Shimamoto: Suntory's Yamazaki Distillery and Minase-jingu Shrine

Walk from JR Yamazaki Station to tour Suntory's Yamazaki Distillery, then head to Minase-jingu Shrine, where the famous spring water "Rikyu no Mizu" bubbles forth. Finally, reflect on Kusunoki Masashige's parting at Sakurai at the Sakurai-no-Eki Site in front of JR Shimamoto Station.

History and Regional Charm

Yamazaki in Shimamoto Town, Osaka Prefecture, lies at the foot of Mount Tenno, where three rivers—the Katsura, the Uji, and the Kizu—converge. Prone to deep mist, it is a village of famous water celebrated in Man'yo poetry and renowned as a place where the tea master Sen no Rikyu built a teahouse. Drawn by this water and humid climate, Torii Shinjiro, the founder of Kotobukiya (later Suntory), began construction of Japan's first malt whisky distillery here in 1923. Passing through the town from Yamazaki to Sakurai is the Saigoku Kaido, the Edo-period name for the Sanyo Road. As a main route linking Kyoto with the western provinces, it was traveled by daimyo lords participating in alternate attendance (sankin kotai). Near the road stand Minase-jingu Shrine, built on the site of Minase Rikyu, a detached palace that Retired Emperor Go-Toba considered his beloved home, and the Sakurai-no-Eki Site, where Kusunoki Masashige parted from his heir Masatsura in 1336. Over the distance of a single train station, you can explore a century of whisky-making alongside history connected to Retired Emperor Go-Toba and Kusunoki Masashige.

Key Highlights

• ​Yamazaki Distillery​​: Completed in 1924, this is Suntory's whisky distillery. In 1929, Japan's first authentic domestic whisky, "Shirofuda" (White Label), was launched from here. Visitor reception is located at the Yamazaki Whisky Museum, housed in a building that has stood since the distillery's early operations. It produces a wide variety of unblended whiskies by combining wooden washbacks and stainless steel fermentation tanks, pot stills of diverse shapes and sizes, and various aging casks.
• ​Minase-jingu Shrine​​: A shrine dedicated to Emperor Go-Toba, Emperor Tsuchimikado, and Emperor Juntoku. Its origin dates back to 1240, when a memorial hall (Mieido) was erected on the site of the detached palace to pray for the soul of the retired emperor, who passed away in Oki. The Kyakuden (guest hall), the oldest structure on the grounds, and the thatched teahouse Toshin-seki are designated as national Important Cultural Properties. The shrine also features the "Rikyu no Mizu" spring, the only water source in Osaka Prefecture selected among Japan's 100 Remarkable Waters in 1985.
• ​Sakurai-no-Eki Site​​: The setting of the "Parting at Sakurai" depicted in the chronicle Taiheiki, designated as a national Historic Site in 1921. In 1336, Kusunoki Masashige left Kyoto to intercept the massive army of Ashikaga Takauji and sent Masatsura back to Kawachi from this location. Today it is a historic park, featuring several stone monuments including the Monument of Lord Kusunoki and Son's Farewell, erected in 1876.

Recommended Route and Duration

The estimated time required is about 4 hours. The Yamazaki Distillery is about a 10-minute walk from both JR Yamazaki Station and Hankyu Oyamazaki Station. Admission to the Yamazaki Whisky Museum requires an advance reservation, and distillery tours require an advance lottery booking, so begin your tour at the distillery according to your reserved time. Because there is no general parking and drivers are not permitted to participate in tastings, please visit by train. After the tour, walk about 850 meters south to Minase-jingu Shrine. The water collection point for Rikyu no Mizu is to the left after passing through the shrine gate (shinmon). The chozu water basin, where water flows from a bamboo pipe, is meant for purification before prayer, so please refrain from gathering water there. Walking about 930 meters southwest from the shrine brings you to the Sakurai-no-Eki Site in front of JR Shimamoto Station. At the Shimamoto Municipal Historical and Cultural Museum across from the site, you can view a replica of the portrait of Emperor Go-Toba, a National Treasure belonging to Minase-jingu Shrine. For your return, trains can be boarded at JR Shimamoto Station. Shimamoto Town guides a "Saigoku Kaido Course" covering about 3.2 kilometers, which involves walking one station between JR Shimamoto Station and Yamazaki Station while visiting Minase-jingu Shrine and the Sakurai-no-Eki Site.

Experience Summary

In this village of famous water at the foot of Mount Tenno, visit the distillery where Japanese whisky-making began and observe the craftsmanship behind creating varied base whiskies. Next, encounter the acclaimed spring water "Rikyu no Mizu" at the site of the detached palace beloved by Retired Emperor Go-Toba, and conclude by reflecting on history at the place where Kusunoki Masashige parted from his son. From whisky making to the tales of an emperor and a samurai warrior, this journey allows you to walk through the layered eras of a small town along the Saigoku Kaido.