This week, Cindy Bissig and Frank Walter sit down with Takashi Eguchi, better known in the sake world as Umio, to explore Shiga Prefecture’s vibrant sake scene and its potential as a sake tourism destination Together, they discuss breweries across the region that welcome visitors, from formal tours to shops and lively brewery festivals, along with practical tips on how to visit. Umio shares some of his favorite breweries to visit, including Uehara Shuzo in Takashima City, along with two izakayas located in Otsu City: Nao and Hanabi. While Cindy adds Okamura Honke, makers of Shinkame (the golden turtle), and Happy Taro, in Nagahama, one of her favorite doburoku makers.The conversation also ventures into sake vessels as Shigaraki, Shiga’s renowned…
