Where the Yeast Starter Was Raised
Machiya Club (Former Nishikatsu Sake Brewery) Yeast Starter Storehouse (まちや倶楽部（旧西勝酒造）酛蔵) is an early Meiji period (1868 to 1882) earthen storehouse in Suwaichō Naka, Omihachiman, Shiga Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 17 February 2022. It was built for making moto, the yeast starter for sake.
It stands just east of the koji storehouse. The moto is a small, concentrated batch of steamed rice, koji and water in which yeast is grown in large numbers; it then seeds the full-scale fermentation. In the Nishikatsu sequence it comes after rice washing and koji making and before the brewing storehouses.
A Building for the Trickiest Step
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it simply as the earthen storehouse where the yeast starter was made, and notes that, like the koji storehouse, it has a wooden floor. Raising a starter demands careful temperature control and is one of the most labour-intensive stages of traditional brewing. Giving it a building of its own shows how thoroughly Nishikatsu divided its work by room.
It was registered on the same criterion as the other eight, its contribution to the historic landscape. In the scene of brewing that the Agency saw in these buildings, the Machiya Club yeast starter storehouse is the stage just before rice becomes sake.
A Hall with the Old Vats Still in Place
Today the building is let as a rental hall called Kyu-Motogura. According to Machiya Club, the large wooden vats used in brewing are still inside, standing within the earthen walls as if the next season were about to begin.
It suits meetings of any size and small exhibitions, with toilets, power and running water. There is no air conditioning and no Wi-Fi, and the operator warns that high summer and deep winter can be hard going despite the thick walls.
Visiting the Yeast Starter Storehouse
You can go inside by booking the hall or by attending an event held there. Rates are 3,850 yen per 3 hours on weekdays and 5,775 yen per 3 hours on weekends and holidays, tax included. A site visit beforehand is requested, and because there are homes nearby, amplified or loud events at night are discouraged. Enquiries go to the main Machiya Club number, 0748-32-4654.
The exterior can be seen from the lane through the site. There is no published photography policy. Directions are on the Machiya Club (Former Nishikatsu Sake Brewery) group page. Information checked on 25 September 2026.
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Q&A
- Can I go inside the Machiya Club (Former Nishikatsu Sake Brewery) Yeast Starter Storehouse?
- Yes, by booking it as the Kyu-Motogura rental hall or by attending an event there. The exterior is visible from the lane through the site.
- How much does it cost to rent the Machiya Club Yeast Starter Storehouse?
- 3,850 yen per 3 hours on weekdays and 5,775 yen per 3 hours on weekends and holidays, tax included. There is no air conditioning or Wi-Fi.
- When was the Machiya Club Yeast Starter Storehouse built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the early Meiji period (1868 to 1882). It was registered on 17 February 2022.
- What is moto, the yeast starter made in the Machiya Club storehouse?
- A small, concentrated batch of steamed rice, koji and water in which yeast is grown in quantity. It seeds the main fermentation.
- Are any brewing tools left in the Machiya Club Yeast Starter Storehouse?
- According to Machiya Club, the large wooden vats used for brewing remain inside.
Basic Information
| Name | Machiya Club (Former Nishikatsu Sake Brewery) Yeast Starter Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 15-1 Suwaicho Naka, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2022/2/17 (Reiwa 4) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Not confirmed (not stated in the Agency's report) |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs records |
| Public Access | Available as the Kyu-Motogura rental hall by reservation. Exterior visible from the lane through the site |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Machiya Club (Former Nishikatsu Sake Brewery) Yeast Starter Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00014177
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Council for Cultural Affairs report of 19 November 2021 on Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings)
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/shokai/yukei_kenzobutsu/pdf/93601801_02.pdf
- Machiya Club: Rental spaces
- https://machiya-club.org/kashi-space/
Last verified: 2026.09.24
