Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery
Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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If you have even a passing interest in whisky, whiskey, or hard liquor in general, you will enjoy this tour where you are guided through the history of Nikka and the whisky-making process. The tour includes several of the original buildings from the distillery’s founding that are now considered to be cultural buildings. The free tasting is the icing on the cake, as all these samples were generous pours and tasted great. Of course, can’t miss the gift shop, where in addition to fun merchandise, limited edition whiskies are available for purchase. Important note regarding the distillery limited items: many of them (especially those without Yoichi in its name) can also be found at the Miyagikyo distillery. And the Nikka Apple Wine isn’t distillery limited after all. If your travels take you to Aomori or Hirosaki, the Nikka Apple Wine can be found at several of the souvenir stores in those towns. @Maui World Travelers maybe you should have paid attention to the tour or your laminated paper instead of typing this drivel. There is definitely whisky making happening all over the facility. Multiple stills are going at once and there are guys shoveling coal to heat the stills…it doesn’t get more active than that. And idk if you were seriously expecting to see the fermentation process happening in the wash tanks, but that building is full of the smell of peat and malt. Not sure how you missed it. If you’re so disinterested in this brand, why did you bother to book this high demand tour that fills up quickly? Just to complain? Get a life.
Robert ERobert E
00
Well, it is the best place in Hokkaido if you are alcohol, whiskey or Japanese whiskey lover. Here is the NIKKA WHISKY factory, and it is the only reason that take you too Yoichi. Here I will tell you some important information. First, you need to make the tour reservation. Can't book the the front gate. I am also suggest you book advance and it is free. You should go there before your section time. Be aware that the JR railway from Sapporo or Otaru to Yoichi is not very frequently and don't have the express. Except the factory, you can only eat the sea food around there or buy some alcohol near the JR station when you come to Yoichi. About the tour, they will give you your language guide book to you. However, the tour guide only speak on English. They will take you to few spots to explain how they make whiskey here in the old time and some background about their founder. After that, you can take the sample whiskey drink to try or soft drinks. After the testing, you can go to the store and buy their products including the factory only products by some limitations for someone that maybe resell it(for the popular Yoichi products only). After the shopping time, you can visit their museum to look about their history and pay small money buy the sample to taste. It is the very good chance that taste the high year Yoichi whiskey. (one person only can pick three type to try). If you don't have any idea, you can let them to suggest you.
Jerry LamJerry Lam
00
The Nikka Whisky Distillery Tour is an absolute must-visit for whisky lovers and anyone interested in Japanese craftsmanship. Nestled in Yoichi, a short drive from Otaru, the distillery is a stunning heritage site with beautifully preserved buildings. If you visit in winter, the snow-covered scenery transforms the place into a magical wonderland. The free guided tour (booking required via their website) offers a deep dive into the fascinating history of Nikka and its founder, Masataka Taketsuru, the man who played a crucial role in shaping Japanese whisky. The tour is incredibly comprehensive, covering everything from the traditional distillation process to the strong historical ties between Nikka and Suntory. The guides are highly knowledgeable, making the experience both educational and engaging. One of the best parts? The free whisky tasting at the end! You get to sample some of their finest selections and even experiment with mixers to craft your perfect drink. The staff provides helpful tips, making it an interactive and fun experience. If you're in the area, I highly recommend stopping by. 10/10 experience! Plus, don’t forget to check out the nearby kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) shop for an amazing meal to round off your visit. Whether you're a whisky enthusiast or just looking for a unique experience, the Nikka Whisky Distillery Tour is well worth your time!
Bernard ChanBernard Chan
00
Do book tickets in advance, along with tasting, great place to go! If you are going to Otaru, do go to Yoichi as well, just to see this. With the tour, get there 15min before scheduled time to check in, if you are there earlier than 15min, you can roam around the courtyard till time, then you’ll be asked to go to the reception/ticket counter to show your reservations and pick up a drinks ticket. You will also be given a QR code to scan, to view translations of the tour. I find the translation website a tad laggy. In times like this; pull out Google translate and let the voice recording run. I went for the 12pm tour, by the time we got to the tasting section, it was 12:45pm. We sat around to taste the flight provided with the tour till 1:20pm, enjoying the view of the trees, then left to the souvenir shops to pick stuff up. There’s a stamp card to collect, you’d have to visit 4 areas to complete the card. Because of the stamp card, we went to the museum, where you can do more taste tests. Each 15ml test can range between 300-10,000 yen (yes, that’s $100 for 10ml) this is 2pm Walked around a bit more till we got back to the front entrance at 2:50pm before leaving. You can spend 3hrs just in here, be prepared. It isn’t crowded. It’s a ticketed area, so everything is nice and peaceful. Highly recommend a visit.
Charlene LimCharlene Lim
00
I tagged along for this boring tour of a liquor that I do not drink. If you book a tour (around 30 minutes total), you’ll be escorted throughout the grounds. But, the tour is in Japanese, so an app is required if you need translation. Or, just read what’s on the laminated paper given to you at the start of the tour. According to the spouse, it was word for word. It starts out with a video of the brewery’s history and whisky making process. You then are escorted around the grounds to see buildings and displays but no actual whisky making is occurring. The tour ends with a tasting flight of whisky in their large, air conditioned tasting room. The gift shop is the last stop. WHISKY TASTING: Apple Wine - Sweet & smooth; I could taste notes of the wooden barrel. Super Nikka - Nasal clearing and super strong. Singlemalt Yoichi - Milder than the Super Nikka. I found that mixing the latter two with carbonated water made for a smoother taste. TIP: Whiskey (with an “e”) is produced in the United States and Ireland. Whisky (without the “e”) is from Scotland, Canada and Japan. OVERALL: The tour would’ve been way more interesting if you could visually see the processes, not just using your imagination.
Maui World TravelersMaui World Travelers
00
Not far from Yuchi station but could take up to 15mins for you to talk all the way to the whisky tasting area under big snow. Trains are not frequent so you could miss your train while back. They have lockers for you in case you bring along your luggages and there's some outdoor walking to different spots so bring along whatever clothing required. The place itself is nice and you can understand a lot about the history and making process of whisky even without joining the Tour as they have videos in every spot and they come in different languages including English. There are both free and paid version of whisky and I find that the free version is quite decent and you can actually have a nice view at the tasting area. You can get some limited editions of their Whisky in the shop as well as other souvenir kind of stuff which is reasonably priced. The restaurant offers some speciality dishes including the use of their Whisky which is interesting to try, and frankly you can't really find another place to eat around that area easily if you are hungry. Overall it's worth visiting if this is a mid way stop of your journey, nothing really much to do other than this if not.
Arthur TongArthur Tong
00
Nearby Attractions Of Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery
Nikka Whisky Museum
Yoichigawa River Cherry Blossom Trees
Former Residence of Taketsuru

