The Resurrection of a Historic Sake Brewery in Akita

The space, entirely renovated, has become a place of discovery and meeting for tourists and locals in Akita Prefecture, Japan. The Hikobé brewery had previously only undergone minor changes since its construction in 1688 and had fallen into disrepair. However, it is located in one of the most distinguished regions in the country for sake production: Akita is known for having alcohol with a more pronounced flavour than in the rest of the country, which is due to the heavy snowfall on the rice fields throughout the winter.

A meeting place

The architects at Sugawaradaisuke retained the original façade of the establishment, but gave the interior a complete overhaul to connect the different spaces. The Hikobé brewery, open since May 2018, has become a venue suitable for hosting events. As well as its historic brewery, it also houses a small café-bar, a shop, and a tasting room. The establishment encourages conversation between visitors before they head out to visit one of the other dozen breweries in the area.

More information on the Hikobé brewery can be found on its website (only in Japanese).