🥃🗻✨
