Funasaka Sake Brewery stands as one of Takayama's most distinctive sake producers, with operations spanning over 200 years since its founding at the end of the Edo period. Located in the historic Sanmachi Suji district along the Miyagawa River, the brewery has preserved its original building structure for nearly two centuries, maintaining its place as an integral part of Hida Takayama's cultural landscape. The brewery's name is easily recognizable by the traditional cedar ball hanging above its entrance, a hallmark of Japanese sake production.
The brewery operates under three key principles: production, tasting, and purchasing, positioning itself as a comprehensive "sake theme park" rather than a simple manufacturing facility. Funasaka produces its sake using pristine spring water from the Hida Mountain Range in the Japanese Alps and high-quality Hidahomare rice, one of Japan's premier sake-brewing rice varieties. The region's cold winters and significant temperature variations between day and night create ideal conditions for sake fermentation. The brewery crafts multiple varieties including ginjo, junmai, and honjozo styles, each offering distinct flavor profiles from delicate and fruity to rich and full-bodied. Premium offerings include Daiginjo Yotsuboshi and the flagship Miyamagiku junmai ginjo, known for its umami and subtle sweetness.
Visitors can explore the brewing facilities through guided tours that reveal traditional sake-making techniques passed down through generations. The tour includes access to the manufacturing floor where chief brewers monitor fermentation using their five senses, adjusting processes based on sound, temperature, and visual cues. Tasting experiences form a central attraction, with a unique coin-operated vending machine system allowing guests to sample multiple varieties.
Visitors purchase tokens for approximately 200 yen per tasting and can expect to spend around 1,200 yen to try the full selection. Traditional masu (square wooden measuring cups) are available for tastings, which guests can keep as souvenirs. The facility includes Sakagura BAR, a modern-style tasting bar, and a renovated restaurant serving Hida beef paired with local sake. The direct sales store stocks not only sake bottles but also Japanese liqueurs flavored with yuzu and plum, sake-based cosmetics including face masks and body soaps, and regional food products.
The brewery is approximately a 12-minute walk from JR Takayama Station. Visitors should exit the station, head south on Route 158, then turn left onto Kamisannomachi Street. Entry to the brewery and shop is free, with costs only for tastings and purchases. From major cities, travelers can reach Takayama via the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to Nagoya Station, then transfer to the JR Hida-go train, with total journey time approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes from Nagoya.
