Taste the finest sake Japan has to offer in Saitama, only a stone’s throw away from Tokyo.

Matsuoka Brewery, founded in 1851, is known for the Mikadomatsu brand which has won gold an impressive eight consecutive years at the National Sake Awards. It draws water from the nearby Chichibu Mountains, where a limestone layer produces water that is mineral-rich yet feels soft. Visitors can reserve a tour of the facilities with tasting available. Give yourself time to look around the shop in a renovated old rice mill and maybe even try soft-serve ice cream made with daiginjo, which is among the highest-quality sake made.

Close to the scenic Nagatoro’s scenic river, Nagatorogura has nearly 300 years of history and also uses local rice to produce their brews, like their junmai daiginjo, which won a gold prize at The Fine SAKE Award, Japan, or their junmai gingo, which won a gold prize at the Kura Master event in Paris. You can try these for yourself at the store, where you can also buy local crafts, and peek into the facilities to see how sake is made.