A tipsy paradise for sake lovers！Newo_ Sake Bar – Choose from 100 types of sake for just 150 yen

▲A sake museum inside the new o_ station.

Reporter Cai Wenjun / Reported and photographed in Japan

Niigata Prefecture is home to the largest number of sake breweries in Japan, with over 93 sake breweries located within the prefecture alone—making it a paradise for sake enthusiasts. Inside JR Niigata Station, there is a sake museum called “Ponshukan,” where for just 500 yen (about NT$150), you can sample five types of sake from a selection of 100. You can also purchase locally brewed sake from various breweries as souvenirs. It’s a must-visit spot for any sake lover.

▲The sake museum offers a wide variety of locally brewed Niigata sake.

Ponshukan has stores at both Niigata Station and Echigo-Yuzawa Station. In addition to local sake, the shops display over 30 types of locally produced soy sauce, Koshihikari rice, and even rice crackers. Visitors can also sample around 10 different types of soy sauce on-site, making it one of the most popular attractions and souvenir shopping spots in the Niigata area.

▲The tasting area inside the sake museum.

▲500 yen gets you 5 gold coins and a sake cup.

▲Choose 5 sips from a selection of 100 types of sake.

Whether you’re visiting Niigata for the first time or returning, the museum features a sake tasting area to help everyone appreciate the charm of locally brewed Niigata sake. A row of square metal cabinets stretches from the entrance to the back, offering around 100 varieties of sake representing different breweries across Niigata. For just 500 yen, staff will provide you with a small sake cup and five gold coins, allowing you to choose five types of sake to try.

▲Each type of sake is labeled with its unique characteristics.

▲You can also select from the staff’s recommended sake list of the month.

▲Different sakes can be paired with different types of sea salt.

On the metal cabinets displaying various breweries, each sake is carefully labeled with its flavor profile, alcohol content, acidity level, and recommended audience, along with brief descriptions to help visitors better understand each sake’s traits. If you’re not sure where to start, the walls also feature the staff’s monthly recommended sake list, complete with numbers and brewery names, as well as suggestions for sea salt varieties that pair well with the sakes—helping you quickly enjoy your sake tasting experience.

▲%There are also over 30 types of soy sauce from various regions to sample.

▲Ponshukan Sake Museum

Ponshukan Sake Museum
Address: Visible upon exiting the West Passage Ticket Gate at the south exit of JR Niigata Station
Business Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Tasting available from 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM)
Official Website:http://ponshukan-niigata.com/