The Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum in Kobe’s Nada district brings Japan’s sake-making heritage to life. Located in a historic sake-producing area, the museum showcases the brewing process through life-sized exhibits, detailed models, and multilingual resources. Pop in to see traditional sake-making up close, try some yourself, and best of all – it’s free.
General Information
The Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, located in Kobe’s Nada district, provides detailed information about the traditional art of sake brewing. Nada (灼), Japan’s leading sake-producing region, is known for its favorable conditions for sake production, including high-quality rice, pure water from the Rokko mountains, and a temperate climate. The district’s proximity to Kobe Port and Osaka also historically supported the efficient transport of sake, contributing to its prominence. Numerous sake breweries are situated across a three-kilometer stretch in this area, reflecting its rich brewing heritage.
The museum is located on the grounds of a modern sake factory and housed in a traditional kura-style building. It features life-sized exhibits and models that illustrate the sake brewing process. English-language materials, including pamphlets and videos, are available to assist international visitors.
The museum also offers sake tasting at its shop, allowing visitors to experience Hakutsuru’s products.
The museum operates daily from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with last admissions at 4:00 PM. It is closed during the Obon and New Year holidays. (As the dates of the holidays can change by year, be sure to check the website for the latest information.) Admission is free.
Getting There
Unfortunately the nearest station, Hanshin Sumiyoshi Station, is not wheelchair accessible. JR Sumiyoshi Station is slightly further away at a 15 minute walk, but is wheelchair accessible.
Accessibility
The museum’s entrance features stone slabs, but they are flat and do not pose a significant challenge for wheelchair users. There is no step at the entrance, and the interior offers enough space for wheelchair navigation. Many of the displays, including life-sized models and equipment examples, are positioned at heights that are easily viewable from a seated position.
An elevator connects the ground and upper floors. Visitors who need to use the elevator will need to request assistance from staff. While the elevator is somewhat small, it can accommodate a larger power wheelchair along with one additional person. The theater room, where videos about sake production are shown, offers a place to rest, although the museum is compact enough that extended walking or standing is not necessary.
The museum has accessible restrooms located at the back of the building. These restrooms are equipped with handrails but lack backrests, and accessing them may require assistance due to a double set of doors.
The museum does not provide tactile paving for navigation, which may make it less convenient for visitors with visual impairments. Guide dogs, however, are permitted, and QR codes located throughout the museum offer audio descriptions. Note that using this feature requires assistance, as the QR codes need to be scanned with a smartphone.
Visitors with hearing impairments will find some accommodations. Basic English captions are available on the title screens of videos, though these are limited. Additional support is provided through English-language pamphlets and signage, as well as the physical displays of life-sized models and equipment, which visually convey much of the sake-making process. However, English text on signage is somewhat sparse, which may limit understanding for non-Japanese speakers.
The environment at the museum is relatively calm, with no overwhelming sensory stimuli. The lighting is steady, with no bright or flashing lights. There are no loud noises, and strong smells are limited to the faint aroma of sake in the tasting area. The museum’s layout allows for independent exploration without requiring interaction with staff, except in the shop or when requesting the elevator.
