List of Amami Kokuto Shochu Distilleries

Here are the 28 distilleries making kokuto shochu in the Amami Islands (Kagoshima Prefecture). The distilleries are spread across five separate islands in the Amami chain. They are listed alphabetically here.

Most of these distilleries are not easily accessible without a car. Fortunately, most of these places have at least one guest parking space available.

Want a more in-depth definition of what kokuto sugar is?

Amami Habushu Honke

Island: Oshima
Established: 1976
Person in Charge: Hayato Suzuki
Main Brands: Habushu
Distillery Tour: Not available
Phone: 0997-52-1505

Amami Shurui

Island: Tokunoshima
Established: 1965
Toji: Takeshi Motoda
Main Brands: Amami (available internationally), Kirameki no Shima Amami
Distillery Tour: Not available.
Phone: 0997-82-0254
Website: http://www.amamishurui.co.jp/
**Note: Five distilleries on the island work together to make the above brands.

Amagawa Shuzo

Island: Tokunoshima
Established: 1947
Toji: Kazuhiko Miyo
Main Brands: Amami (available internationally), Kirameki no Shima Amami
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-84-1221
**Note: Amagawa Shuzo is part of the five-distillery cooperative that produces the Amami kokuto shochu brand.

Amami Oshima Kaiun Shuzo

Island: Oshima
Established: 1954
Toji: Yoshimi Kozuma
Main Brands: Lento (available internationally)
Distillery Tour: Available at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM (reservations advised, especially on Sundays and public holidays)
Phone: 0997-67-2753
Website: http://www.lento.co.jp/

Amami Oshima Nishikawa Shuzo

Island: Tokunoshima
Established: 1950
Toji: Ryosuke Eiki
Main Brands: Shima no Napoleon, Aja
Distillery Tour: Please call to schedule a tour at least three days before your visit.
Phone: 0997-82-1650
Website: https://syuzouonline.shop-pro.jp/

Amami Oshima Shuzo

Island: Oshima
Established: 1957
Toji: Junichiro Yasuhara
Main Brands: Jougo (available internationally), Takakura
Distillery Tour: Available Mon-Sat at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM. Reservations required on Saturdays. (**Note: tours operate on Sundays and public holidays during the distilling season which is July to September. Tour reservations are required on those days as well.
Tasting Room:
Phone: 0997-62-3120
Website: http://www.jougo.co.jp/

Arimura Shuzo

Island: Yoronjima
Established: 1947
Toji: Shigeo Fukuchi
Main Brands: Shima Arimura
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-97-2302

Asahi Shuzo

Island: Kikaijima
Established: 1916
Toji: Hiroyuki Kitei
Main Brands: Asahi, Hiizurushima no See
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-65-1531
Website: http://www.kokuto-asahi.co.jp/
Twitter: @kokuto_asahi

Harada Shuzo

Island: Okinoerabujima
Established: 1947
Toji: Shingo Ichibe
Main Brands: Shoryu, Mangetsu
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-93-2128
Website: http://www.haradasyuzo.com/

Kamesawa Shuzojo

Island: Tokunoshima
Established: 1921
Toji: Tetsuya Nao
Main Brands: Amami (available internationally), Kirameki no Shima Amami
Distillery Tour: Not available.
Phone: 0997-83-0028
**Note: Kamesawa Shuzojo is part of the five-distillery cooperative that produces the Amami kokuto shochu brand.

Kanzaki Sangyo

Island: Okinoerabujima
Established: 1950
Toji/President: Hatsue Kanzaki
Main Brands: Erabu, Shirayuri
Distillery Tour: Not available.
Phone: 0997-93-3702
**Kanzaki Sangyo is a member of the Okinoerabu Shuzo cooperative.

Kikaijima Shuzo

Island: Kikaijima
Established: 1916
Toji: Keizo Kamisonoda
Main Brands: Kikaijima
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour. (**Note: Closed on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, Sundays, and public holidays.
Phone: 0997-65-0251
Website: http://www.kurochu.jp/

Machida Shuzo

Island: Oshima
Established: 1991
Toji: Yoichiro Haseba
Main Brands: Sato no Akebono
Distillery Tour: Available Mon-Fri 9 AM to 4 PM. (**Note: Tours also available during distilling season on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays.)
Tasting Room: Yes
Phone: 0120-099762 (toll-free)
Twitter: @satoake_amami
Instagram: @machida.shuzo
Website: https://www.satoake.jp/

Matsunaga Shuzojo

Island: Tokunoshima
Established:1952
Toji: Shogo Hanamoto
Main Brands: Amami (available internationally), Kirameki no Shima Amami
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-86-2070
**Note: Matsunaga Shuzojo is part of the five-distillery cooperative that produces the Amami kokuto shochu brand.

