17
Dec 2013 - Yoichi
(余市)
A 20 mins train ride from Otaru is Yoichi, home to the Nikka distillery. Trains were not too often, at best 1 train per hour for most hours.
We missed the 08:04 train and ended up catching the the 9:44 train.
Exploring the Nikka distillery on our own as the tours were only in Japanese. Entry is free and it comes with free sampling ! Is it fantastic
Free tasting of the 17yr blend, 10yr single malt, apple juices, apple whisky and oolong tea
Free tasting comes with a panoramic view of the mountains too ... what else can you ask for !
Everything was free, so much so that I felt bad if I had not pay for something. In the whisky club within the museum, I had a go at their 25yr pure malt blend. Apparently, was told that the bottle is Y50,000. Paid Y1600 for a tasting ... not bad.
Yoichi is also home to one of the pioneer japanese astronaut. Took a walk to the Space Apple center down the road from Nikka but as it was winter the stores around the center were closed. We did not go into the space center.
There were not many restaurant within sight and most where not quite open. Thinking back it would probably have been a better option to have lunch in the restaurant within Nikka itself. Ended up at a family restaurant with the usual flair of soba and curry rice.
Yoichi area is also famous for apples and so the hot apple pies are famous too !
Waiting for the train back to Otaru
A 20 mins train ride from Otaru is Yoichi, home to the Nikka distillery. Trains were not too often, at best 1 train per hour for most hours.
We missed the 08:04 train and ended up catching the the 9:44 train.
Exploring the Nikka distillery on our own as the tours were only in Japanese. Entry is free and it comes with free sampling ! Is it fantastic
Free tasting of the 17yr blend, 10yr single malt, apple juices, apple whisky and oolong tea
Free tasting comes with a panoramic view of the mountains too ... what else can you ask for !
Everything was free, so much so that I felt bad if I had not pay for something. In the whisky club within the museum, I had a go at their 25yr pure malt blend. Apparently, was told that the bottle is Y50,000. Paid Y1600 for a tasting ... not bad.
Yoichi is also home to one of the pioneer japanese astronaut. Took a walk to the Space Apple center down the road from Nikka but as it was winter the stores around the center were closed. We did not go into the space center.
There were not many restaurant within sight and most where not quite open. Thinking back it would probably have been a better option to have lunch in the restaurant within Nikka itself. Ended up at a family restaurant with the usual flair of soba and curry rice.
Yoichi area is also famous for apples and so the hot apple pies are famous too !
Waiting for the train back to Otaru
Whisky of Yoichi 余市
