Whisky From Japan

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Japanese distilleries

Oldest first. We note whether the public can visit, because that is the question readers planning a trip actually have and it is rarely answered clearly in English.

Latitude — why there is no single Japanese style 30°N 35°N 40°N 45°N YoichiYoichi — Hokkaido, 43.2°N43.2°N AkkeshiAkkeshi — Hokkaido, 43.0°N43.0°N MiyagikyoMiyagikyo — Miyagi, 38.3°N38.3°N ChichibuChichibu — Saitama, 36.0°N36.0°N HakushuHakushu — Yamanashi, 35.9°N35.9°N Mars ShinshuMars Shinshu — Nagano, 35.8°N35.8°N Fuji GotembaFuji Gotemba — Shizuoka, 35.3°N35.3°N ShizuokaShizuoka — Shizuoka, 35.0°N35.0°N ChitaChita — Aichi, 35.0°N35.0°N YamazakiYamazaki — Osaka, 34.9°N34.9°N KanosukeKanosuke — Kagoshima, 31.7°N31.7°N Mars TsunukiMars Tsunuki — Kagoshima, 31.4°N31.4°N
12 distilleries, north to south. The spread is about 12 degrees — Scotland's entire industry fits inside 3 degrees, near 55°N. Hokkaido matures slowly in the cold; Kagoshima runs hot and fast. That is the single biggest reason two Japanese single malts can taste nothing alike.

Yoichi Distillery

余市蒸溜所

Hokkaido · Hokkaido · est. 1934

Open to visitors

Chita Distillery

知多蒸溜所

Aichi · Chubu · est. 1972

Closed to the public

Akkeshi Distillery

厚岸蒸溜所

Hokkaido · Hokkaido · est. 2016

Closed to the public