The east wing facing the west wing across the founding site
Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing (賀茂鶴酒造一号蔵東棟, Kamotsuru Shuzō Ichigōgura Higashitō) is a two-story Dozo-zukuri earthen-walled sake brewhouse from the early Meiji period (1868 to 1882) on the founding site of Kamotsuru Sake Brewery in Saijo Honmachi, Higashihiroshima City, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on June 28, 2017.
It faces the long west wing across the founding site. At 23 meters by 7.6 meters, with a building area of 175 square meters, it is a plain rectangle beside the L-shaped west wing. Today it is part of the brewery shop, and the brewery's tours start here, in what the company calls its film room.
Two finishes: hidden posts outside, exposed posts inside
The roof is gabled (Kirizuma-zukuri) and covered in reddish pantiles. The plastered walls are finished two ways: outside, the posts are buried in the plaster (Ōkabe); inside, they are left exposed (Shinkabe).
The roof is framed in the Japanese Wagoya manner, with many timbers cut to an octagonal section. The ground floor is an earthen-floored work space, and the agency singles out its generous clear height from sill to lintel, practical for a floor where heavy tubs and tools were moved.
Dating and registration of the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing
The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing to the early Meiji period, while Higashihiroshima City's Historic Site materials place it in the mid-Meiji period. This article follows the national database and notes the city's view.
It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, and in 2024 the No. 1 Brewhouse became part of the Saijo Sake Breweries Historic Site.
Visiting the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing
As part of the shop, the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing is open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last entry 5:45 p.m.), free and without booking.
Booked brewhouse tours (2,000 yen) begin here with a film before guests are taken to a working brewhouse. Even without a tour you can see the tall ground floor and the exposed posts along the inner walls.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hiroshima
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing
- [ Itsukushima Shrine & Hiroshima Peace Memorial ]
Q&A
- When was the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing built?
- The national database says the early Meiji period (1868 to 1882); the city's Historic Site materials say mid-Meiji.
- Can I go inside the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing?
- Yes, it is part of the brewery shop, open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last entry 5:45 p.m.) and free.
- How large is the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing?
- 23 meters by 7.6 meters, with a building area of 175 square meters, on two floors.
- What should I look for in the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing?
- The exposed posts on the inner walls, the octagonal roof timbers and the tall earthen-floored ground story.
- Do brewery tours use the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing?
- Yes. Booked brewhouse tours gather in its film room before going to a working brewhouse.
Basic Information
| Name | Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing (賀茂鶴酒造一号蔵東棟, Kamotsuru Shuzō Ichigōgura Higashitō) |
|---|---|
| Location | 708 Saijo Honmachi, Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure), No. 34-0228 |
| Year Designated | Registered June 28, 2017 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-story dozo-zukuri, tiled roof, 23 meters by 7.6 meters, building area 175 square meters |
| Owner | Kamotsuru Sake Brewing Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Open as the brewery shop (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., free) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse East Wing
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00011817
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse West Wing
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00011816
- Higashihiroshima City: Kamotsuru Sake Brewery No. 1 Brewhouse (Historic Site, Saijo Sake Breweries)
- https://www.city.higashihiroshima.lg.jp/soshiki/kyoikuiinkaishogaigakushu/3/11/bunkazai/town/saijo/sakaguragun/39657.html
- Kamotsuru Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.: No. 1 Brewhouse Shop
- https://www.kamotsuru.jp/tour/
- Kamotsuru Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.: Brewhouse Tours (Japanese)
- https://www.kamotsuru.jp/tour/touji/
Last verified: 2026.10.01
