Saijo, a city at the foot of Mount Ishizuchi in eastern Ehime, is celebrated as a town of water. Pure snowmelt and rainfall from the sacred mountain filter down through the ground and rise back up all over the city as ‘uchinuki’, free-flowing artesian spring water so clean and abundant that residents draw it for drinking and cooking from spouts around town. This exceptional soft water is the foundation of Saijo’s sake brewing: local breweries use it to produce clean, refined sake much prized in the region. Visiting the town, you can taste the spring water at its public sources, tour or sample at breweries, and understand how good water makes good sake. It is a refreshing, characterful stop in eastern Ehime.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Saijo, Ehime |
| Hours | Springs open; breweries vary |
| Admission | Tastings vary |
| Time needed | 1–2 hours |
| Best time | Year-round; winter brewing season |
What to Try
- Clean, refined Saijo sake brewed with spring water.
- The free-flowing ‘uchinuki’ artesian spring water.
- Public water spouts around the town to taste.
- Brewery tours and tastings in the region.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Mount Ishizuchi above the town.
- Pair with taimeshi sea bream rice.
- Read our Ehime overview .
Getting There
- By train: JR to Saijo, then walk to the springs and breweries.
- By car: parking around town and at breweries.
Tips
Taste the pure uchinuki spring water at the public spouts around town to understand the base of the sake, and check brewery opening times or tours in advance as these vary. Visit in the winter brewing season for the freshest new sake if you can, buy a bottle brewed with the local water as a souvenir, and combine it with a Mount Ishizuchi trip.
