Tomita Brewing Company

Tomita Sake Brewery is one of the oldest sake breweries in Japan, having been founded in the Muromachi period around 1534 AD (Tenbun 3). The brewery is located in Kinomoto, Nagahama City, a post town along the Old Hokkoku Highway at the northernmost tip of Lake Biwa. It is said that it was a large town where many people, including Sankin Kotai, came and went. The main brand is “Shichihonyari,” which comes from “Shichibonyari of Shizugatake.” In 1583 (Tensho 11), the year after the Honnoji Incident, seven young samurai led Hideyoshi to victory through their bravery at the Battle of Shizugatake, fought between Hideyoshi Hashiba and Katsuie Shibata. The sake named after these seven brave men has been popular for many years as the “sake of victory.” Based on the idea that local sake can only be made by using local ingredients, we use underground water from the Okuibuki mountain range and carefully selected raw rice, mainly from local Shiga Prefecture, to make sake, bringing out the full flavor of the rice. The sake brewing is carried out. The storehouse built in the Edo period is still in use. The plaque on display is engraved with the words “Seven Yari” written by Rosanjin Kitaoji when he lodged with the Tomita family.