Nikka Whisky Museum
4.5
(247)Click for details

Yoichigawa River Cherry Blossom Trees
4.5
(33)Click for details

Former Residence of Taketsuru
4.2
(17)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery
Garden House Family sushi
回転寿司 余市番屋
Unino Yoichiya
千成ラーメン
Rita’s Kitchen
Fuji Sushi Buffet Dining Yoichi Branch
Aji no Tokeidai
Sushi Dokoro Midoriya
COFFEE STAND by shizuku
味有職和香奈

Garden House Family sushi
4.3
(849)Click for details

回転寿司 余市番屋
4.0
(654)Click for details

Unino Yoichiya
4.1
(387)$$$
Click for details

千成ラーメン
3.9
(243)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
Japan, 〒046-0003 Hokkaido, Yoichi District, Yoichi, Kurokawacho, 7 Chome−6
Map
Phone
+81 135-23-3131
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Website
nikka.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.4
(1.6K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
accessibility
Description
Yoichi distillery is a Japanese whisky distillery. It is located at Yoichi, a town in the Yoichi District, Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. The distillery is owned by Nikka Whisky Distilling, and was opened in 1934.
attractions: Nikka Whisky Museum, Yoichigawa River Cherry Blossom Trees, Former Residence of Taketsuru, restaurants: Garden House Family sushi, 回転寿司 余市番屋, Unino Yoichiya, 千成ラーメン, Rita’s Kitchen, Fuji Sushi Buffet Dining Yoichi Branch, Aji no Tokeidai, Sushi Dokoro Midoriya, COFFEE STAND by shizuku, 味有職和香奈

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