Savor World-Renowned Sake and Locally Brewed Beer of Wakayama around Wakayamashi Station

Wakayama, a prefecture rich in nature and culture located in the south of Osaka, is an ideal destination for a short excursion both from KIX and downtown Osaka, and also is the place where Sake and craft beer brewing is thriving. Well-known Sake brewed in Wakayama are ‘KID Daiginjo’ (紀土KID 大吟醸) having won GOLD2 in SAKE COMPETITION 2017, and ‘Rashomon Ryuju Junmai Daiginjo’ (羅生門 純米大吟醸 龍寿) having consecutively been awarded Monde Selection Grand Gold Award since 1989. In this issue, let us take you to 3 spots where you can fully enjoy local Sake and craft beer Wakayama has to offer.

Every spot in this issue is within a walking distance from Wakayamashi Station (NK45) that is a one-hour ride on Nankai Line from Izumiōtsu Station (NK20), the nearest one from Kanku Izumiotsu Washington Hotel.

At “Sake Bar Mizube-za”, explore to meet your favorite Sake from all breweries in Wakayama

Gazing at Ichihori River, a moat of Wakayama Castle, “Sake Bar Mizube-za” (Sake Bar 水辺座) is a Sake bar in the theme of the waterside offering Sake of all the 10 breweries in Wakayama Prefecture. Stepping into the bar, you’ll find counter seats on the right while there are Japanese-style seats located in the inmost part offering a nice view of Ichihori River. For those who are not good at Sake, craft beer, Japanese plum wine (梅酒) and peach wine (モモ酒) are also available. As the pairing is essential to fully savor Sake, try its signature Oden (おでん, a type of Nabe dish consisting of several ingredients stewed in Dashi, a kelp-based broth) as well. When ordering Oden, don’t forget to ask for including local ingredients such as Honeten (ほね天), a fried mince of locally landed scabbard fish, and Atsuage (厚揚げ, fried Tohu) that leaves a rich aroma of soybeans.

Opening Hours	6:30PM – 11:00PM on Tuesdays to Saturdays / 6:30PM – 10:00PM on Sundays / Closed on Mondays
Table Charge	300 yen (incl. an appetizer)
Address	53 Motobakuroumachi, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access	A 2-minute walk from Wakayamashi Station (NK45).
URL	https://www.facebook.com/mizubeza/

Try the fruity craft beer, the world’s first one brewed from Kōji at “ORYZAE BREWING”

A micro-brewery ORYZAE BREWING is the first one to have brewed beer whose main ingredient is Kōji (麹, malted rice). Normally, beer is brewed from malt, hops and yeast, however, ORYZAE BREWING produces fruity flavor beer in traditional Japanese way without using them. At the paid-tasting bar attached to the beer shop on the first floor, you can drink ‘Oryzae Pale Ale’, a Bronze Medal awarded flavored beer in The International Beer Cup 2019. Though no appetizers are served, you can bring your own to pair with the beer. You can either enjoy a freshly brewed beer at the bar or get and bring some bottles back to your hotel room for enjoying privately.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 6:00PM / Closed on Mondays, Sundays and national holidays
Address	Kinoshita Bldg., 3 Funadaikumachi, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access	A 5-minute walk from Wakayamashi Station (NK45)
URL	https://oryzaebrewing.com/

Wine and craft beer flights at “Heiwa Saketen Ki:no Wakayama”, a bar ran by a Sake brewery

On the 2nd floor of Ki:no Wakayama, a commercial complex directly connected to Wakayamashi Station, “Heiwa Saketen Ki:no Wakayama” (平和酒店キーノ和歌山店) ran by a brewery Heiwa Shuzou (平和酒造) offers its own brewed drinks such as Sake ‘KID’ (紀土), plum wine ‘Tsuruume’ (鶴梅), and craft beer ‘Heiwa Craft’ (平和クラフト). In addition to purchasing bottled and canned drinks, you can order Sake flights and craft beer flights to enjoy at the bar. For paring with Sake and beer, appetizers are also available. The signature ones are chopped Char siu and Menma (メンマ, pickled bamboo shoots) prepared by the local popular Ramen restaurant Marutaya (丸田屋), and homemade Tofu prepared by Yamaguchi Tofu (山口豆腐). As brewers are at the bar to serve as bartenders, you get to hear the stories behind Sake brewing.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 8:00PM (shop) / Noon – 8:00PM (bar) / Irregular holidays available
Address	Ki:no Wakayama, Higashikuramaecho, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture
Address	Directly connected to Wakayamashi Station (NK45)
URL	https://www.heiwashuzou.co.jp/wordpress/