Quest to the Unreachable: Japan's 2nd Most Remote Distillery
Japan's 2nd Most Remote Distillery: 1st in Isolation
Hey, I’m Casey. Welcome to our newsletter, sharing the startup journey of Kamui Whisky K.K. We’ve been busy, but when we aren’t overwhelmed, we’ll share a story as we craft up a whisky distillery on a remote, frozen, volcanic island in the most northern part of Japan.
While it may take us a few more years to claim the title of best distillery, there's one accolade we proudly hold – that of being the most remote distillery in Japan. I am coldly reminded of this distinction as I write this post, stranded in Wakkanai for two days due to canceled ferries, unable to return to Rishiri.
Last month we were invited to visit our friends in Shizuoka, at Ikawa Distillery. They had visited us in Rishiri earlier, and now it was our turn to reciprocate the gesture. Naively, I assumed it would be a straightforward trip. In my typical entrepreneurial way, I failed to grasp the challenges of the upcoming journey. I thought we were about to embark on a trip to a seemingly close Shizuoka (if departing from Tokyo) but instead, it ended up being into the deep, very remote mountain interior of Shizuoka. It turned out to be quite a unique adventure.
Let’s Meet at Shizuoka Station
That was the guidance we received.
To get to Ikawa from Shizuoka station, itself about an hour Shinkansen from Tokyo, was then a 4 hour drive on predominantly small, unpaved roads, with cutback after cutback. It was windy.
The seating arrangements in the van were based on likelihood of car sickness. Those likely to throw up sat in the front. Those with stronger stomachs sat in the back.
We’d be in those seats for 8 hours. 4 hours there, 4 hours back.
Much of the journey was beyond a security checkpoint. The distillery is located deep in the Shizuoka region of Japan's Alps. There is a major initiative to build a Maglev rail through the mountains, hence the barrier to normal entry, and the requirement to wear safety helmets.
The remoteness of the distillery had us pass through beautiful, pristine scenery.
The Ikawa team and the Kamui Whisky team all smiles even after hours of cutbacks.
The surrounding mountains:
Only about 60 people were able to visit Ikawa distillery last year as to get onto the tour you had to sign up for a lottery to secure a space. Only a few slots were opened up for a tour each month, as the company has to ferry you in with the roads closed to normal traffic, and the trip needs to be done by a van rather than a larger bus because the roads are too narrow with too many tight cutbacks.
A Humble Statement of Fact
Juzan, the company behind, Ikawa Distillery own the largest single track of land in Japan. Juzan itself being created from the forestry division of one of Japan’s largest paper companies, Tokai Paper.
Arriving to Ikawa Distillery
The final few hundred meters of the journey we did on foot, to better appreciate the view, the clean, crisp air, and take all the nature.
The Distillery
Geeking Out
We share much in our philosophies with Ikawa - a love of nature, a deep, deep respect for our environment, the desire to make world class whisky, new to the industry, award winning new makes, a passion not for the profits but for the journey, the community, and sustainability. But one area where our approaches diverge, at least at this point, is the analytical approach. Here at Kamui a lot of our whisky making is by feel, by gut, instinct, craft. Ikawa has an incredible analytical approach - everything that can be measured and studied is. A lot of research, and benchmarking, is done to find out exactly what is working and then repeat it.
For a new distillery they have an enviable lab for analytical geekiness to thrive:
The tour ended with not only a tasting, but a “Quiz”. It was all in good fun, really for Ikawa to learn and understand reactions to their different makes.
After the initial surprise that we’d have a test, we all got into it and thoroughly enjoyed the moment.
A Special Momento
We’ll be joining Ikawa, our remote brethren, in making these special distillery moments cards. Only to be given out to someone who actually visits us in person. If you can collect both you should receive some sort of special prize for visiting Japan’s two most remote distilleries.
While I believe we are the remotest distillery in Japan, Ikawa’s team doesn’t have access to a conbini (the nearest one is hours away). The team resides in a company dorm, rotating out for R&R and a break from the isolation every 10 days. Our Rishiri distillation team has quick access to the shopping Mecca (joke) that is Seicomart, and live in a town, with (some) social and recreational access. Our logistics make our production schedule complicated, but the deep isolation at Ikawa makes theirs even more challenging.
Remotest distillery in Japan? - Rishiri Distillery (Kamui Whisky)
Most Isolated distillery in Japan? - Ikawa Distillery
Agree? Come visit us both! (but you’ll need plenty of slack in your schedule to do it! 🤣)
We’re Closed for the Winter
At the end of December the team closed up the distillery. Drained the pipes. Then scattered to different parts of Japan, and the world. It's too dangerous, too cold, and the yeast doesn't perform its job of making alcohol in Rishiri's cold winter. We’ll be back in March.
Fantastic nature shots, and what awesome investments you’ve both made in pairing whiskey with nature. Glad your team have made friends in the business and nice that you can share trials and trials and tribulations with them. Simply amazed.