Watanabe Sahei Shoten

Founded in 1842, Watanabe Sahei Shoten is a venerable brewery in Imaichi, Nikko City, with a history of over 180 years. In the land of World Heritage Nikko, they practice true local sake brewing that makes the most of the blessings of the Nikko region.
The most distinctive feature is their thorough commitment to Junmai sake, with approximately 90% of their total production being "Junmai Brewing Sake," boasting the No. 1 Junmai ratio in Tochigi Prefecture. They insist on Junmai brewing using only water, rice, and rice koji, pursuing the original taste of sake without adding brewer's alcohol.
The brewing water is clear groundwater from the Nikko Mountains, and the main ingredient is Gohyaku-mangoku rice produced in Nikko City, brewed with yeast developed in Tochigi to embody the essence of local sake. Carefully brewed in the winter chill blowing down from the Nikko Mountains, their sake allows you to taste the terroir of Nikko, using groundwater from the Daiya River and locally grown rice.
Representative brands include "Nikko Homare," "Suishin no Nakiryu," and "Seikai." Their crisp flavor is a perfect match for Nikko's local delicacies like yuba (tofu skin) sashimi. It is a brewery that crafts Nikko's iconic sake, fusing the natural blessings of a World Heritage site with traditional techniques passed down for over 180 years.