Traditional Soy Sauce Brewery Tour in Nara

With a history as rich as its flavor, soy sauce has been around Japan for centuries and is one of the country's proudest exports.

While technology has made mass production of soy sauce possible, to this day, many brewers still adhere to their time-tested, longstanding techniques. During this soy sauce brewery tour in Nara, you'll discover the secrets of fermentation and traditional brewing methods.

You'll meet your guide at Kyobate Station in Nara before walking together to the brewery just a few minutes away. You'll first notice the aged wooden building, where you'll step inside to become immersed in the scent of fermentation. This deep, rich aroma is unique to traditionally fermented methods like using wooden barrels to store soy sauce.

Stepping inside feels like traveling back in time with equipment and practices that date back centuries. The skilled artisans will take you through the brewery, sharing secrets of traditional soy sauce making, such as the awe-inspiringly huge kioke (wooden barrels) used for fermentation. You might even hear the gentle sounds of bubbling fermentation at work. These are signs of the living microorganisms shaping the sauce's complex and savory taste.

For anyone passionate about Japanese food, fermentation, or traditional craftsmanship, this soy sauce brewery tour in Nara is an enriching addition to take your knowledge to the next level.