[40 minutes from Nagoya] A special experience only available in February: Enjoy the open Tokoname brewery experience in Tokoname

Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture is a pottery town known as one of Japan's six ancient kilns. In fact, there are two long-established sake breweries in this area, which open their doors to the public every February. The setting is Morita and Sawada Sake Breweries. Information about this important annual event.

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Tokoname Tourism Association

We promote tourism with the slogan "Happy Come On TOKONAME," which expresses our desire that "everyone who visits Tokoname City will be able to experience its various charms, feel happy and joyful, and go home with the power of happiness (happiness) that will give them energy for the next day."

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15 minutes from the airport. 45 minutes from Nagoya. A sake experience with excellent access

Tokoname City is the city where Chubu Centrair International Airport is located.

It is also about a 45-minute drive from Nagoya Station, making it an easy stop for visitors to Japan.

This open sake brewery event is attracting attention as one of the few experiences where you can experience authentic Japanese sake culture near an airport.

Sawada Sake Brewery 37th Hakuro Open House

Event period: Saturday, February 21st to Sunday, February 22nd, 2026, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM

At the annual Hakuro"Open Brewery" event, you can see every detail of the sake brewing process, which is carried out using traditional methods.

In addition, you can enjoy free samples of specially made sake lees amazake and free tastings of freshly squeezed "junmai" unpasteurized sake, as well as paid tastings of a variety of new sake brewed this winter.

There will also be sweets made with sake lees and sake in collaboration with local famous shops, and stalls from famous local shops.

A shuttle bus will run from Tokoname Station on the day.

Sawada Sake Brewery website

Sawada Shuzo (Sake Brewery)

479-0818 4-10 Kobacho, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture

Sawada Shuzo is a historic sake brewery founded in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture in 1848, at the end of the Edo period. Tokoname City is also known for its Tokoname ware. The brewery's representative brand is ""Hakurou."" The name of the brewery reflects the ""carefully polished white color of rice'' alongside ""a wish for the health and longevity of its customers'' and ""pursuing an expertise in sake brewing.'' The Chita Peninsula, where Tokoname is located, is a region with a thriving culture of brewing products such as seafood, agricultural and livestock products, as well as sake, miso, vinegar, and tamari soy sauce. To support the local rich food culture, Sawada Shuzo continues to produce rich, flavorful sake using local rice, spring water, and traditional wooden tools for everything from ordinary sake to daiginjo. The brewery believes that old yet traditional methods are the best way to bring out the deliciousness of rice and avoid any unpleasant tastes. Since the company's founding, the brewing water that is indispensable for sake brewing has been sourced from a spring up on a hill two kilometers away from the brewery. The water has been brought to a well in the sake brewery through a private tap. As a local sake brewery originating from the fermented food culture of the Chita Peninsula, they believe in creating sake that complements food while being in harmony with nature. Be sure to take a tour of the sake brewery. You can enjoy tastings and experience how sake is made through great care and attention to ingredients, manufacturing methods, and tools. To make Tokoname's local ""Hakurou"" sake more delicious and enjoyable, the brewery has created four types of sake vessels in collaboration with potters. On the tour, you can enjoy pairing sake with different flavors and sake vessels that bring out the individuality of each fermented rice beverage.

Morita 2026 Nenohi Brewery Opening

Event period: Saturday, February 14, 2026

We will be holding paid tastings starting from 100 yen per glass, as well as sales of exclusive sake and new products exclusive to the brewery opening, and all-you-can-fill events.

There will also be food stalls offering free sake and pork soup with sweet sake. An opening event will be held on the stage from around 9:15, where freshly pressed sake will be served free of charge. Please come and try it.

The whole family can enjoy the popular all-you-can-fill sake lees and pickled vegetables, as well as the generous amount of Hatcho miso on sale.

[Major events]

・Unpasteurized sake straight from the tank: 100 yen per glass

・Limited sake for the brewery opening

・New sake sold by weight

・Sake tasting class

・Miso brewery tour

・New product tasting sales

・Free serving of new sake

・Ring toss・Shooting gallery

·stall

♦Departing from Tokoname Station! Free shuttle bus available

Morita HP

Morita Aji no Yakata

10 Wakihama, Aza Kosugaya, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, 479-0807

Morita Aji no Yakata is a renovated brewery that is over 180 years old, and makes full use of its dignified atmosphere to introduce the sake and miso manufacturing processes through videos. The museum also sells Nenohi sake, Morita seasonings, and Aji no Yakata original products, and serves dishes that make use of the umami of soybean miso, including the specialty miso stewed udon. The museum also houses a permanent exhibition of Morita Akio, the 15th head of the family. Come and experience Morita's living food culture of rich, deep flavors.

Akio Morita Academy

7-4 Kameido, Kosugaya, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, 479-0807

The Akio Morita Academy is a memorial hall introducing the life and character of Akio Morita, co-founder of Sony, and his wife Yoshiko. Akio valued unwavering "connections" with people above all else. Born as the 15th head of a sake brewery family, he brought new business and culture to the world. Supporting those connections was the spirit of hospitality embodied by his wife, Yoshiko. At the Akio Morita Academy, we exhibit many personal and professional artifacts left behind by the couple to share their legacy.

Away from the hustle and bustle of tourist areas, you can enjoy sake in the same space as the locals.

The February sake brewery open house is a recommended event for travelers who want to experience Japan rather than just see it.

If you're visiting Nagoya Centrair, be sure to also visit Tokoname.