Hakutsuru is the dominant sake brewer in Kōbe's Nada-ku, one of Japan's major sake-brewing centres. The self-guided tour through its historic, wood-built former brewery building (the current, giant concrete factory is behind it) is a fascinating look into traditional sake-making methods; life-sized models appear on old equipment, and a pamphlet and videos in English help explain. A free sake tasting is available after the tour.
Take the Hanshin line eight stops east from Sannomiya to Sumiyoshi Station (¥190, seven minutes if you switch trains at Mikage, 15 minutes if you take the futsū (local) train; express trains do not stop). Exit the station, walk south to the elevated highway and cross the pedestrian overpass, make a U-turn at the bottom of the steps, take your first left, then a right; the entrance is on the right. Use the blue-and-white crane logo atop the factory as your guide.
