Hokkaido's Otokoyama Sake Brewery

For anyone with an interest in Japanese sake, the Otokoyama Sake Brewery, in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, is a must see. With a history spanning over 340 years, the brewery's sake was a favorite of the Tokugawa shogunate. It was even depicted in works by one of Japan's most famous Ukiyoe masters, Utamaro. As you enter the Otokoyama property, a lovely Japanese garden welcomes you. Inside the brewery are large glass windows where you can view production facilities, and there is a museum dedicated to the art of making sake. Of course, there is also a sake tasting room and gift shop.