Takasago
Takasago is located in downtown Asahikawa in an old white storehouse building. Of the three Sake breweries in Asahikawa, Takasago has the most comfortable and authentic feel about it. There are many displays of various sake-producing methods in the building that you are welcome to see on your own. These include old pictures of the brewery and historic Asahikawa with descriptions (mostly in Japanese). The building is constructed of heavy, thick masonry walls and exposed wood timbers, with a wooden floor in the tasting room. It is a really solid-feeling structure.
Takasago produces a lot of different types of sake. Their most famous sub-label is Kokushimuso （国士無双）, which they have produced several different sakes under. The meaning of 国士無双 is "there is no better samurai in the land," implying that their sake is really top notch. This may be a bit of an overblown boast, as they are many other great sake labels in Japan, but Takasago has produced some well-liked, flavourful sake under this sub-label.
They also produce a limited selection of sake that spends part of its fermentation period in a snow dome, where it develops a distinctive taste and character befitting the northern landscape that it is produced in. In the summer months, this same sake is produced inside the brewery building, in a refrigerated room that is filled with snow from the previous winter.
In the tasting room, there are many different styles of sake available for tasting, all of which are also available for sale in the tasting room. One of the Takasago sakes that I recommend trying is their fall seasonal special sake, called Kokushimuso Hiyaoroshi （国士無双 ひやおろし）. This 720ml bottle comes wrapped in a piece of black paper, and sells for around 1,200 yen in many stores. Another recommendation is their snow dome produced Taisetsu （大雪）, which is available in 1800m., 720ml and 300ml clear bottles with a blue label. Both of these are flavourful, satisfying styles of sake that strongly represent this brewery.
Takasago Brewery is located in Asahikawa at Miyashita-dori 17-chome （旭川市宮下通１７丁目）.
Check out their website at: http://takasagoshuzo.com
