Dassai Sake Brewery- Iwakuni City: Yamaguchi Prefecture

Anyone who has ever drunk Sake, done some basic investigation and learnt about this very traditional Japanese alcoholic drink, knows that Dassai is a leader in its field and has taken Japanese Sake from a ho hum everyday product to a drink that is admired around the world. In many ways, it is the crem dela crem of Japanese Sake and as a result the reputation of Sake and also its profitability and popularity especially from a international customer perspective has reach atmospheric levels.

You see, sales and consumption of sake, traditionally regarded as Japan’s national drink, have been in decline for some time. From a peak of 1.675 million kiloliters in 1975, consumption had dropped to just 589,000 kL in 2010. Part of this decline can be attributed to the tendency among younger people to drink less, together with increased sales of alternatives like beer, whisky, and wine. Over this period, the number of sake breweries fell from more than 3,000 to around 1,500.

Dassai in some regard has reversed this trend. It has revolutionized the Sake Industry and brought it into the 21st century ready to compete with others within the Sake Industry and with its worldwide competitors selling other similar products like Gin, Whiskey, Wine, Vodka and Tequila.  Now in many regards around the world Dassai can compete and beat its international rivals with its appeal, marketability and overall image on a variety of levels.

I initially had my 1st Dassai drink 10 years ago and was immediately hooked. Don't get me wrong I have had many great Sake labels over the years but in truth none of them have impressed me as much as Dassai.  Of course Dassai is not considered an everyday Sake (unless you have the financial means) but without a doubt it is seen as a drink that needs to be brought out around close friends and family as well as for major celebratory events.

Dassai values quality over quantity and the President of the Company points out that the social role of sake has changed with time. What people are looking for today is not a cheap intoxicant but a quality product that can be savored for its taste. Sakurai says his key target market is not long-term drinkers but those who may be new to the pleasures of sake. “We are targeting the younger generation, who drink far less than their parents’ generation. Women are another major untapped market,” he says.

On this day, I headed to the factory with a level of nervousness/ excitement that I haven't had in quite a while. Once I arrived, I knew immediately that this location will be a hit with any Sake enthusiast. Whether or not we are able to secure a 1 hour Factory Tour entirely in English I am sure that the overall level of satisfaction will be achieved.  I was like a child in a candy store!  Of course there was no tasty on site (no drink driving in Japan) but I did take a take home pack to share with my wife, who is also a Dassai fan like myself.

I did grab the sampler pack with the revered Dassai 23. This Sake has been polished down to 23% of its original size, in other words the rice has been dissolved thru fermentation to 77% of its original size. This Daijigo type Sake will impart silky smooth flavor and a fruity aftertaste with a nice aroma.  It is for these reasons that Dassai 23 is the flagship product and will continue to lure customers from within Japan and around the world.

I am sure I will be posted more and more about the Dassai scene as I visit the factory more and more over the coming months.

Please check out the Dassai Sake Brewery here on a map:

Please click on these photos below to enlarge:

Kuma San design

Background

The brand

Product display

Tasting menu

Sample packs

Special event corner

The BIG ONE

Ready to drink

Pretty landscape

Deliveries never stop

Tasting location

The lucky tour members

New supplies

My take home pack

Lots of Sake being made

Tosu Outlet Mall- Tosu City: Saga Prefecture

Personally, I have been coming to this Outlet Mall for nearly 2 decades.  It really was the only Outlet Mall in the region before outlet malls became a normal style of shopping in Japan.  Nowadays there are many options for people to enjoy but the Tosu Outlet Mall is still the go to place as it has continued to develop, expand and provide much more variety than its competitors.

These reasons above as well as the fact that the Outlet mall is conveniently located (approx. 45 minute drive from Fukuoka City) with its late closing time makes it a perfect last destination on our private tour together.

Generally we will spend about 60 to 90 minutes here, but those hardcore shoppers can extend this period of time and 120 to 150 minutes is not unheard of.  However we may have to eliminate a previous attraction on the itinerary to get this option available to us.

Please look below to see the Tosu Outlet Mall here on a map:

Please click on the photos below to see the Tosu Outlet Mall in all its glory.

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Please check out this video of the Tosu Outlet Mall below:

Myoban Hot Spring- Beppu City: Oita Prefecture

Founded in 1725, Myoban Yunosato is dotted with the distinctive silhouettes of the yunohana huts. Surrounded by trails of hot spring steam gently wafting in the air, these huts distinguish themselves from any other traditional buildings we’ve ever seen in Japan with their triangular-shaped thatched roofs.

Constructed since the Edo period, these huts are the result of local craftsmanship and wisdom that made use of the fumarole-rich terrain to manufacture yunohana minerals by paving the huts with cobblestone covered in blue clay. This combination lets hot spring steam flow evenly within the hut while the thatched roof keeps the temperature inside constant by absorbing the humidity and releasing it outside avoiding the reformation of water droplets that could dissolve the hot spring steam.

The mineral deposits inside the huts slowly grow about 1mm a day from Myoban’s hot spring steam. It is then collected, purified, and dried over a period of 40 to 60 days before being used in a wide variety of body-care products such as bath salts and skin care products.

Not only will you and your party be able to enjoy lunch here at the numerous different restaurants offering traditional Oita Prefecture fare but either before or after lunch you will be able to partake in a public hot spring (large and expansive with spectacular views but with communal nudity) or a private hot spring in one of the many Yunohana huts. Here you can fully relax without having to worry about others as well as to control the temperature of the warm to hot water that is teeming with minerals to completely relax your body, mind and soul. I am sure this experience will last with you for many years to come.

Please check below to see where the Myoban Hot Springs are on a map:

Please click on these photos below to enlarge:

Many lunch options

The famous Onsen pudding

Famous chicken dishes are hugely popular

Onsen steamed eggs

Great views

Yunohana salt fields

Yunohana Huts

Hot spring region

Private Onsen choices

Outdoor public bathing

Have fun!

Spectacular from all angles

Inside the private huts

Temp control is doable

Please click on these video below to see more about the Myoban Onsen region:

Kurokawa Onsen- Kumamoto Prefecture

On our 2 night/ 3 day tours of Kyushu, on the 2nd night we have the option of staying in Minamiaso (3 or 4 star) or Kurokawa Onsen (5 star). Most of my clients chosen Kurokawa Onsen because staying in a Ryokan enjoying Japanese Omotenashi (hospitality) and having an exquisite 8 course Kaiseki washoku (traditional Japanese food) dinner ticks all their boxes.

On this particular tour the Kurokawaso Onsen was chosen as their accommodation of course. This was a lucky omen for me as I stayed here before many years ago with my family when the kids were a lot smaller. It also gave me satisfaction as a guide knowing that the next day when I picked up the team  there would be many smiling faces the next morning. 

This is exactly what I got!! The atmosphere and the general outlook was so positive. The dinner course and the hot spring experiences (both public and private hot spring experiences are available) were still on everyones lips with many different stories from nights past being relived for everyones pleasure.

This is what a guide attains to achieve on every tour especially ones that are multiple days in succession. The joy, the stories and the experiences will forever be etched in the memory banks with months and years of enjoyment.

Please check out Kurokawa Onsen here on a map below:

Please click on these photos to enlarge:

Please click on these video below to see more about the Kurokawaso Ryokan in the Kurokawa region of Kumamoto Prefecture.