Sake

Commonly known in Japan as nihonshu, sake, which is fermented from rice, is widely recognised around the world as a distinctly Japanese drink. Although the cooler more northerly climes of Japan are well-known for their sake, Oita has a number of smaller, boutique breweries that produce high quality sakes that should not be missed. In contrast to the generally sweeter varieties found Japan’s north, Oita’s sakes provide a mostly cleaner, drier taste.

Breweries open to the public include:

• Takakiya (Bungo-Ono)
• Chiebijin (Kitsuki)
• Nishi-no-seki (Kunisaki City)
• Kuncho (Hita)
• Yatsushika (Kuju)

You will find these and many other establishments on Discover Oita's Road Trip: Oita's Sake, shochu and wine country.

Many breweries also distill shochu, the drink Kyushu as a whole is famed for.