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Sample Schedule
Half-day to full-day | Starts from Hitachi Station |
English guided throughout
This schedule serves as a guide. Exact timings may vary slightly depending on group size and seasonal conditions.
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Rina will meet you at the station and drive you through the mountain valleys of Hitachiota City — an area with deep historical roots in the Tokugawa era and one of northern Ibaraki's richest cultural landscapes.
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Founded in 1875, Okabe Brewery has been producing sake for over 150 years across five generations of the same family. Your guided tour is led personally by the 会長 — the fifth-generation chairman — who will walk you through the entire sake-making process: how the rice is selected and prepared, how fermentation works, how the sake is stored and aged, and the specific conditions that make northern Ibaraki's pure mountain water so well suited to brewing.
One of the most remarkable parts of the story is how the brewery survived the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The barrels, the bottles, the equipment — and the family's resolve to continue — all have a story from that day that is genuinely moving to hear firsthand.
After the tour, sit down for a tasting of Okabe's range — including their flagship Matsuzakari, which has won gold at the National New Sake Competition 13 times. Your favourites can be purchased to take home.
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Hitachiota is the birthplace of Hitachi Aki Soba — a celebrated buckwheat variety renowned across Japan for its quality and depth of flavour. Buckwheat has been grown in this mountain region for generations, shaped by the same cold climate and clean water that defines everything produced here. A bowl of freshly made soba in the place where it originated is a very different experience from soba eaten anywhere else.
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From here, the afternoon opens up in two directions.
For those who want to stay in the world of history and beauty — a visit to Seizanso, the former retirement residence of Tokugawa Mitsukuni, and the adjacent Tougen garden. Stroll through 8,000 square metres of koi ponds, stone bridges, and seasonal landscapes, then settle into the traditional tea house for a bowl of matcha. A perfect, unhurried end to the day.
For those who want to go deeper into northern Ibaraki's spiritual heart — combine this with the Oiwa Shrine experience. Ancient forest, shrine priestess, and a private ritual ceremony that few visitors anywhere in Japan ever witness.
Looking to make a full day of it?
The brewery sits at the heart of some of northern Ibaraki's most rewarding experiences. After your morning with the Okabe family, consider adding:
Ancient cedar forest, a shrine priestess guide, and a private ritual ceremony. One of Japan's oldest sacred sites, just a short drive away.
Oiwa Shrine Tour
Northern Ibaraki sits along the Pacific coast, and its fish markets are a window into a seafood culture most visitors never discover. Fresh catches, local traders, and the kind of authentic atmosphere that disappears the moment tourists find it.
Fish Market Tour
One of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in Japan, stretching across a dramatic gorge in Hitachiota. In May, hundreds of koinobori carp streamers are displayed across the valley in a display unlike anything else in Japan. For the adventurous — bungee jumping is available from the bridge.
Ryujinkyo Suspension Bridge
The former retirement residence of Tokugawa Mitsukuni — one of the most celebrated figures of the Edo period — nestled quietly in the mountains of Hitachiota. The surrounding Tougen garden spans 8,000 square metres of koi ponds, stone bridges, and seasonal landscapes. A traditional tea house on the grounds serves matcha in the classical style — a moment of stillness that connects you directly to the Edo period.
Seizanso & Tougen Garden
All add-on activities can be arranged by Hitamichi. Let us know your interests when you enquire and we'll build your perfect day.
