Saseki is the tasting room for Masuda Shuzo sake brewery in Toyama. We were honored to have the 5th-generation Masuda introduce us to several sakes in his portfolio including aged sake, nigori cloudy sake, and nama unpasteurized sake. The sakes are well-balanced and food-friendly. The tasting room has sake-friendly small bites including dried hotaru ika firefly squid and dried shiro ebi glass shrimp – both local delicacies harvested from Toyama Bay.

We sampled barrel aged nihonshu as well as Link 8. Link 8 is a collaboration between Chivas Regal and Masuizumi. Sake is aged for ten months in Scotch whisky casks from @ChivasRegal. The distance between Masuda Shuzo sake brewery and Chivas Regal in Toyama is 8,888 km – hence the name Link 8.

Saseki can be reached by tram from Toyama Station. I believe the local stop is Higashi Iwase. We traveled by car but when I go back I will take local transportation. Toyama is on the way to Kanazawa. It is an easy stop if you’re looking for a local spot to visit before going to Kanazawa.

I am still humbled and honored to have this time Masuda san. He is a wonderful ambassador for his sake, but also for Toyama city and the Iwase area where his brewery is and the many businesses in his area.

Saseki 沙石 @sh.ashi8445

Toyama-shi, Higashi Iwase-cho 93

*closed Tuesdays, but double check their calendar on Instagram before going.

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