Nakamura Shuzo

Island: Tokunoshima
Established: 1947
Toji: Yutaka Nakamura
Main Brands: Amami (available internationally), Kirameki no Sima Amami
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-85-2016
**Note: Nakamura Shuzo is part of the five-distillery cooperative that produces the Amami kokuto shochu brand.

Niiro Shuzo

Island: Okinoerabujima
Established: 1920
Toji: Hitoshi Niiro
Main Brands: Tenkaichi, Tenka Muso
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-993-5232

Nishihira Shuzo

Island: Oshima
Established: 1927
Toji: Serena Nishihira
Main Brands: Sango, Kana
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-52-0171
Website: https://www.kana-sango.jp/
Twitter: @kana_sango
Instagram: @kana.sango_jp

Nishihira Honke

Island: Oshima
Established: 1925
Toji: Tomio Komata
Main Brands: Seegore
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-52-0059
Website: http://www.kokutou-shochu.com/

Okinoerabu Shuzo

Island: Okinoerabujima
Established: 1969
Toji: Harutoshi Murayama
Main Brands: Inenotsuyu, Hanatori
Distillery Tour: Please call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-92-0185
Website: https://www.inenotsuyu.com/
**Note: Blending distillery that works with four other Okinoerabujima kokuto shochu distilleries to make the above brands.

Okinoerabu Shuzo Uchihigakura (formerly Tokuda Shuzo)

Island: Okinoerabujima
Established: 1930
Toji: Misaki Shinri
Main Brands: Inenotsuyu, Hanatori
Distillery Tour: Available only during distilling season (generally December to April) 10 AM to 5 PM
Phone: 0997-92-1146
**Note: Was called Tokuda Shuzo until May 2020. Merged with Okinoerabu Shuzo. Sends genshu to Okinoerabu Shuzo to make the above brands.

Oki Shuzo

Island: Okinoerabujima
Established: 1917
Toji/President: Hiroko Oki
Main Brands: Erabu, Shirayuri
Distillery Tour: Available only during distilling season (generally January to March). Please call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-92-0222
**Note: Oki Shuzo is a member of the Okinoerabu Shuzo cooperative.

Saota Shuzo

Island: Okinoerabujima
Established: 1951
Toji/President: Junko Ishihara
Main Brands: Inenotsuyu, Erabu, Shirayuri
Distillery Tour: Available during distilling season (generally January to Mark). Please call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-92-2124
**Note: Saota Shuzo is a member of the Okinoerabu Shuzo cooperative.

Takaoka Jozo

Island: Tokunoshima
Established: 1949
Toji: Manabu Sakae
Main Brands: Amami (available internationally), Kirameki no Shima Amami, Rurikakesu Rum
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-83-0014
**Note: Takaoka Jozo is part of the five-distillery cooperative that produces the Amami kokuto shochu brand.

Tenkai no Kura

Island: Oshima
Established:1950
Toji: Kosaburo Mori
Main Brands: Tenkai
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-72-0045

Tomita Shuzojo

Island: Oshima
Established: 1951
Toji: Masayuki Tomita
Main Brands: Ryugu, Maaransen, Rankan
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-52-0043
Website: https://ameblo.jp/maaransen

Watari Shuzo

Island: Oshima
Established: 1952
President: Yoshihiko Watari
Chief Production Officer: Kazuki Iso
Main Brands: Amami Rokucho
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-52-0631
Website: http://watari69.com/

Yamada Shuzo

Island: Oshima
Established: 1957
Toji/President: Takahiro Yamada
Main Brands: Nagakumo Ichiban Bashi, Amami Nagakumo
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-62-2109
Twitter: @amaminagakumo
Instagram: @takahiro.nagakumo

Yayoi Shochu Jozosho

Island: Oshima
Established: 1922
Toji: Hiroyuki Kawasaki
Main Brands: Mankoi, Yayoi
Distillery Tour: Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Phone: 0997-52-1205
Twitter: @yayoi_shochu
Website: http://www.kokuto-shouchu.co.jp/