One of the oldest breweries in Shimane. Hikami refers to the upper reaches of the Hii River, the same river from the Yamata no Orochi myth where sake was used to slay the eight-headed serpent.

Named after Kintaikyo — the famous five-arched wooden bridge in Iwakuni. Uses ultra-soft water from the pristine Nishiki River that flows under the bridge. Clean elegant style reflecting the pure water source.

Gangi refers to the wooden wharf steps along the riverside. All products are junmai with no charcoal filtration (muroka). Known for bold unfiltered style. Same pristine Nishiki River water as neighboring Gokyo.

One of Japan’s newest sake breweries. Operates as a true domaine – growing own rice adjacent to the brewery. Applies wine domaine concepts to sake. Part of new wave of terroir-focused craft sake.

Okayama is the birthplace and primary growing region of Omachi rice – the oldest pure sake rice variety still cultivated. Omachi called the phantom rice for its difficulty to grow.

Produces ONLY Junmai Daiginjo. Dassai 23 means rice polished to 23%. Abolished the traditional toji system using data and analytics. Built multi-story gravity-flow brewery. Dassai means otter festival. Dramatic turnaround story.

Named after Chinese poet Li Bai (Rihaku) famous for drinking and poetry. Dreamy Clouds nigori is one of the best-known imported nigoris in the US. Shimane considered mythological birthplace of sake.

Named after nearby Mt. Gassan. Located in rural Oku-Izumo known for pristine water and tatara iron-smelting heritage.

Helped revive Goriki rice – a heritage Tottori variety that nearly went extinct. Aged sake (koshu) program. Tottori is Japan’s least populated prefecture.

Saijo is one of Japan’s three great sake brewing towns. Tokusei Gold Daiginjo served to President Obama at state dinner in Japan (2014). Hiroshima soft water brewing pioneered by Senzaburo Miura.