Saijo, in Higashihiroshima, is one of the three most important sake-brewing towns in Japan, alongside Nada in Kobe and Fushimi in Kyoto. What makes it exceptional for visitors is its compactness: within a few minutes' walk of the station stand around half a dozen historic breweries, their white plastered walls, black-tiled roofs and tall red-brick chimneys forming an unmistakable townscape. Most open their doors to visitors with free or inexpensive tastings, wells of the soft local water you can drink from, and shops selling their own labels. It makes an easy, self-guided half-day from Hiroshima city.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima |
| Hours | Breweries typically ~9:00–17:00 |
| Admission | Many tastings free; some small fees |
| Time needed | Half day |
| Best time | October for the sake festival |
What to Do
- Half a dozen historic breweries within walking distance.
- White walls, black tiles and tall red-brick chimneys.
- Free or inexpensive tastings at most breweries.
- Wells of the soft local brewing water to drink from.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with the Sake Festival in October.
- Pair with a return to Hiroshima city, about 40 minutes away.
- Read our Hiroshima overview .
Getting There
- By train: JR to Saijo Station, with the breweries a few minutes' walk south.
- From Hiroshima: about 40 minutes by JR Sanyo Line.
Tips
Don’t drive — the whole point is tasting, and the breweries are all within a short walk of Saijo Station. Pick up the brewery map at the station, taste the soft local water from the wells to understand what makes Saijo sake gentle, and go in October if you can, when the Sake Festival turns the town into a huge tasting event.
