Alcohol from Saitama Prefecture. From local sake and Chichibu whiskey to recommended alcohol from Kawagoe

When you think of Saitama Prefecture alcohol, what brands come to mind? In fact, many famous whiskeys and high-quality sakes are produced in Saitama Prefecture.
This time, we will focus on the alcohol situation in Saitama Prefecture. We will also introduce recommended brands and snacks to go with them, so please use this as a reference when choosing your alcohol.

Saitama Prefecture has a wide variety of rare alcoholic beverages, from sake to whiskey

The sake scene in Saitama Prefecture has been booming in recent years

Saitama Prefecture, located in the Kanto region, is a popular area close to the center of Tokyo, yet also has abundant nature and tourist attractions. In recent years, Saitama Prefecture has been attracting attention as a "sake producing region." Saitama Prefecture is known for producing a wide variety of alcoholic beverages . It is surprising to know that not only sake, but also craft beer, shochu, whiskey, and even wine are produced.
Another characteristic of Saitama is that many alcoholic beverages are difficult to obtain . There are sakes that can only be found at authorized stores, and whiskeys that can only be purchased by lottery, so this is an area that alcohol lovers should definitely keep an eye on.

The famous Ichiro's Malt whiskey is made in Chichibu

When talking about alcoholic beverages from Saitama Prefecture, one cannot leave out the whiskey called "Ichiro's Malt." This brand, produced by Venture Whisky, boasts a global reputation comparable to that of whiskeys from major manufacturers such as Suntory and Nikka Whisky. The card series with playing card-patterned labels is particularly famous, and it became a hot topic when a complete set was sold at auction for approximately 100 million yen.
Ichiro's Malt is currently produced at a distillery in Chichibu. The Card Series is a limited edition product and is no longer on sale, but the Chichibu Distillery still produces masterpieces such as the Leaf Series . Ichiro's Malt, which is sold at prices above the list price, is attracting attention not only from whiskey fans but also from collectors and investors.

Sake is made with soft water and has a mellow taste.

Saitama Prefecture also produces high quality sake. Sake from Saitama is popular nationwide, and it ranks 4th in the prefecture rankings for sake shipping volume, beating out Akita Prefecture and others (as of 2020). There are many breweries and a wide variety of local brand sake.
Saitama has two large rivers, the Arakawa River and the Tone River. The prefecture is blessed with abundant spring water from the rivers and is blessed with water sources. Saitama's water is soft and very gentle, and the sake made from this water has a mellow taste and a smooth finish .
Saitama has a lot of alcohol that is said to be easy to drink, including trendy fruity and juicy drinks. There are many sakes that are recommended for sake beginners and women, so if you are looking for a gift, be sure to check them out.

Check out the craft beer and shochu

In addition to whiskey and sake, Saitama Prefecture also produces craft beer and shochu. Many of these are made with a focus on ingredients from Saitama Prefecture . There are a variety of unique characteristics, such as local beer and shochu made from Kawagoe sweet potatoes, and home-grown breweries , allowing you to enjoy flavors that are unique to Saitama. Be sure to check out Saitama's craft beer and shochu.

9 recommended alcoholic drinks in Saitama Prefecture

1. Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve

• Type of alcohol: Pure malt whiskey
• Manufacturer: Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Distillery (Venture Whisky)
• Ingredients: Malt
• Alcohol content: 46%
• Price: 700ml ¥8,800 (tax included)

Ichiro's Malt whiskey, with its striking leaf-shaped label, is called the "Leaf Series" and is loved by many fans. It is a pure malt whiskey made by vatting malt whiskey from multiple distilleries with the key malt from Hanyu Distillery, and there are multiple bottles available for different barrel-aged varieties.
Mizunara Wood Reserve is a whiskey aged in Mizunara casks , and is one of the most popular whiskeys in the Leaf series. It is an authentic whiskey with a blend of malt and peat aromas, and is characterized by being made without chill filtration.

2. Hanayoke Junmai Daiginjo Sake Musashi

• Type of alcohol: Japanese sake (pure rice daiginjo sake)
• Manufacturer: Nanyo Brewery
• Raw material rice: Sake Musashi
• Rice polishing ratio: 48%
• Alcohol content: 16-17%
• Price: 1,800ml ¥4,070 (tax included)

Hanaabi is one of Saitama's leading local sakes. It is produced by Nanyo Brewery, which specializes in producing elegant ginjo sake.
Among the Hanayoke series, the rare Junmai Daiginjo Sake Musashi is released only once a year. This Junmai Daiginjo sake is made from sake-brewing rice "Sake Musashi" grown in Saitama Prefecture, polished to 48% , and has a juicy taste like tropical fruit.
This is a high-quality product that is bottled using only the most stable quality part of the pressed sake. Because it is a rare sake, the list price is around 4,000 yen, but the retail price can exceed 10,000 yen.

