Rice and sake

Uonuma and the entire Niigata region

Grains of rice that shine like gems! koshihikari, Japan’s pinnacle of rice.

Fresh-cooked and plump, with a slightly sweet taste in the mouth—koshihikari is said to be Japan’s finest rice. Its major production area is Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture. The Japanese start to salivate when they hear the words “koshihikari from Uonuma.” The idea of eating freshly-cooked Uonuma rice sparks the imagination. The secret of this delicious rice is in the snowmelt flowing down from the mountains and Niigata’s unique pattern of heat and cold, as well as the mist that arises just at the time when the rice starts to mature. It’s because Uonuma meets all these conditions that it achieves the finest tasting product, known as the “gem” of rice.

There are over 90 breweries in Niigata Prefecture! One storehouse boasts a history of over 450 years.

Wherever the rice is delicious, the local sake is also of the finest taste. This is because sake is brewed from rice, koji mold, and water. Niigata Prefecture is home to a massive 92 breweries (according to a survey in 2013). It’s also home to a storehouse that boasts a history of over 450 years. The techniques of brewing Japanese sake have an unbroken lineage in this area. Famous varieties of Niigata sake include "Hakkaisan", brewed with spring water from the sacred Hakkaisan mountain, and "Kubota," which is sweet with a slight sharpness. Sake has a narrower range of taste compared to wine, and even the Japanese can have difficulty detecting the subtler differences. It is probably best to get advice from a specialist store before choosing sake.

Enjoy sake tasting? Head to the specialist sake store directly accessible from the railway station!

Kikizake is a popular method of choosing sake by taste in Japan. In Niigata, which is known for its sake, one specialist store offering such tasting is Ponshukan, which is directly connected to Niigata Station. It stocks sake from every single brewery in the prefecture! You can sample five local sake varieties for just 500 yen. Compare the characteristics of each while listening to explanations by sake masters. Aside from sake, Ponshukan also stocks soy sauce, miso, and other sundries as well as a wide selection of local products and souvenirs such as candy. Explore Niigata’s outstanding food culture from a variety of different angles.

For reference

Ponshukan, Niigata Station

Address

1-96-47 Hanazono, Chuo-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken, Japan (inside JR Niigata Station)
Phone

025-240-7090
Opening hours

9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Regular days of closure

None
Website

http://ponshukan-niigata.com/