Ponshukan Marketplace(Niigata Main Store) — Local services in Niigata

Took much trouble and a torturous one and a half hour standing ride on the Hayabusa to get here. Did not expect to have so much tourist in the late morning else I qould have set off earlier from Tokyo. So go early if you're planning a day trip from Tokyo like me! Anyways, came all the way here for this amazing sake-vending machine experience! For ¥1000, you'll get an ochoko(sake cup) and 5 tokens. Depending on the type of sake you picked, insert the amount of tokens required to dispense the sake into the cup. You can purchase more tokens at the cashier for ¥100 per token if you would like to try more. Fotunately, I went to try this at noon when no one else drinks in the middle of the day. When I came back in the evening, there was a freaking long queue and I won't even get to enter at all. The 5 sakes that I tried were of the good value and taste for single coin each. There are alao plenty of other merchandise in the store. This sake vending machines is in the closed off area within the store. Will definitely be...

今、日本が世界に誇れるもの…。その中に日本酒(Sake)は間違いなく上げられるでしょう。 世界のグルメ達がSakeに感心をよせています。「世界の食は日本化してきている」と言った人がいますがその潮流は間違いなく大きくなってきています。国内でも日本酒への興味は新たな潮流となって動きはじめています。そんな中にあって“made in Echigo”はその名に含みを持っています。ワインに例えるならフランスのブルゴーニュ、イタリアのトスカーナといったイメージです。Sakeは間違いなく日本を、地域を印象づけて元気にしてゆくはずです。その一端をぽんしゅ館は担っていると思っています。 ぽんしゅ館の唎き酒コーナーがこんなに人気を呼んでいるのは酒蔵の持つ個性的な魅力にあります。その魅力を知る為にお客様は自分の感性と向き合い、問い合わせる事になります。その瞬間がとても知的な時間で、この体験にお客様は快感を覚えるのだと思います。 よくこれほどの魅力的な酒蔵がこの同じ時代に存在したものです。時代をリードするというのはそういう事なのかもしれません。私達はプロのメッセンジャーとして日本酒の魅力をいかに多くの人に伝えて行くことが出来るかが仕事です。私達の体験や知識がお客様の豊かさとなって日本酒ファンを増やしてゆく…そんな集団でありたいと思います。 ぽんしゅ館は、新潟の日本酒の見開きページで目次です。例えばニューヨークのバイヤーが日本に来てまず向かう先は新潟越後。そして最初に門をくぐるのがぽんしゅ館。そこで日本酒の魅力を知り、その奥にはそうそうたる酒蔵が待ち構えているわけです。 What Japan can be proud of in the world now ... Sake will definitely be mentioned in it. Gourmets from all over the world are impressed with Sake. Some people have said that the world's food is becoming Japanese, but the trend is definitely growing. Even in Japan, interest in sake has begun to move as a new trend. Under such circumstances, “made in Echigo” has implications in its name. If you compare it to wine, it's like Burgundy in France and Tuscany in Italy. Sake will definitely impress and rejuvenate Japan. I think Ponshukan plays a part in that. The unique charm of the sake brewery is what makes the Sake Corner of the Ponshukan so popular. In order to know its charm, customers will face their own sensibilities and make inquiries. The moment is a very intelligent time, and I think that customers will be pleased with this experience. Often such a fascinating brewery existed in this same era. That may be what it means to lead the times. As a professional messenger, our job is to convey the appeal of sake to as many people as possible. Our experience and knowledge will enrich our customers and increase the number of sake fans ... I would like to be such a group. Ponshukan is a table of contents on the spread page of sake in Niigata. For example, the first destination for New York buyers to come to Japan is Niigata Echigo. And the first thing to go through the gate is Ponshukan. There, I learned about the charm of sake, and in the back there is a...

This is a sake lover’s wet dream. From all the cool things found in Niigata, I rate this place the tippity top of them all. The nihonshu glassware that adorns the seemingly endless bottles of nihonshu are some of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever seen. Then you walk into the nihonshu vending machine area and for ¥1000 you get 5 coins to try out the sake. This was the best part of the experience as you can use their tablets where you take your preferences and the genius behind the tablet makes recommendations for sake. I’m so glad that the sample pours they give aren’t too much because I was feeling it after my 5th cup! This place alone makes this a must...