3. Kamigame Junmaishu Dry

• Type of alcohol: Sake (pure rice sake)
• Manufacturer: Shinkame Brewery
• Raw rice: Domestic rice
• Rice polishing ratio: 60%
• Alcohol content: 15.5%
• Price: 1,800ml ¥3,520 (tax included)

Shinkame Sake Brewery was the first sake brewery to make all its sake pure rice . Even today, they are good at making pure rice sake, and are good at making sake with a sharp taste.
Kamikame Junmaishu Dry is the standard bottle of the Kamikame series, and is well-known for its rich flavor and sharpness. It is a very satisfying sake and goes well with meals . It is also delicious when warmed, so it is recommended for those who prefer hot sake.

4. Kagamiyama Junmai Ginjo

• Type of alcohol: Japanese sake (junmai ginjo)
• Manufacturer: Koedo Kagamiyama Sake Brewery
• Raw rice: Tamae from Omi
• Rice polishing ratio: 50%
• Alcohol content: 16%
• Price: 1,800ml ¥3,740 (tax included)

Kagamiyama Sake Brewery was founded in 2007. It is a very new brewery born in the Heisei era, and is currently attracting a lot of attention. There was originally a sake brewery called Kagamiyama Sake Brewery in the Meiji era, and Kagamiyama Sake Brewery was founded by people who wanted to revive that brewery.
Kagamiyama Junmai Ginjo is Kagamiyama's standard sake, and it brings out the full-bodied flavor of the rice. It has a good balance of flavor, richness, and richness , and you can really feel the high quality.

5. COEDO

• Type of alcohol: Beer
• Manufacturer: Coedo Brewery
• Alcohol content: approx. 5-6%
• Price: Gift set of 6 bottles: ¥3,564 (tax included)

COEDO is a craft beer brewed in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. In addition to the six standard varieties, they also produce limited edition beers.
The lineup includes the classic pilsner "Ruri ," "Kyara" with its appealing grape-like aroma hops, the IPA "Marihana" with a beautiful citrus impression, the roasted black lager "Shikkoku," the smooth unfiltered weizen "Shiro," and "Beniaka," made from Kawagoe's red sweet potatoes .

6. AGEO Junmai Daiginjo Unfiltered Raw Sake 2022

[Very popular! Fruity and juicy]
Hello! I'm Ei from Juuichiya.
We have three varieties, including the gorgeously sweet AGEO and a limited edition sake.

From the left: AGEO...Standard sweet with 16% alcohol; AGEO LIGHT...Lightly sweet with 13% alcohol; AGEO SNOW...Sweet with 16% alcohol. With or without cloudiness, it is twice as delicious.

We will introduce AGEO in detail tomorrow💁‍♀️ https://t.co/zCoXRvIatB pic.twitter.com/kRiCQ5ZLRv

— Kitanishi Shuzo "Sara"/"Bunraku Reborn" Brewery (@kitanishishuzo) September 18, 2022

• Type of alcohol: Japanese sake (pure rice daiginjo sake)
• Manufacturer: Kitanishi Brewery
• Raw rice: Saitama Prefecture's Irodakagayaki
• Rice polishing ratio: 45%
• Alcohol content: 16%
• Price: 720ml ¥2,990 (tax included)

AGEO is a new brand of sake by Kitanishi Brewery, the brewery behind brands like Sairai and Bunraku. It was created in collaboration with the Nihonshu Oen-dan (Japanese Sake Support Group), and is made using local ingredients such as rice from Saitama Prefecture .
AGEO is a sweet sake with a refreshing taste like ripe fruit, and is easy to drink. It is especially delicious when chilled, and can be enjoyed with marinades and other dishes.

7. Kikko Hanabishi Junmai Ginjo Unpasteurized Unfiltered Nakadori Omachi

A friend of mine told me about the versatile sauce "Aged Koike's Heart-Warming" and it's so delicious!

The rich, sweet apple and garlic-based sauce turns even bland chicken breast into a delicious snack😆

"Kikko Hanabishi Junmai Ginjo Unpasteurized Unpasteurized Omachi."
It's delicious yet light to drink, with a subtle acidity. The bitterness of cacao is pleasant. #Sake #KikkoHanabishipic.twitter.com /yQ22QliRkw

— Asahi (@atsushi_duzhi) May 10, 2022

• Type of alcohol: Sake
• Manufacturer: Shimizu Sake Brewery
• Raw rice: Omachi
• Rice polishing ratio: 50%
• Alcohol content: 17-18%
• Price: 1,800ml ¥3,674 (tax included)

The Kikko Hanabishi brewery has a history of over 230 years. The taste of the sake, made while preserving the good old traditions, is modest yet full of deliciousness.
Kikko Hanabishi Junmai Ginjo Unpasteurized Unfiltered Nakadori Omachi is made from Omachi rice and has the concentrated flavor that is unique to Omachi. As it is an unfiltered unpasteurized sake , it is fresh and you can fully enjoy the umami of the rice.

8. Teisho Unfiltered Daiginjo Yamadanishiki 30% polished rice

• Type of alcohol: Japanese sake (Daiginjo)
• Manufacturer: Matsuoka Brewery
• Raw rice: Yamada Nishiki
• Rice polishing ratio: 38%
• Alcohol content: 15%
• Price: 720ml ¥3,850 (tax included)

Teisho is a brand of Matsuoka Brewery. Matsuoka Brewery produces a wide range of sakes. Teisho Unfiltered Daiginjo is a particularly high-end product among the many in their lineup , and is made from Yamada Nishiki, known as the king of sake rice, polished to 38%.
This is a limited edition Daiginjo sake, so if you come across it, you're lucky. It is well-known for its gorgeous aroma and silky texture, and has won gold medals multiple times at the National New Sake Tasting Competition .

