We bring you a range of resources to help you learn the world of sake.

If you know Aichi Prefecture, you probably know it for one thing: Toyota. Aichi is one of Japan’s great manufacturing centers, and Nagoya — its largest city — sits on the main route between Tokyo and Kyoto. But cars are only one part of the story. Aichi is also home to one of Japan’s richest fermentation cultures. Soybean miso.Tamari soy sauce.White soy sauce.Mirin.Vinegar.Pickles.Sake. And, as we discovered at our latest Weekly Sake Flight, even matcha shochu. Aichi currentl

Toyama is not usually the first place international drinkers think of when they hear the word sake. Kyoto may come to mind. Niigata may be familiar to more serious sake drinkers. And some people may know neighboring Ishikawa because of Kanazawa. Toyama often sits quietly between them. That changed for us after our latest Weekly Sake Flight. We tasted six very different sake from Toyama Prefecture, paired them with local seafood and kelp-based foods, and explored what connects

When people outside Japan hear the name Shizuoka, sake is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. You may know it for Mount Fuji. You may have seen Shizuoka green tea. Or, if you have traveled between Tokyo and Kyoto, you may have passed through the prefecture without realizing that it is also home to one of Japan’s most interesting modern sake stories. Shizuoka is not one of Japan’s ancient, obvious sake regions in the way that places such as Kyoto or Hyogo are ofte

When people outside Japan hear “Aomori,” they may think of apples first. That is understandable. Aomori is famous for apples. But from a sake perspective, Aomori is much more than an apple region. Located at the northern tip of Japan’s main island, Aomori is shaped by snow, cold winters, clean water, rice, seafood, and local food culture. It is also surrounded by different seas and bays, which gives the region a strong connection to fish, scallops, squid, and other seafood. T

When people outside Japan think about Japanese sake, Shimane is probably not the first region that comes to mind. Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Hiroshima may be easier to recognize. Shimane, by contrast, is quieter. But that is exactly why Shimane is interesting. Located on the Sea of Japan side of western Honshu, Shimane is deeply connected to mythology, shrine culture, seafood, soba, and slower regional drinking traditions. For sake beginners, Shimane may not be the easies

When people outside Japan think about Gifu, sake is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Gifu actually has one of the most popular tourist spots for international travelers: Shirakawa-go, the mountain village famous for its traditional thatched-roof houses. Others may know Hida beef, Takayama, Nagara River, or Seki cutlery. But Gifu also has a quiet and fascinating sake story. It is not the kind of region that is easiest to explain through one famous brand or one

More Than Dassai If you are new to sake, you may have heard of Dassai. Dassai is one of the most famous sake brands from Japan, and it comes from Yamaguchi Prefecture. For many people outside Japan, Yamaguchi sake starts with Dassai. That is a good starting point. But Yamaguchi is much more than one famous brand. For our event, we researched Yamaguchi, bought several local sake and snacks, tasted them side by side, tried warm sake, and tested food pairings. The goal was not t

Why Kumamoto is worth exploring through Sake, Akazake, and Kuma Shochu When people outside Japan think about Japanese alcohol, they usually think of sake first. And that makes sense — sake is one of Japan’s best-known traditional drinks. But once you start looking region by region, Japan becomes much more interesting. Some places are famous for one signature style. Others tell a much bigger story through food, local ingredients, and different drinking traditions. Kumamoto, on

Hyogo is famous for Kobe beef, but it is also one of Japan’s most important sake regions. From Nada and Yamada Nishiki to local food pairings from Akashi, Tamba, Tajima/Kinosaki, and Awaji, this beginner-friendly guide shows why Hyogo sake is much more than one flavor.