Step into the world of Ota Sake Brewery in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture, a place where tradition and innovation coexist. For over 150 years, this brewery has been dedicated to the art of sake-making, preserving age-old techniques while embracing new challenges, including the crafting of wine.

Begin your tour by exploring the brewery’s historic spaces, where wooden beams and timeworn tools tell the storey of generations of artisans. Learn about the meticulous process of sake brewing, from rice washing to fermentation, and discover how each step is carried out with sincerity and respect for the ingredients.

As you walk through the brewery, experience the dynamic nature of the production process. Depending on the day, you might witness different stages of sake brewing or observe the winery operations, where Ota’s passion for challenge has led to the creation of expressive wines.

Throughout the tour, guides share the brewery’s philosophy of pursuing quality through careful attention and a deep connection to the natural environment. Understand how Ota Sake Brewery views sake not just as a drink, but as a form of communication, a vessel that carries the feelings and efforts of its creators to those who enjoy it.

By the end of your visit, gain a profound appreciation for the people behind the products—brewers who adjust their work to the weather, the mood of the ingredients, and the subtle cues that only years of experience can interpret. Leave with a deeper connection to the flavours of Ota’s sake and wine, and the storey of a brewery that has devoted more than 150 years to refinement, exploration, and the pursuit of excellence.