Tobacco Museum(たばこ資料館)
We’d like to thank you all sincerely for helping us warmly.
So we’ve decided to hold “ 12th Shikoku Sake Matsuri “ (Shikoku RiceWine Festival) on February 26, 2011 (Sat) and we’ll let you know about that.Now just the schedule is fixed , but the detail and the informationabout the festival will be released at any time , please stay tuned .
People in the know , here
“ Awa Ikeda “ (Miyoshi City) is
famous as the hidden producing district of sake .
Awa Ikeda is the basin , situated between the Tsurugi mountains
systems in the south and the Asan Range in the north .
The chill of winter here is very severe in such a basin climate ,the average temperature is 2C in the season .
This particular temperature is proper for the fermentation
of sake and is the same as “Niigata” ,
known as one of the best districts of sake in Japan.
Though Awa Ikeda has five breweries now , previously more than ten reweries existed , used to be called “ Nada ( Kobe , also known as the famous districtof sake ) in Shikoku .
The places which have good sake have delicious rice and water as well .
Tokushima is the origin of the rice suitable for brewing like Yamadanishiki “ as well as the district where the infiltrating water from Yoshinogawa river ,one of the three major rivers in Japan , is constantly gushing out .
At the main place on the 3rd floor of our hall , “ micro brew tasting “ will be held.
A lot of micro brews will be brought together from four prefectures of Shikoku.
As enjoying the variety of micro brews at once , some people said “ Tongue is paralyzed by drinking too much ! “.
Maybe it is pretty difficult to taste every brand.
So we suggest you focus on a certain kind of sake such asdaiginjou (大吟醸酒etc. this time.
And next time try another kind of sake ! Surely you’ll be able to meet your favorite one.
It is also great fun meeting others who loves sake.
Lately we got a lot of young ladies and people from foreign countries.
We hope everyone coming up will talk over drinking and make friends. with each other.
When you feel you’ve drunk too much , we’ll prepare some water , which you can have as a chaser.
Why don’t you compare the differences of the taste among each brewery ?
Unfortunately though bringing some food on snacks is prohibited , you can sample snacks “ kyarabuki” , a butterbur stewed with soy sauce and sugar , which are on sale in the hall.
And please try a local cuisine “ buckwheat soup “ (freeze dried) after you enjoy drinking well.
In addition , the bread made from “ sakekasu” or sake lees , which is so popular that it is sold out every time , is on sale.
To participate in the blind tasting competition held at the same hall , the best answers will be presented the certificates as experts of sake blind tasting sake and a bottle of micro brew.
Even though failing to get them , everyone entering the hall fill out simple our questionnaire , can try to hold “ rattling lottery”.
On the same day , the three major wine cellars in Miyoshi City will be opened to the public.
You can see deep inside of cellars , which usually the public isn’t allowed to enter.
Also you can get the explanation about how to brew sake from brewers, and take a taste of brand new sake.
Each cellar will prepare some presents such as “one cup”( a sake packaged in cup), and so on.
You can take free shuttle buses , if you’d like to visit 芳水酒造（Housui Brewing Cellar）, because it is far to walk from Ikeda.
There are two museums in the Honmachi street(本町通り), keeping the old houses with うだつ（Udatsu- small pillar which is installed on the roof of the Japanese house, fire wall decoration). Udatsu , with thick white wall , windows like a insect cage & some decorations , make us imagine the old days, when this town prospered with Awa Tobacco .
In “ Udatsu House inAwa Ikeda(阿波池田うだつの家)・Tobacco Museum(たばこ資料館”,they introduce the history that private tobacco industry whichhad prospered since the Edo-era had changed to brewing industry such as liquor and miso because of the Tobacco Monopoly Law in Meiji-era.
On the day , also some events will be held at shopping streets ,which they have Awa Ikeda’s micro brew sake , snacks like “oden “ or so , and local specialties.<
You can get “ Shopping & Restaurant Guide Map “ , which introduce aboutinformation of “ Shikoku Sake Matsuri “ and shops & restaurants around the event’s main place .
The map will show you that the three major wine cellars , museums , other events , JR Awa Ikeda Sta., Awa Ikeda Bus Terminal gather within 500m around the main place . So Awa Ikeda is a compact town and you can walk around in a short time.