This brewery stands upstream of Kintaikyo Bridge. You can try paid tastings at the shop and visit the standing bar, which serves sake and coffee brewed with the brewing water. With a reservation, you can join a one-hour mini tour that includes a video, a brewery tour, a tasting set and a photo at the giant cedar ball.
What you can do
Brewery tour
Brewery Tour (with special set)
¥550per person
- Reservation required
- 1 hr
- Tasting included
A mini tour of about one hour, including a video on sake brewing, a brewery tour, a photo at the giant cedar ball, a tasting set and shopping.
- When
Reception 11:00-16:00. Confirm available days when inquiring.
- Booking
Book at least 14 days ahead · By email or phone
Minimum about 3 people. May be combined with other groups. Please contact them in advance to cancel.
- Price
- From 500 yen before tax per adult. Free for under 20 only if accompanied by a guardian.
- Included
- Video, tour, tasting set, photo at the giant cedar ball
- Language
- Japanese
- Group size
- From 3 people
Call 0827-46-1111See how to book ↗
Tasting
Sake Brewery Standing Bar and Paid Tasting
Charged
Inside the shop you can enjoy sake, local beer and selected snacks, as well as coffee brewed with the brewing water (MCAFE). Paid tastings of standard and seasonal sake are also available.
- When
Daily 11:00–16:00
Standing bar 11:00-16:00. Paid tasting hours are not stated separately.
- Price
- Prices are not listed on the official page.
- Language
- Japanese
Brewery shop
Murashige Shuzo Direct Sales Shop
A wide range of sake from standard to seasonal and rare bottles. It also sells products using Iwakuni specialties, sweets made with sake lees and original goods.
- When
Daily 10:00–17:00
Closed January 1-3.
- Language
- Japanese
Before you go
- No drinking for minors
- No drinking for drivers
- Under 20: free tour only when accompanied by a guardian
- 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
- Payment
- Cash, credit cards, IC / e-money, QR payment
- Good to know
- The tour may be combined with other groups. The official Facebook page says only the shop is open on weekends and holidays, so confirm tour days when booking. The video in Japanese/English on the old site could not be confirmed on the current pages.
Getting there
- Address
〒741-0083 山口県岩国市御庄5-101-1
Open in Google Maps ↗- Nearest station
- 3 min on foot from JR Shin-Iwakuni Station
- Directions
- 10 minutes by car from Kintaikyo Bridge.
- Parking
- Available
30 spaces
About the brewery
Murashige Shuzo in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, took over Morinoi Shuzo, a brewery founded in the early Meiji era, in 1951 (Showa 26). It stands in the hills about 5 km upstream of Kintaikyo Bridge, one of Japan's three famous bridges. For brewing water it uses the ultra-soft water of its in-house "Ganryu Well", which draws on the underground flow of the Nishiki River. Its brands include the standard Kinkan Kuromatsu (金冠黒松), Murashige (村重) and Eight Knot (eight knot), which uses the rare Kyokai No. 8 yeast. The shop offers paid tastings, and a large cedar ball billed as Japan's biggest hangs at the entrance.
Brewery profile, brands and bottles (7 brands, 19 bottles)
Sources: murashige-sake.co.jp/shop.html, murashige-sake.co.jp/company.html, facebook.com/murashigesake
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