Homei Shuzo is a long-established Japanese sake brewery based in Gofukumachi, Tamba-Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture, with an additional brewing facility known as Ajima Brewery in Osawa 1-chome. Founded in 1797, during Japan’s Edo period, the company has more than 200 years of history. It produces a diverse range of beverages, including traditional sake under the Homei brand, liqueurs made with local specialties, shochu, and distinctive sake developed using musical vibrations during fermentation.
Horoyoi Jokagura is Homei Shuzo’s brewery museum and visitor facility, located in the historic castle town of Tamba-Sasayama. The main building and brewing warehouse were registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties in 2003. The historic Nishio residence, built more than two centuries ago, was renovated and opened to the public, allowing visitors to explore the heritage of sake production in an authentic setting.
Inside, displays introduce the traditional sake-making process and explain the tools once used by brewers. Visitors can learn about the techniques of the Tamba Toji, the skilled master brewers of the Tamba region, whose knowledge has helped shape the area’s sake-making tradition. The historic buildings and their traditional atmosphere offer a glimpse into the life of a working brewery in earlier times.
The exhibition includes old sake-making tools and areas associated with traditional brewing, such as the rice-washing area, the kettle room, and the koji-making room. Explanatory panels introduce the stages of production, from preparing the rice to cultivating koji mold and fermenting the mash. Until 1975, sake was brewed at this site; production was subsequently consolidated at the company’s Ajima facility.
After exploring the museum, visitors can sample selected Homei sake and liqueurs made with local ingredients, subject to availability. The shop also offers beverages and regional products to take home. Among the distinctive products are Roran, a Japanese-style liqueur made with Tamba black soybeans, and Marron de Kiss, a chestnut liqueur inspired by Tamba chestnuts. These specialties offer a different way to discover the flavors of the region.
The brewery began in 1797 under the name Nishio Shuzo. In 1945, thirteen breweries in the Sasayama area merged, bringing their sake production together under the Homei brand. The company continued to develop its products over the following decades, expanding beyond traditional sake to include liqueurs made with regional ingredients and other specialty beverages.
In 1975, sake production was consolidated at Ajima Brewery, where brewing continues today. In 1996, the company adopted its present name, Homei Shuzo Co., Ltd. Its product development has included Roran, made with Tamba black soybeans, and Yume no Tobira, a sake associated with the company’s experimental approach to music-vibration brewing.
The historic main building and brewing warehouse were registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties in 2003, recognizing their architectural and historical value. The brewery also forms part of the heritage associated with Tamba-Sasayama’s traditional folk song, Dekansho-bushi. In 2015, the cultural story known as “Tamba-Sasayama: Dekansho-bushi—Memories of Our Hometown Passed Down Through Folk Songs” was recognized as a Japan Heritage narrative, with Horoyoi Jokagura included among its constituent cultural assets.
The old brewery buildings preserve the atmosphere of the Edo period and reflect the long history of sake production in Tamba-Sasayama. Their continued use as a visitor facility allows the buildings and traditional brewing equipment to be appreciated as part of the area’s living cultural heritage.
Homei Shuzo is also known for experimenting with music-vibration brewing. Music by composers such as Mozart and Beethoven is played in connection with this distinctive approach, reflecting the brewery’s interest in combining traditional craftsmanship with new ideas. Visitors can discover how the company has developed a unique identity while maintaining its roots in regional sake-making culture.
In 2002, an event space called Horoyoi Hall was created within an old brewery building. The hall features a Yamaha grand piano in the Louis XVI style and has hosted concerts and other cultural events. The combination of historic architecture, sake-making heritage, and music gives the site a character that goes beyond a conventional brewery tour.
Horoyoi Jokagura is conveniently located in the historic center of Tamba-Sasayama. From JR Sasayamaguchi Station on the Fukuchiyama Line, take a Shinki Bus bound for Sasayama Bus Terminal and get off at Gofukumachi. The facility is approximately a one-minute walk from the bus stop. By car, it is about 10 minutes from the Tannan-Sasayamaguchi Interchange on the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway. Ajima Brewery is approximately three minutes away by car.
For travelers exploring Tamba-Sasayama’s traditional streets and cultural attractions, a visit to Homei Shuzo offers an engaging introduction to Japanese sake, historic architecture, and the craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.