You can see tools once used for sake brewing at the museum on the brewery grounds. The shop sells Chiyonosono sake and offers free tastings. Tours inside the brewery are not available.
What you can do
Museum
Sake Brewing Museum
Free
Displays tools that were actually used for sake brewing in the past.
- When
Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00
Sat, Sun & holidays 09:00–16:30
Closed Jan 1–4. Visits may be difficult on the Saturday before and on the day of the Shinshu Matsuri (2nd Sunday of March).
- Language
- Japanese
Brewery shop
Shop (free tasting)
- No reservation needed
- Tasting included
Chiyonosono sake is on sale. Free tasting is available at the shop.
- When
Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00
Sat, Sun & holidays 09:00–16:30
Closed Jan 1–4. Shop direct line: 080-3357-2103.
- Language
- Japanese
Open-brewery event
Chiyonosono Shinshu Matsuri (New Sake Festival)
An annual event with sales of limited festival sake, a ticketed tasting corner and a food corner.
- When
Mar
Held on the 2nd Sunday of March each year (2026: Mar 8, 10:00–14:30). No parking at the venue; use public transport.
- Language
- Japanese
Before you go
- Tasting is for those aged 20 and over. If you are driving or cycling, you cannot taste.
- The brewery does not say whether English is available. Expect Japanese only.
- Language
- Japanese
- Good to know
- Tours inside the brewery are not accepted. A kakuuchi (standing bar) is mentioned on external sites such as Rurubu, but the official site has no information on it, so it is not listed.
Getting there
- Address
〒861-0501 熊本県山鹿市山鹿1782
Open in Google Maps ↗- Directions
- External travel sites say it is about 48 minutes by Kyushu Sanko Bus from JR Shin-Tamana Station to Yamaga Bus Center, then about a 12-minute walk (not stated on the official site).
- Parking
- Available
Parking available for the museum and shop (none on the day of the Shinshu Matsuri).
About the brewery
Chiyonosono Shuzo was founded in 1896 (Meiji 29) in Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture. Its lineup includes the junmai sake Shuhai (朱盃), Kumamoto Shinriki (熊本神力) made with the "phantom" rice Shinriki, and Taito (泰斗), brewed together with local liquor retailers, as well as Kumamoto's traditional akazake. Its cork-stoppered "Daiginjo Chiyonosono Excel" won a Double Gold at the Milano Sake Challenge 2026, and the brewery won a Gold Prize at the National New Sake Appraisal for two years in a row (2025 brewing year).
Brewery profile, brands and bottles (6 brands, 18 bottles)
Sources: chiyonosono.co.jp/museum-shop, chiyonosono.co.jp/blog
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