Now Accepting Application for 1 Week Sake Brewing Program 2025
This is the application site for the “1 Week Sake Brewing Experience Program 2025” held at Gakkogura on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture.
This year's program will begin in late May.
If you wish to participate in the program, please confirm the below details and conditions carefully and submit your application.
●About Gakkogura
Gakkogura is OBATA SHUZO's 2nd sake brewery which was renovated from a closed elementary school. At Gakkogura, sake is brewed in summer with cool conditions, by using local
resources and renewable energy.
Here, we offer the “Gakkogura Sake Brewing Program” for those who want to
experience Sake brewing.
This year, we offer 《One week Course》, in which
you will experience Seigiku(Making Koji) and Sandan-jikomi (three stage preparation) and 《Advanced Course》in which you will also take logical lectures
on sake brewing,
If you are interested in these program, please check the following information below and apply.
*For more informations about Gakkogura, please click here.
*On-site accommodation rooms and a cafe were established 2022.
*The Gakkogura was certificated as the first Special Zone of Japanese Sake
in 2020.
*The Gakkogura was received the "Environmental Community Branding
Award "from the Ministry of the Environment's Good Life Award in 2022, and “the
Japan Philanthropy Special Award” in 2023.
●Contents of Sake Brewing Program
《One-Week Course》Sake Brewing Program
【Contents of the experience】
The duration of the program is set at one week long so that participants can experience the processes from koji making to three-stage
preparation, which is the core of sake production. In addition to the washing the rice, soaking, steaming, koji making, and brewing, there will also be a visit to the rice field to understand local circulation, an orientation to understand the meaning of each work, and a sake tasting session to experience professional sensory testing.
You will also experience one night of koji making. On that occasion, you will stay overnight in a accommodation room at the Gakkogura.
《Specifics are as follows.》
- Day 1
- Orientation, Steaming rice, Koji making, Welcome dinner
- Day 2
- Koji making, Rice washing, Soaking, Rice field tour
＊Koji making at night (overnight stay) - Day 3
- Steaming, Koji making, Washing, Soaking
- Day 4
- Steaming, Soe-shikomi, Koji making
- Day 5
- Odori,rice washing, soaking, Sake tasting
- Day 6
- Steaming rice, Naka-jikomi, Washing rice, Soaking rice.
- Day 7
- Steaming rice, Soe-shikomi, Graduation ceremony
＊The basic schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (may vary daily).
＊The last day ends around 2:00p.m.
＊Schedule is subject to change.
＊Other activities such as rice field visit are also prepared.
【SCHEDULE】
| Class 1 | Accepting May 26 (Mon)~ June 1 (Sun) |
| Class 2 | Accepting June 9 (Mon) ~ June 15 (Sun) |
| Class 3 | Accepting June 23(Mon) ~ June 29 (Sun) |
| Class 4 | Accepting July 7 (Mon) ~ July 13 (Sun) |
| Class 5 | Advanced Course July 21 (Mon) ~ July 27 (Sun) |
| Class 6 | Accepting August 4 (Mon) ~ August 10 (Sun) |
| Class 7 | Not openings here |
*Class7 is joint program with other organizations.
【Details】
| The Participation fee： | 100,000yen ( tax included ). Includes the cost of work clothes, a sake tasting seminar, aroma samples, accomodation for one night, one dinner, and a bottle of final sake(domestic delivery only). |
| Number of applicants: | About 4 |
| Eligibility: | Healthy person over 20 years old |
| Location: | Mainly at the Gakkogura (1871 Nishimikawa, Sado City) |
| Preparation: | Comfortable clothing |
| Conditions: | Participants are expected to participate for the entire week. |
【How to apply】
Please apply using the application form below. We will review your application carefully and we will contact you.
《Advanced Course》Sake Brewing Program
【Contents of the experience】
The duration of the program is set at one week long so that participants can experience the processes from koji making to three-stage
preparation, which is the core of sake production. In addition to the washing the rice, soaking, steaming, koji making, and brewing, there will also be a visit to the rice field to understand local circulation, an orientation to understand the meaning of each work, and a sake tasting session to experience professional sensory testing.
You will experience one night of koji making. On that occasion, you will stay overnight in a accommodation room at the Gakkogura.
The advanced course also includes lectures on sake brewing and Q&A session by
the former head of the Niigata Prefectural Sake Research Institute on the 4th &
5th days.
