Photo by Mingyu Choi

Photo by Mingyu Choi

Photo by Roger Smith

  • Known as the “Father of Japanese Whisky,” Masataka Taketsuru (1894–1979) was the brains behind major whisky brand Nikka. He traveled to Scotland to study whisky-making, returning in 1920 armed with knowledge of the techniques necessary to develop the Japanese whisky industry. After working for a decade helping Suntory establish its whisky production, Masataka decided to go independent and began producing Nikka whisky at a distillery in Yoichi, Hokkaido. However, the Japanese whisky being produced outside of Hokkaido was proving so popular that Masataka began searching for a site on the Japanese mainland offering pure water and a climate suitable for establishing a second Nikka distillery.

    In 1969, Nikka built Miyagikyo Distillery at the junction of two rivers in the picturesque mountains of Sakunami. Visitors can take a free seventy-minute tour of the facilities, giving visitors an overview of founder Masataka Taketsuru, the full Nikka product line, and the whisky production process. Guests will be able to view pot stills, Coffey stills, and the barrel aging warehouse, then enjoy a complimentary tasting.

    Tours are in Japanese; however, headsets provide information in English, Korean, and Chinese. Online or telephone reservations are recommended but not required.

    Serious whisky fans should sign up for a whisky tasting seminar (in Japanese only) and seek out the distillery-exclusive whiskies sold in the gift shop.

    Local Voice

    Whiskies such as Blended Whisky Date (named after Sendai founder Masamune Date) and Single Malt Miyagikyo are unique to the Miyagikyo Distillery. They are difficult to find overseas, making them a must-have souvenir for someone special, yourself included!

  • Last Update
    November 17, 2022

    Area Sendai

Details

ADDRESS

Nikka 1, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken

ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT

By train: 45-minute walk from Sakunami Station (Senzan Line)

By free shuttle bus: From Sakunami Station (作並駅). Runs weekends & holidays, see schedule here.

By city bus: 60 minutes from Sendai Station. At Sendai Station Bus Platform #10 (仙台駅10番のりば), board an #840 Sakunami Onsen・Shirazawa Shako Line (作並温泉・白沢車庫線) bus bound for Sakunami Onsen (作並温泉). Alight at Nikka-bashi (ニッカ橋) bus stop. Bus departure schedule here.

ADMISSION

Distillery tour (1 tasting included) free, whisky tasting seminar ¥1,000

CREDIT CARDS

Accepted

LANGUAGES

English (tour headsets available in Korean & Chinese as well)

HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE

Yes

HOURS

9:00–16:30 (Tours start every 30 minutes from 9:00–11:30 & 12:30–15:30)

CLOSED DAYS

Aug 23, New Year's holiday period (Dec 24–Jan 7), heavy snow days

PHONE

022-395-2865

OFFICIAL URL

https://www.nikka.com/eng/distilleries/miyagikyo/