Whisky Meets Nature: The Hakushu Distillery
Suntory Whisky’s Hakushu Distillery in Hakushu, Yamanashi is a perfect representation of Japanese culture’s love and respect for nature melding with business savvy to produce one of the most beautiful and impressive whisky distillery’s in the world! Surrounded by the Southern Alps of Japan, paints the perfect backdrop for The Hakushu Distillery.
You can book a tour, which costs ¥3000, ($19.20US), per person or you can just visit and tour the free museum on your own. Honestly, I just went on a free tour on my own and I was totally impressed and satisfied with that.
When you arrive, you must stop in the visitor’s building, which is the first building you see from the parking lot. There is a small gift shop here, but I suggest you wait for the bigger one that is where the tasting is possible.
You’re greeted immediately by nature as you make your way from the reception building to the Hakushu museum for the free tour.
Surrounded by nature, the air is so fresh and clean, with the faint smell of wood and whisky mash.
Coming Soon!
A reason to return: There is a new restaurant coming next summer in 2025! I can’t wait to return to try it out!
The Free Tour!
There is so much to see in the museum that it will take you about 30 minutes to an hour to look through everything available.
The Tasting!
After finishing the free tour, you can take advantage of the ability to taste any of the various whiskys that Suntory produces, including Yamazaki and Hibiki. Personally I chose to keep my tasting to The Hakushu only this time. I chose The Hakushu white oak ¥1100, ($7.04US), which has some nice fruity notes, the second was a special blend of white and Spanish oak that is only available at The Hakushu Distillery, ¥800, ($5.12US), and the last was The Hakushu 18 years old, ¥3400, ($19.20US)! Absolutely spectacular!
One note about the tasting at the Hakushu Distillery in Yamanashi, if you want to try Hibiki 30 year or Yamazaki 25 year or even 25 year Hakushu, I don’t recommend trying them at this distillery cause they will all cost you a whopping ¥22,000, ($140.79US), each! However, the same shots will cost you only ¥4000, ($25.60US)each!
The Gift Shop
Last, but not least, before you leave I highly recommend visiting the gift shop! Each person is allowed to purchase one Hakushu product and I can’t stress enough the savings of purchasing a bottle directly from the distillery!
There are varying prices. The 700ml bottle of The Hakushu costs only ¥7700, ($49.28US)! Normally a bottle of The Hakushu costs ¥15,400, ($98.55US), on Amazon! The other bottles of The Hakushu are less expensive and smaller, but the decision is yours!
Finally, even if you’re not a whisky enthusiast like me, visiting Suntory Whisky Hakushu Distillery in Yamanashi prefecture is a beautiful and interesting trip that I highly recommend! Until next time!
Cheers!