9. Chichibu Nishiki Special Junmai Sake

• Type of alcohol: Sake (special pure rice sake)
• Manufacturer: Yao Honten
• Raw rice: Miyamanishiki
• Rice polishing ratio: 60%
• Alcohol content: 15-16%
• Price: 1,800ml ¥2,310 (tax included)

Chichibu Nishiki is a brand of Yao Honten, which boasts a long tradition and was founded in 1620. It is famous as a local sake and is made using the abundant spring water from the Chichibu mountain range.
Chichibu Nishiki's special junmai sake is so good that it has even won a gold medal at a national sake brewing contest . Made with great care over the rice, water, and manufacturing process, this sake is renowned for its mellow, full-bodied flavor. It is great to drink at any temperature, but it tastes especially great when warm. It's also good value for money, so it's recommended as a daily drink.

Food and snacks that go well with sake from Saitama

Saitama Prefecture is said to be a treasure trove of B-class gourmet food. There are many gourmet foods that go well with snacks and alcohol.
From here on, we will introduce some Saitama cuisine and gourmet foods that are perfect as snacks. Be sure to check them out along with some alcohol.

＜ Yakitori in Higashimatsuyama ＞

Higashimatsuyama City's local delicacy "Yakitori" Not "Yakitori" but "Yakitori"
Since it is pork and not chicken, it is written in hiragana.
It is eaten with pork head meat dipped in plenty of spicy miso.
It goes well with both rice and alcohol!!! #AeYantan47Tourpic.twitter.com /iCBU3zhBtw

— Garden Eel (@BerredEel) February 15, 2023

Yakitori is a B-class gourmet food from Higashimatsuyama City, Saitama Prefecture. What makes it unique is that, although it is skewered, it is made with pork, not chicken. The charcoal-grilled pork cheeks are seasoned with miso sauce and are the perfect snack to go with alcohol.

＜O-name＞

Chichibu onama has been sold in large supermarkets in Saitama for a long time.
Also good for morokyu👍
Dissolve it in hot water and use it as a dipping sauce for somen noodles👍
You can also eat it on rice👍

You can also order it here: https://t.co/b9QV5sxpj3 pic.twitter.com/rKUAbUx0Uh

— Isekura♡Kurakura (@issei_kura_kura) January 17, 2021

Oname is a traditional food from the Chichibu region of Saitama Prefecture. It is a type of miso that retains the shape of soybeans, and goes perfectly with sake and rice.
This miso is delicious just as it is, but what's great about it is that it can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, such as dipping it in cucumbers or adding it to chikuwa fish cakes .

<Chichibu Offal>

Today's final dish is Chichibu Hormone from Sakano Shoten. Heart, hanging tenderloin, skirt steak, and raw white sirloin were all delicious 👍 Thank you for the delicious meal! pic.twitter.com/72i6IjNF2g

— Urawa Chichibu (@chichibu_urawa) February 19, 2023

The Chichibu area is characterized by the fact that there are many horumon restaurants, rather than the usual yakiniku restaurants. In Saitama Prefecture, it is common to eat horumon with whiskey or beer.
Chichibu's horumon is characterized by various parts of the pig seasoned with sauce and then grilled. The rich flavor of grilled horumon is recommended to be paired with highballs .

If you are looking for alcohol in Saitama prefecture, which is becoming increasingly expensive, go to a specialty store that buys alcohol.

There are many sakes from Saitama that are skyrocketing in market prices. For example, when you look at the online prices of "Ichiro's Malt" and "Hanayoke", you can see that most bottles are over 10,000 yen, and are being traded at prices higher than the list price.
Such rare sake from Saitama is likely to be purchased at high prices at sake buying specialty stores. If you have unopened bottles of sake from Saitama, please consider using a purchase appraisal service before you let it go to waste .
Although alcohol is also bought and sold on Mercari and Yahoo! Auctions, if you want to sell safely and securely, we recommend a specialty alcohol purchase store. This is because specialty alcohol purchase stores have appraisers who are knowledgeable about alcohol , so they can reduce the risk of problems that can occur when buying and selling alcohol, such as complaints about the condition of the alcohol or losses on the price .
Linksus, a liquor buying specialist store, is always accepting purchases of rare liquor from Saitama. In addition to in-store purchases , we also offer mail-order purchases and on-site purchases , so please feel free to contact us.
Linkus Saitama alcohol purchase here

summary

Saitama Prefecture has a large amount of alcohol shipped, and is one of the leading sake-producing areas in Japan. It is also characterized by the production of various types of alcohol, including sake, whiskey, and craft beer.
Many of Saitama's alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed with B-grade gourmet food, and they are a great addition to any everyday situation. Why not take this opportunity to try some of Saitama's famous alcoholic beverages?