Go Here!!!: The Tokyo Daytrip Guide to the Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery

Introduction:

The Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery is one of Japan’s largest producers of whisky, falling behind only Suntory and Nikka. Although their product does not rival that of those brands in popularity, its quality equals, if not surpasses them in some areas.

Reservations:

1) Make reservations from 3 months to day-of via web (factory closed on Mondays and holidays): http://www.kirin.co.jp/entertainment/factory/gotemba/tour/ or phone 0550-89-4909. Internet reservations are taken for parties of two or more. You must call direct for day-of reservations or if traveling alone. I was alone, did neither and got lucky as the factory staff was very accommodating. By the way, the tour, free tasting and snacks are all free.

2) Tours are 70 minutes long and are available every half hour from 9am, the last being 3:50pm. Book as early as possible for a chance to score an age-statement bottle. Don’t choose the last two tours if planning to enjoy the paid bar (highly recommended).

3) After booking, use hyperdia.com or google maps to plan your train ride to Gotemba station. There are multiple ways to get there and the total travel time is approximately 3hrs via regular train. If you’re feeling in the mood, book the direct express Romance Car Atagiri for an additional fee. It will get you directly to Gotemba station in style while significantly cutting travel time. Note: you can’t use your JR rail pass on the Odakyu line.

The landmark Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery sign.

Getting there from Shinjuku Station:

4) Get to Shinjuku station at least 30mins prior to your departure to buy your ticket. With the remaining time search for food and drinks for your ride there. Cultural tip: drinking is okay, but eating in trains is usually frowned upon by the locals, especially if it’s full meals of food, really crunchy or smelly things.

5) Once at Gotemba station, head to the bus ticketing window. To get there, go out the Mount Fuji exit, take a left and walk about 40 meters. The bus ticketing window will be on your left.

6) Request a ticket to Midono, the bus stop right outside the distillery. The bus schedule varies so you might have some time to wander around Gotemba station.

7) Midono should be the 5th or 6th stop from the station, about 15min. You’ll have beautiful views of Mount Fuji from the left side of the bus, but don’t daze off or you’ll miss your stop as I almost did.

8) After the 4th stop, start looking out the window on the right side of the bus for the big Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery sign. It will give you a landmark as you’ll have to back track about 100m before you take a left into the distillery.

That looks like where the tour should be, but it’s not. The welcome building will be on the left, follow the arrow.

At the Distillery:

9) Once on the distillery grounds, the welcome office and tour starting point will be in the first building on the left. Enter and check in. Upon check in, the staff will show you the return bus schedule so you can start planning.

10) If you are early, don’t worry. First, go to the gift shop and see if they have any age statement bottles available. There is a one age-statement bottle limit per person so go for the oldest, the beautiful 25 year old. If there is still time, visit the Mount Fuji observation deck on the roof.

The movie theater.

11) Next, head to the tour starting point 5mins early to gaze at the beautiful bottle showcase. The tour begins with a video. Please sit in the front row as the subtitles aren’t visible from higher seats. Note: like Hakushu, the tour is conducted 100% in Japanese. Unlike Hakushu, there is no English audio guide. But guess what, it doesn’t matter. Do a little research ahead of time and just feel the tour.

Kirin Fuji Gotemba’s flagship bottles.

The Tasting:

12) The free tasting includes a snack and two servings of whisky. The first is the Fuji San Roku, their entry level blend. You can enjoy this as a highball (mixed with soda) or on the rocks. Straight is available upon request. Next is the distillery select version of the same bottle. This one, rightfully so, is served straight. Feel free to go back to the bar for seconds, but don’t overdo it because the paid bar is to die for.

The paid bar menu.

The Paid bar:

13) Please select the two tasting sets before you commit to a full dram. As for the tasting sets, drink them in this order: single grain distiller’s select, single malt distiller’s select, pure malt, 12 yr, 17yr and finally the 25yr. Be sure to use the chocolate and water as palate cleansers between drams. Your brain will tell you the 25 is the best, but what does your heart say?

The paid tasting sets.

The Gift Shop:

14) Now with a full soul and belly of whisky, head back to the gift shop to pick up your aged bottle, if you were lucky enough to get one. If not, stock up on all the regular and distillery select products your heart desires.

The gift shop.

And there you have it, The Tokyo Daytrip Guide to the Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery. If I’m missing anything, or if you have further questions, feel free to contact me at any time. Aloha!