The city of Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture may be best known for its griddled gyōza dumplings, but a group of sake makers and chefs are working to show that the area has much more to offer culinary-minded visitors.

Leveraging the proximity of their sake breweries to Tokyo, longtime friends Kenichi Shimazaki of Shimazaki Shuzo; Shigeki Tonoike of Tonoike Shuzoten; Yasuhiro Watanabe of Watanabe Sahei Shoten; and Tomoyuki Katayama of Katayama Shuzo formed the Yottemikke Sake Tourism Association last year to entice travelers to explore the prefecture’s gastronomic delights.

Tonoike Shuzoten, located in the pottery town of Mashiko, features a charming museum with artifacts from sake-making history. | COURTESY OF SAKE VOYAGE
Tonoike Shuzoten, located in the pottery town of Mashiko, features a charming museum with artifacts from sake-making history. | COURTESY OF SAKE VOYAGE