The Oldest Whisky Distillery in Hokuriku
The Saburomaru Distillery (三郎丸蒸留所) is a whisky distillery building of the early Showa period (1926 to 1945) in Saburomaru, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on August 6, 2025 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey timber building with a tiled roof, covering 803 square metres, moved here around 1954 and restored in 2017; registration number 16-0177.
A Converted Factory Building
The Saburomaru Distillery building stands in the northwest of the site: a two-storey timber building 36 by 22 metres under a gabled roof, its walls sprayed with mortar (Agency for Cultural Affairs). A raised ventilator runs along the middle of the ridge, both floors have continuous bands of windows, and king-post trusses are exposed inside.
A factory building converted to new use, it is the oldest whisky distillery in Hokuriku, opened after the war (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its owner, Wakatsuru Shuzo, says the company was founded in Saburomaru in 1862 and has made whisky for more than 60 years since 1952; in 2017 it restored the ageing distillery with help from crowdfunding.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape, as the oldest whisky distillery in Hokuriku.
What to Look For
Look for the ridge ventilator, the bands of windows and the king-post trusses inside (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
No official information on distillery tours or fees was confirmed; check with the owner.
Q&A
- When was the Saburomaru Distillery building built?
- In the early Showa period; it was moved here around 1954.
- Why is it a cultural property?
- It is the oldest whisky distillery in Hokuriku.
- What are its architectural features?
- A ridge ventilator, window bands and king-post trusses.
- Since when has it made whisky?
- Since 1952 (Wakatsuru Shuzo).
- When was the Saburomaru Distillery registered?
- On August 6, 2025 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Saburomaru Distillery (三郎丸蒸留所) |
|---|---|
| Location | 188-1 and others, Saburomaru, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2025/08/06 (Reiwa 7) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey timber, tiled roof, 803 m², 36 by 22 m |
| Owner | Wakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Visiting conditions not confirmed |
References
- Saburomaru Distillery (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00015435
- Response to the Japanese whisky labelling standard (Wakatsuru Shuzo, 2021, Japanese)
- https://www.wakatsuru.co.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/jw_info.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.16