Yamazaki Whisky Museum

In short

A building remaining from the time operations began, within Suntory's Yamazaki Distillery in Yamazaki, Shimamoto Town, at the foot of Mount Tenno. Torii Shinjiro, the founder of Kotobukiya (later Suntory), began construction of the distillery as Japan's first malt whisky distillery in 1923, and it was completed the following year in 1924.

• ​Tour Reception and Exhibits​​: The museum serves as the reception desk for guided tours and on-site visits, and inside, you can see exhibits on the diverse production of various unblended whiskies (genshu) and the meticulous crafting of whiskies to withstand long maturation
• ​Village of Famous Waters​​: An abundant supply of high-quality groundwater wells up here, and three rivers converge, making it a land prone to dense fog. Yamazaki is a village of famous waters, celebrated in Manyoshu poetry and known as a place where Sen no Rikyu built a teahouse
• ​Mizunara Oak Casks​​: Casks made from Japanese mizunara oak, which the distillery began using during and after the war, have over many years come to impart aromas reminiscent of sandalwood (byakudan) and agarwood (kyara) to the whisky

History and Highlights

​Yamazaki Distillery​ is a Suntory whisky distillery located in Yamazaki, Shimamoto Town, at the foot of Mount Tenno to the southwest of Kyoto. In 1923, Torii Shinjiro, the founder of Kotobukiya (later Suntory), began construction of Japan's first malt whisky distillery, which was completed the following year in 1924. In 1929, Japan's first authentic domestic whisky, "Shirofuda" (White Label), was launched from here.

This location was chosen because an abundant supply of high-quality groundwater suitable for whisky making wells up here, and the humid climate met the conditions essential for maturation. The area is where three rivers—the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers—converge, making it a land prone to dense fog. Yamazaki is a village of famous waters celebrated in Manyoshu poetry and known as a place where the tea master Sen no Rikyu built a teahouse.

In 2003, the single malt whisky "Yamazaki 12 Years Old" won Japan's first gold award at an international spirits competition. In 2023, marking its 100th anniversary, the facilities were renovated; an entrance gate repurposing copper from distillation pot stills and a "forest" planted with trees and plants native to the mountains of Shimamoto Town and Oyamazaki Town were installed at the entrance.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Yamazaki Whisky Museum​​: A building remaining from the time operations began on the premises, it serves as the reception desk for guided tours and on-site visits. Inside, you can see exhibits on the diverse production methods of various unblended whiskies (genshu) and the meticulous crafting process to withstand long maturation.
• ​Crafting a Diverse Variety of Whiskies​​: By using both wooden washbacks (kioke) and stainless steel fermenters during fermentation, pot stills of varying sizes and shapes during distillation, and various types of casks during maturation, a diverse variety of whiskies is created.
• ​Mizunara Oak Casks​​: When casks became difficult to obtain during and after World War II, the distillery began using casks made from Japanese mizunara oak. Over the course of many years, these casks have come to impart aromas reminiscent of sandalwood and agarwood to the whisky.

Travel Tips

Reservations are required to tour the facility. As there is no general parking, please visit using public transportation such as trains. Visitors under 20 years old cannot enter alone, and those driving vehicles cannot participate in tastings. Located about 850 meters south of the distillery is Minase-jingu Shrine, known for its famous water "Rikyu no Mizu," which can be visited together on a walk.