Yonejima Distillery
米島酒造26°21′ N 126°45′ EDistilleryFounded in 1948
Yonejima Distillery on Kume Island is a small, hand-made awamori maker founded in 1948, and it welcomes visitors by appointment from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 for a look at the plant and a tasting. It is about 15 minutes by car from Kumejima Airport.
Photo Blue Lotus from Okinawa · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Yonejima was founded in 1948, soon after the war, and has stayed a small distillery rooted in its district. It makes awamori by hand in small batches with the soft water of Kume Island, which has long been known for plentiful springs.
Visitors can see the plant and learn how to enjoy awamori at the tasting corner. The distillery sits in Ota, about 5 minutes by car from Kanegusuku port.
Visiting with care
Yonejima is a small hand-made distillery, so visits are by appointment.
- Visits run 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00 by appointment; call 098-985-2326
- The distillery has a tasting corner
- 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 ahead by phone; the distillery closes on irregular days.
- 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 Yonejima Distilleryよくある質問
Can you visit Yonejima Distillery on Kumejima?
Yes, by appointment. Yonejima Distillery in Ota, Kumejima, takes visitors from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 and has a tasting corner.
Can you visit Yonejima Distillery?
Open to visitors. Visits run 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00 by appointment; call 098-985-2326. The distillery has a tasting corner.
How should you behave at Yonejima Distillery?
At Yonejima 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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