About The Brewery & Distillery

Kitsukura Shuzo was officially founded in 1696 and has been brewing Sake crica 300 years.

Traditions runs deep with the Ide family today Tyler Ide and his Uncle continue with their ancestors’ aspirations and techniques, striving to preserve their ancient traditions while embracing new ideas and techniques. The Ide family, who is able to trace their roots back to Heian Era (late 8th Cen. – 12th Cen.), were deeply involved in the Meji Restoration of the late 1800’s which initiated the establishment of modern day, “Post-Shoganate”, Japan.  

Nagano’s alpine climate and pristine natural resources frame Kitsukura’s style of sake as well as their Soba Shochu. The brewery’s water is sourced from beneath the Chikuma River which flows down from the surrounding Yatsugatake Mountains to provide ice cold slightly soft water, perfect for brewing sake of substantial body and character. High-quality Miyama Nishiki sake rice grown in Saku provides the core for a style of sake that is at once rich, complex and grainy, while refined, crisp and layered.