Let's take casual stroll south from Hanshin Nishinomya Train Station to Hakutaka Rokusuien Sake Brewery!
Located just 650m directly south from Hanshin Nishinomiya station makes this one of the easiest Sake breweries to visit! There's only one turn once you leave the station, after that just walk directly south down the main street "札場筋線” (Fudabasuji-sen).
You will know you're almost there once the brewery building (not open to the public) comes into view:
Directly across the street from the brewery main building is the Hakukata Rokusien (direct translation: White Hawk Water Garden). The building itself is a replica of the Tatsuma family home, the owners of the Hakutaka brewery which was typical of home/brewery residences in the "Nadagogo" sake brewing region.
In addition to the souvenir shop, there's a small bar area for sake tasting, an adjacent restaurant and a multi-purpose hall. The facility also includes an upstairs exhibition space with brewery tools dating from the end of the Edo period to the early Showa period.
Upon entering Hakutaka Rokusuien, visitors may dive right in and try out the delicious sake on offer, browse the various sake and snacks in the souvenir shop or view the 1st and 2nd floor exhibits showcasing historic rooms recreated from the original residence and various items and a scale model of the original brewery.
Our route then took us back to the bar for the main purpose of this visit, sake tasting!
The garden is truly delightful and a wonderful place to spend some time tasting Hakutaka sake after a not-so-lengthy walk from the train station. The sake was delicious of course, with the varieties on offer providing some unique flavors which had us browsing the souvenir shop for the same sake immediately afterwards!
Please note that the opening hours vary slightly between the Souvenir shop/Bar/Exhibits/Water Garden and the Restaurant. If for example you were wanting to taste some sake at the bar after lunch at the restaurant between 2:30pm and 3:00pm, the staff will likely refuse your request until 5:00pm upon re-opening.
Opening hours:
● Daytime - 11:00am - 3:00pm / Evening - 5:00pm - 9:00pm (Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays)
● Restaurant: Lunch - 11:30am - 2:30pm / Dinner - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
URL: https://hakutaka.jp/shop-english.html
[How to get there from Umeda in Osaka]:
- Take the Limited Express train bound for Sannomiya on the Hanshin Main Line from Hanshin Osaka Umeda station three stops and get off at Nishinomiya station.
- Exit Nishinomiya station using the South Gate.
- Turn left immediately as you exit the station taxi stand area and follow the street perpendicular to the station until you arrive at the intersection with the yellow building "Hana Densya".
- Turn right at that intersection and walk 650m (going under an expressway overpass about halfway along) until you arrive at Hakutaka Rokusuien opposite a Family Mart convenience store.
Directions via Google Maps