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Early Summer Tour of Iinuma Honke

12 jun 2026

A tour was conducted for the benefit of both the IMS Group and our new intern, with a sake tasting and lunch held at the end.

This tour served as an introduction to the world of sake brewing for our summer intern, Ashton Taylor, as well as an example of a proper sake brewery tour for IMS Group.

 Decorative sake barrels, or known as kazaridaru (飾り樽), on display at Iinuma Honke, stacked to showcase the brand and the rich history of their craft.
 Decorative sake barrels, or known as kazaridaru (飾り樽), on display at Iinuma Honke, stacked to showcase the brand and the rich history of their craft.

We were given a detailed tour of Iinuma Honke's brewing facilities by Mr. Suzuki, a very friendly worker who normally supervises the bottling line, but due to his friendly and informative nature, was also given the responsibility of hosting guided tours.

We started at the rice polishing building, just as the rice does when it arrives at the start of brewing season. We chased the rice through the pipes from there into the main brewery building where we visited the koji in its culturing tanks. We were given a detailed explanation of where the rice ends up on the conveyor belts and how it interacts with the koji at various stages to produce differing profiles of sake. The brewery itself was in the process of breaking down for the off season, giving everything a good cleaning and making sure the various machines were fixed up for the season later this year. We capped off the tour by uncapping and having a look at the last batch of sake for the season, where it bubbled and patiently waited for its turn in the presser.

 Guests were lucky to be able to catch a glimpse of the bubbling fermentation mash, the last batch of the season.
 Guests were lucky to be able to catch a glimpse of the bubbling fermentation mash, the last batch of the season.

After the tour itself, we were treated to a tasting flight of Kinoene sake along with a traditional Japanese meal at the renovated 300-year-old Kinoene Oomoya (main wing), part of the cherished residence of the Iinuma Family. All 3 varieties of sake had a wonderful sweet flavor profile, each had a similarity to one another that was undeniable, yet all had their own differing complexities that made them stand out own their own.

We savored a lunch menu inspired by the 24 solar terms of the Asian calendar, paired with a wonderful flight of Kinoene sake.
We savored a lunch menu inspired by the 24 solar terms of the Asian calendar, paired with a wonderful flight of Kinoene sake.

We bid goodbye to our host after the meal, with our guests and Ashton, feeling fulfilled from the experience.

About Iinuma Honke Iinuma Honke, the brewery behind Kinoene sake, has been crafting sake in Chiba Prefecture since 1688. Conveniently located near Narita Airport, the brewery welcomes visitors to discover the sake-brewing process, enjoy guided tastings, and gain a deeper appreciation of Japan's rich brewing heritage.

Address: 106 Mabashi, Shisui-machi, Inba-gun, Chiba, 285-0914 Japan Website: https://iinumahonke.com/

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