Classic Distillery Tour
At Shizuoka Distillery, every day is a whisky festival!
Our Distillery Tour is open on both weekdays and weekends, welcoming everyone to experience the world of whisky-making. As you walk through the production area, you’ll discover every step of the process up close.
Built with an abundance of cedar and cypress grown in Shizuoka, our distillery exists in harmony with its natural surroundings. Here, we craft whisky that truly reflects the character of Shizuoka.
See equipment relocated from the former Karuizawa Distillery, the world’s first fermentation vessels made from locally grown Japanese cedar, and pot stills believed to be the only ones in the world heated directly by burning local firewood. These are sights and production methods found nowhere else.
In our warehouse, thousands of casks quietly mature, waiting for their whisky to reach its full potential.
Tour Information
Tour Details
Explore every corner of GAIAFLOW SHIZUOKA DISTILLERY on a guided tour led by our knowledgeable staff.
As you walk through the distillery, you’ll discover each stage of our distinctive whisky-making process with clear, engaging explanations.
After the tour, you’re welcome to enjoy a tasting featuring Shizuoka Distillery’s core range and a selection of whiskies and spirits imported by Gaiaflow.
If you find a favorite, many of the products you tasted—including distillery-exclusive bottlings and other exclusive items available only at Shizuoka Distillery—can be purchased in the distillery shop.
Capacity
General visitors: up to 12 participants on weekdays and up to 14 participants on weekends and holidays.
Capacity may be reduced depending on the circumstances on the day.
Private Cask Owners: Up to 3 guests
Admission
- Ages 20 and over: ¥1,100 per person (tax included)
- Under 20: Free (must be accompanied by a guardian aged 20 or over)
- Private Cask Owners and up to two accompanying guests: Free
Optional tastings in the tasting room are available for an additional charge.
Audio Guide Languages
The tour is conducted in Japanese. However, you can access a designated website on your own smartphone to use an audio guide available in 10 languages.
The audio guide is available in Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Thai.
- The audio guide is available free of charge.
- Visit the website provided at reception to play the audio guide. No app installation is required.
- Free Wi-Fi is available on the distillery grounds.
- If you have headphones or earphones, we recommend bringing them for a clearer listening experience.
Owner Benefits
Owners of a Shizuoka Private Cask enjoy the following benefits when joining a distillery tour:
- Complimentary admission for the owner and up to two accompanying guests.
- Warehouse Tasting – After the standard distillery tour, owners can visit the warehouse where their cask is maturing, taste spirit drawn from their own cask, and fill a bottle to take home on the spot.
Bottle filling is available for ¥2,000 per 200 ml bottle.
Advance reservation is required at least one week before your visit, as preparation is needed.
Duration
60-minute Guided Tour + Paid Tasting Experience
(The guided tour of the production process takes approximately 60 minutes, followed by up to 60 minutes in the tasting room. Guests are free to leave at any time after the tour.)
Tour Schedule
Weekdays
11:00–13:00 / 13:45–15:45
Weekends and Public Holidays
9:30–11:30 / 12:20–14:20 / 15:00–17:00
Check-in begins 30 minutes before the start of each tour.
Please note that the above schedule is subject to change, and tours may not be available on certain dates. Please check our reservation website for the latest availability and schedule.
Please note:
- Whisky production is suspended on Saturdays, Sundays, and during the summer period (from early August to late September). Distillery tours are still available during these periods; however, visitors will not be able to observe whisky production in operation.
- Our traditional direct-fired distillation is normally carried out on weekdays during the production season. Please note that the schedule may change depending on operational circumstances.
Distillery Shop
Opening Hours: 9:30 AM–5:00 PM
Closed: Open daily
Please note that the shop may be closed for certain periods during the summer and New Year holidays.
Discover a carefully selected range of whiskies and goods, including exclusive Shizuoka Distillery original items and bottles from our imported brands.
Please note that whisky tastings are available exclusively to guests participating in a distillery tour or other eligible experiences. Tastings are not available to visitors using the shop only.
Access
By Local Bus from JR Shizuoka Station
Approximately 60 minutes by Shizutetsu Justline bus.
Please board from Bus Stop No. 9 at “Shizuoka Station”.
- Abe Line (No. 118, bound for Kami-ochiai): Get off at “Okunoharakami” and walk approximately 1 minute.
or
- Abe Line (No. 119, bound for Yokozawa): Get off at “Kami-suke” and walk approximately 15 minutes.
Please note that local bus services are limited, so we recommend checking the timetable in advance. Depending on the service, you may need to transfer buses at Rokuban in both directions.
For further information, please visit the Shizutetsu Justline website.
Please also note that bus timetables are revised around the end of March and the end of September each year.
By Taxi or Rental Car
- Approximately 45 minutes from JR Shizuoka Station by taxi or rental car.
- Approximately 20 minutes by car from Shin-Shizuoka IC on the Shin-Tomei Expressway.
Important Information
- The distillery is not air-conditioned. Temperatures inside the production areas may be similar to the outdoor temperature, so please dress appropriately for the weather. The tasting room is air-conditioned.
Please be aware that there are stairs and uneven surfaces throughout the distillery. As there are no chairs or seating areas along the tour route, the entire tour is conducted standing.
Please note that the distillery is not accessible by wheelchair. Guests who have difficulty walking independently are kindly asked to visit with someone who can provide assistance.
- Tours are conducted in Japanese only. English information sheets are available upon request. Please ask at reception when you check in.
- Please refrain from bringing food or beverages into the distillery, with the exception of soft drinks.
- No open flames are permitted anywhere on the premises. Smoking is prohibited throughout the entire site.
- Please be aware that work may be taking place on the premises during your visit. Please take care and follow all safety instructions.
- Pets are not permitted inside the distillery buildings.
- Alcohol consumption is permitted only for persons aged 20 or over. Drinking alcohol under the age of 20 is prohibited by Japanese law.
- We do not serve alcohol to guests who will be driving. Drink-driving is prohibited by Japanese law.
How to Book
Please make your reservation through our online booking site.
Reservations cannot be made by telephone.
Tasting from the Cask Tour
This tour includes a distillery visit and a whisky tasting in the warehouse. Samples are drawn directly from the cask using a special tool called a valinch, and you will taste two different types of whisky.
Enjoy a memorable tasting surrounded by casks of maturing whisky. If you find a whisky you love, you can also bottle it yourself and purchase it to take home.
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