Blog

Exquisite Gems from the Sea at Ginpachi Sushi (Niigata)
June 13, 2016
Ginpachi is a sushi-ya in Sanjo City, Niigata, that's been open since 1961. Check out the amazing sushi we ate on our last visit to Ginpachi.
Sake Gumi News: Spice it up with Sake! (May 2016)
May 15, 2016
For our May Sake Gumi offerings, we've chosen 4 sakes that'll taste great with smoky, spicy, and grilled foods – just in time for the upcoming summer BBQs!
Sake Gumi News: Niigata Festa! (Feb 2016)
February 15, 2016
February sakes ship today for Sake Gumi, our monthly sake subscription club. If you like...
Bar Owl in Niigata City
May 25, 2015
When we mentioned to Mr. Akio Watanabe, owner of Bar EST! in Tokyo that we...
Todai Utensil Factory
May 14, 2015
I'd like to start with a little background on the small town of Tsubame-Sanjo. This...
A Visit to Kinshihai Brewery
April 27, 2015
Sake is one of those things that really makes you appreciate locality. It's like the...
Rice Mill Machine at Aoki Brewery
April 16, 2015
During our visit to Aoki Brewery in Niigata, we were told that the three most...
A Visit to Aoki Brewery in Niigata
April 13, 2015
Kayoko and I go to Niigata every February. Our friends in Tokyo gasp in horror,...
A Visit to Niigata Beer Co.
March 16, 2015
Our Japan trip last month was a jam-packed, 5-city tour with barware factory tours, sake...
Visiting Asahi Copper Factory
October 6, 2014
When we voiced our wish to visit a few factories in Japan earlier this year,...
Inside Yukiwa Barware Factory
April 16, 2014
Our main objective for our trip to Japan (besides noodles and ekiben) was to visit the...
Niigata Noodle JUNKtion: Hegi Soba, Ramen + The Italian
March 28, 2014
Japan is noodle crazy. Each station in each town of each prefecture have their own...