A factory located in the middle of a UNESCO Ecopark
Suntory Hakushu Distillery and Suntory Hakushu Factory are located in a forest 700m above sea level. Within that same area, you can participate in a tour of the facility (a tour of the distillery requires admission). 10 municipalities including Hakushu Town were registered as a UNESCO Ecopark which has been highly regarded for its natural environment. Within the Suntory grounds, there are a variety of ways to enjoy your time such as the bird sanctuary where you can observe wild birds, the whisky museum, a restaurant and a shop. Along with the distillery tour, entry into the grounds will require reservations.
The distillery with a whiskey museum
In the distillery tour, you get to see everything from the preparation of the wort (whisky before yeast is added) to the wooden fermentation casks used to ferment the wort along with distillation stills before you enjoy tasting the product at the end. You can also sample for free a highball cocktail with the Southern Alps Mineral Water made at the Shirasu Factory next to the Hakushu Distillery which creates Hakushu Whiskey. The Hakushu Bar is also popular for being able to enjoy whisky only available at the distillery at a reasonable price. At the Whisky Museum, along with historical information beginning with Suntory’s first genuine Japanese whisky, Shirofuda (White Label), and a display of an early distillation still, there is also a recreation of a Victorian Era English pub counter.
A factory to make mineral water
Suntory Southern Alps Mineral Water is mineral water that has been made over a period of 20 years from the mountains of the Southern Alps. You can view the production line from bottling to packaging at the factory through glass. In the tasting area, you can try not only the mineral water but also a number of other products.