Kinomoto Historic Kaido Post Town

OVERVIEW

Brewery Town of a Historic Kaido Trail

As a post-station town along the historic Hokkoku Kaido trail as well as home to one of the region’s prominent temples, Kinomoto developed into a vibrant prosperous community. This historical town was bustling with both travelers and pilgrims visiting the Jizo-in Buddhist temple. The rows of merchant houses in the downtown area still evoke nostalgic scenes of bygone days.

Flourishing due to its logistical advantages, favorable climate for brewing, and abundant water sources and ingredients, the region around Kinomoto was once a hub for businesses dealing with sake brewing and soy sauce production. Taking advantage of the area’s rich resources, these became thriving enterprises. Although the number has dwindled, with only two sake breweries and three soy sauce breweries remaining, they continue to uphold traditional manufacturing methods. In the present day, the two remaining sake breweries are renowned as the fourth and fifth oldest in Japan, a testament to their enduring commitment to time-honored craftsmanship. Despite the reduction in quantity, the commitment to preserving these traditional trades remains strong, and these establishments now embody the historical and cultural significance of the region’s sake and soy sauce production.