* this
lecture is available in English
《Specifics are as follows.》
- Day 1
- Orientation, Steaming rice, Koji making, Welcome dinner
- Day 2
- Koji making, Rice washing, Soaking, Rice field tour
＊Koji making at night (overnight stay) - Day 3
- Steaming, Koji making, Washing, Soaking
- Day 4
- Steaming, Soe-shikomi, Koji making, Lectures on Sake Brewing
- Day 5
- Odori, rice washing, soaking, Lectures on Sake Brewing, Sake tasting
- Day 6
- Steaming rice, Naka-jikomi, Washing rice, Soaking rice.
- Day 7
- Steaming rice, Soe-shikomi, Graduation ceremony
＊The basic schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (may vary daily).
＊The last day ends around 2:00p.m.
＊Schedule is subject to change.
＊Other activities such as rice field visit are also prepared.
【SCHEDULE】
| Class 5 | Accepting July 21 (Mon) ~ July 27 (Sun) |
【Details】
| The Participation fee： | 140,000yen ( tax included ). Includes the cost of Logical lectures, work clothes, a sake tasting seminar, aroma samples, accomodation for one night, one dinner, and a bottle of final sake(domestic delivery only). |
| Number of applicants: | About 4 |
| Eligibility: | Healthy person over 20 years old |
| Location: | Mainly at the Gakkogura (1871 Nishimikawa, Sado City) |
| Preparation: | Comfortable clothing |
| Conditions: | Participants are expected to participate for the entire week. |
【How to apply】
Please apply using the application form below. We will review your application carefully and we will contact you.
【Application Form】
If you would like to apply for the Sake Brewing Programme,
Please read the following instructions carefully and apply using the below
application form.
We will review your application carefully and will contact you.
Fields marked with * are required.
《CONDITIONS》
All applicants are required to agree to the following terms and conditions:
- The purpose of this program is to experience first hand Sake Brewing with the brewers and to acquire deeper knowledge of sake and its terroir. Applicants must already have a basic knowledge of sake.
- We prioritize experience rather than the common way of learning.
- The purpose of this program is to gain a deeper understanding of sake and the area where it is produced through hands-on sake brewing with brewers. The focus is on practical experience rather than classical classroom learning.
- Those coming from outside of Sado Island will need to pay separately for meals, transportation, and lodging (apart from included one/three nights accomodation).
- There are cases in which the schedule is changed without prior notice.
- The schedule may vary from day to day. During free time, you may do as you please.
- Basically, participants are supposed to attend the whole program .
- Participants are strongly recommended to follow brewer’s directions all the time to avoid any problems.
- Please wear clean, comfortable clothing. Note that some work will be done both in cold and hot environments.
- Perfume, nail polish and smoking are prohibited at Gakkogura.Those who do not follow the rules will not be allowed to participate.
- If participant have fever not lower than 37.5 and/or severe coughing, participants must refrain from participating.
- Depending on the social situation, participants may be asked to provide and are required to wear masks.
- In case you don’t have a car/ rental car, transportation is provided from Obata Shuzo ( our main brewery) to Gakkogura and vice versa only. We recommend you stay in a hotel/ryokan which is easy aceessible to Obata Shuzo(address: 449, Manoshinmachi, Sado-city) expect the day of staying at Gakkogura .
- One night of lodging at the Gakkogura is included in the participation fee. If you wish to stay overnight on other days (additional fee will be charged) please let us know.
- Pictures and videos will be taken during the program for promotion purposes and participants are supposed to be part of the pictures and videos which will be used for SNS / promotion videos / YouTube / magazine etc. All portrait rights belong to Obata Shuzo.
- You will be expected to submit a report after the program.
- There is no interpreter. In case you wish to bring an interpreter, please mention it in Application Form(15).
＊You will be notified 2 weeks prior to the starting day of each batch in case of cancellation. But there will be still possibilities we should make sudden cancellations due to the
social situation even just before starting day. I appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
＊Please note that your transportation, accommodation will not be covered if a cancellation occurs.
To participants who request a certain amount of final sake
- Participant will be given a bottle of final sake (domestic delivery
only).
If you would like a larger quantity (e.g.100bottles), please mention it in the form No.15 or let us know during the program.
≪What happens next? ≫
- We will examine your application carefully and inform you about your application results within 1 to 2 months. Selection will be based on your motivation, experience and so on.
- Due to many enquiries we receive, we may not be able to meet all requests.
We would appreciate your understanding in advance. - f you are selected as one of the participants, your participation will be officially confirmed upon payment of the participation fee and submission of your photo ID.
- We will contact the participants with further details.
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