Kina Saffron Sake Honpo

Kina Saffron Sake Honpo was established in 1887 in the historic brewing district of Settaya, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. The brewery is the residence of Nitaro Yoshizawa, the founder of Kina Saffron Sake, a medicinal drink made from saffron, honey, cinnamon, licorice, and other ingredients that gained international recognition in the early 20th century. The Kina Saffron Liqueur Brewery, built by Nitaro Yoshizawa over 20 years, is a valuable cultural heritage site that reflects the history of Settaya, a district known for its brewing traditions.

The brewery stands as a testament to Japan's traditional fermentation culture and innovative spirit. Settaya has prospered as a hub of transportation since the Edo period. The area has long been known for its breweries, which take advantage of the high quality local water. Even today, there are a total of five sake, miso, and soy sauce breweries. The district represents one of Niigata's most concentrated areas of traditional brewing heritage.

What attracts attention most is the storehouse standing next to the main house, which is decorated with colourful reliefs. These reliefs are known as trowels, a plaster decoration technique developed in Japan that showcases exceptional craftsmanship. The heritage townscape of preserved structures, particularly storehouses decorated with carefully crafted raised stucco kote-e, have revived interest in the district. Visitors can admire these intricate decorative elements that demonstrate the artistic skills of traditional Japanese plasterers.

The site offers insight into Japan's medicinal liqueur production history and traditional architecture. You can smell the aroma of koji and sake as you walk through the area, providing an authentic sensory experience of traditional brewing culture. In 2009, a local community group began recruiting volunteers to clean the neglected garden and restore the property, making it accessible to visitors interested in Japan's brewing heritage.

The Former Kina Saffron Sake Brewery is located at Settaya 4-6-33, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. About 3-4 minutes' walk from Kina Saffron Sake Honpo is LIS settaya, a renovated warehouse built in 1930, where visitors can explore contemporary interpretations of traditional sake culture. The site is accessible by public transportation to Nagaoka City, with Settaya being a historic district within the city limits. No admission fees are typically required to view the exterior architecture and stroll through the brewing district.