Chuko Distillery
忠孝酒造26°10′ N 127°40′ EDistillery
Chuko Distillery's visitor centre in Tomigusuku, about 10 minutes by car from Naha Airport, shows a hand-made awamori line, a cellar full of ageing kusu and the Chuko kiln where the company fires its own jars. Tours run at 10:00 and 14:00, and the site closes on Thursdays.
Photo Blue Lotus from Okinawa · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Kusu no Mori Chuko-gura sits in Irabu, Tomigusuku, close to the airport. The tour takes in the traditional hand-made awamori plant and a cellar where large numbers of jars hold ageing kusu. The Chuko kiln on site makes the company's own clay jars.
Chuko also runs Kame-ire no Gi, a ceremony in which couples or families seal awamori in a jar to open on an anniversary, and a scheme for owning a jar of kusu in its cellar. The shop opens 9:00–17:30.
Visiting with care
Chuko-gura has a working hand-made awamori line and a kiln for its jars, so tours follow set times.
- Guided tours run twice a day, at 10:00 and 14:00; booking ahead is recommended
- Groups of 10 or more, and visitors using wheelchairs or needing assistance, must book
- A hands-on awamori-making experience and a premium tour called Tsukiakari are booked separately
- Keep hands off the jars and tanks
- Ask before photographing inside the plant
- Japan's drink-driving ban covers bicycles; arrange a lift or a walk if you plan to taste
Worth knowing
- Book the 10:00 or 14:00 tour by phone on 098-851-8813 or through the website.
- It makes a good last stop before a flight from Naha.
- Japan's drink-driving ban covers bicycles, so plan tastings for a day you are not riding, or let someone else do the pedalling.
FAQ
Quick answers about Chuko Distilleryよくある質問
Does Chuko Distillery offer tours?
Yes. Chuko Distillery's Kusu no Mori Chuko-gura in Tomigusuku runs guided tours at 10:00 and 14:00. It opens 9:00–17:30 and closes on Thursdays and New Year's Day.
Can you visit Chuko Distillery?
Open to visitors. Guided tours run twice a day, at 10:00 and 14:00; booking ahead is recommended. Groups of 10 or more, and visitors using wheelchairs or needing assistance, must book. A hands-on awamori-making experience and a premium tour called Tsukiakari are booked separately.
How should you behave at Chuko Distillery?
At Chuko Distillery: Keep hands off the jars and tanks. Ask before photographing inside the plant. Japan's drink-driving ban covers bicycles; arrange a lift or a walk if you plan to taste.
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