Over 500 Types of Sake – The Exclusive Season of Sake in Snow Country
Creatrip Team
a year ago
Niigata Prefecture, the setting of the novel Snow Country, is renowned for its rice and sake. After the rice harvest, sake is brewed using the rice throughout winter. I visited Japan’s largest sake festival, "Sake-no-jin" in Niigata which hosted 80 breweries and showcased over 500 types of fresh sake. Despite Niigata having the highest number of breweries in Japan (89), it ranks third in sake production, reflecting their focus on quality over quantity. Sake-no-jin, introduced by Niigata's brewery association in 2004, is a two-day event in March that attracts tens of thousands, showcasing diverse sake experiences from traditional flavors to innovative blends. Niigata, also known for its plentiful snowfall, produces famous sakes like Kubota Manju, Hakkaisan, and Koshi no Kanbai.
