Fuji Gotemba Distillery
Gotemba, Japan
Kirin Distillery’s Fuji Gotemba Distillery in Shibanta, Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture, at the foot of Mount Fuji. Kirin states that operations began in 1973 on a site chosen for Fuji spring water, an average annual temperature around 13°C and frequent fog. It is a rare distillery that produces both malt and grain whisky and carries out the full process from mashing through bottling on one site. Visitor facilities include a theatre introduction, views of pot stills and grain-whisky stills, wooden washbacks, packaging, tastings (including Kirin Single Grain Japanese Whisky Fuji and Kirin Whisky Riku on the standard tour), a distillery shop, paid tasting corner, forest walk and rooftop observatory. Guided tours require reservation and a fee; the shop and exhibit areas can be used without a tour booking. Closed Mondays (open if Monday is a public holiday, then closed the next weekday) and over New Year.