Do you know you may keep in Nara’s oldest soy sauce brewery in a single day? In NIPPONIA Maruto Shoyu, you may be taught concerning the course of, style the contemporary soy trigger and keep in one of many superbly transformed rooms. That is what it’s like staying there.
The oldest soy sauce brewery in Nara Prefecture was based in 1689. On this quiet city of Tawaramoto, the soy sauce brewery has partly been transformed right into a luxurious keep the place guests can be taught extra about how soy sauce is made and check out an beautiful eating expertise through which soy sauce performs the principle character.
Particularly since so many individuals solely go to Nara for its Deer Park and surrounding areas, it’s a good time to start out in search of locations to go to past that. Staying in a single day in Nara and travelling a bit additional outdoors of the principle areas is a superb concept if you wish to go to some quieter spots and discover distinctive stays like this one.
Here’s what it was like staying in a single day in Nara’s oldest soy sauce brewery!
* My keep at NIPPONIA Tawaramoto Maruto Shoyu was a part of our press go to to Nara Prefecture with the Nara Prefecture Tourism Board. All views are my very own.
About NIPPONIA Maruto Shoyu
I’m all the time looking out to try to discover distinctive stays in Japan as they will add a lot magic to your time in Japan. For instance, I’ve stayed within the world’s first treetop onsen, the unique Nintendo HQ in Kyoto and one of many ryokans that impressed Spirited Away – they’ve all been unforgettable!
So when the choice of staying in Nara’s oldest soy sauce brewery got here up, the selection was easy. Based in 1689, Maruto Soy Sauce Brewery is at present run by Hiroyuki Kimura, the 18th technology.
Regardless of relationship again over 300 years, the brewery did expertise some difficulties post-war. It was more durable to get the high-quality components to make the soy sauce. Nevertheless, after practically 70 years of inactivity, Kimura discovered some remaining yeast within the warehouse that he used to recreate his household’s particular soy sauce. Maruto Shoyu was reborn.
To share his love for the household brewery, its historical past and its environment, Kimura began renovations on the 130-year-old warehouses and elements of the brewery that have been now not in use. He created seven visitor rooms, the place friends can keep in a single day within the previous brewery and expertise life in Tawaramoto.
As a part of the keep, you’ll additionally get a tour by way of the previous brewery and the present brewery, whereas studying extra concerning the course of. On high of that, you get to take pleasure in a multi-course seasonal meal with Maruto soy sauce as the principle character.
In case you’re in search of extra spots within the Nara Prefecture space to go to, take a look at my Asuka itinerary. This small, conventional city south of Nara is usually referred to as the birthplace of Japan, with mysterious tombs scattered across the space. It’s good for a day of biking across the Japanese countryside.
Our Keep at NIPPONIA Maruto Shoyu
As we have been travelling by way of Nara by public transport, a pick-up bus was ready for us at Tawaramoto Station to drive us to the brewery. The ten-minute drive by way of the rice fields and streets of Tawaramoto was lovely – an important view of Nara’s countryside.
As soon as arrived at NIPPONIA Maruto Shoyu, we got a fast tour of the buildings. Our room, Kurabito, was positioned within the courtyard of the brewery. That is the place the brewers used to dwell.
Spreading throughout two tales, the room included a lovely Hinoki cypress bathtub, a queen-sized mattress and an upstairs space to learn and look out over the interior courtyard. The standard buildings have been renovated superbly, maintaining the spirit and really feel of the warehouse the identical, whereas additionally placing consolation above all.
We have been additionally proven the Japanese backyard outdoors of the principle constructing, together with the smaller rest space that we have been free to make use of throughout our keep. Whereas we waited for our brewery tour to start out, we loved a complimentary glass of native wine right here whereas searching over the well-kept backyard.
Within the morning earlier than our breakfast was served, we went for a brief stroll with one of many workers members to go to the native Muraya Shrine. We chatted concerning the space and watched the morning solar rise above the mountains whereas strolling again to the brewery alongside the river. It was an ideal method to begin the day.
Shoyu Brewery Tour & Workshop
One of many highlights of our keep was the tour by way of the previous brewery. We realized concerning the three components for soy sauce: soy, wheat and salt. The three giant warehouses surrounding the courtyard are the place these three components was once saved. These days, you may sleep in them.
From our room, we have been capable of look down into the courtyard, the place you can too discover the 300-year-old nicely. This was the principle water provide used to boil the soybeans previously. As a consequence of hygiene requirements, the nicely isn’t used for soy sauce anymore, however they nonetheless use it to water the vegetation of their backyard.
After an 8-hour boil, the soybeans are able to ferment. To my shock, it takes not less than three years to get the fermentation good for Maruto soy sauce. This isn’t the case for the cheaper soy sauce you purchase in supermarkets, as they include a ton of components to hurry up the method. Right here, it’s all carried out naturally. Whereas it takes a bit longer, the standard and style show it’s value it.
Seeing the previous baths the place they used to squeeze the soy sauce out was fairly spectacular. We have been instructed that squeezing the entire tub used to take round two weeks!
On the finish of the tour, we acquired to attempt urgent our personal soy sauce. After listening to that the entire tub used to take two full weeks, I used to be a bit sceptical. However even urgent the tiny quantity that was put aside for us required some actual energy!
I managed to squeeze out the tiniest little drops and was left with just a few marks on my hand from urgent so exhausting. It was so enjoyable to attempt although, and it’s given me a complete new appreciation for artisan soy sauce.
Heading again to the principle constructing which homes the restaurant, we got the soy sauce we simply pressed alongside a chunk of soy sauce cake. We acquired to attempt our freshly pressed soy sauce and let me inform you, it was in contrast to something I’ve ever tasted earlier than.
I like soy sauce, and I believed I knew soy sauce fairly nicely. However the ranges of flavour in Maruto soy sauce have been unbelievable! The umami was so current and flavourful, it was superb. We have been instructed that the desk we sat at was the identical desk the emperor’s household sat on once they visited!
Dinner & Breakfast at NIPPONIA Maruto Shoyu
You’ll be able to embody a dinner and breakfast possibility throughout your keep at Maruto Shoyu. The seasonally altering dishes are created round Maturo’s personal soy sauce – the star of every dish. The soy sauce is integrated into these dishes in assorted methods, together with infused soy sauce, foamed soy sauce, seasoned soy sauce and extra.
The opposite components are domestically sourced all through the Tawaramoto area, creating contemporary, scrumptious meals. Our waitress defined all of the dishes to us when serving them, permitting us to totally take pleasure in them.
Within the morning, after our stroll to they native shrine, a lovely breakfast set was served within the restaurant. Once more, with soy sauce because the star ingredient, this was a breakfast in contrast to another.
Because the meals and dishes change seasonally relying on what contemporary native components can be found, chances are you’ll not get the identical meals I acquired throughout my keep. You’ll find some extra details about them on their eating web page.
Conclusion – Staying at NIPPONIA Maruto Shoyu
Including a singular keep like NIPPONIA Maruto Shoyu to your time in Japan provides a lot worth. It’s a glance into the historical past of those locations and offers you a glance deeper into Japanese tradition. The workforce at Maruto Shoyu are desirous to share its historical past and its high quality soy sauce with the friends. They’re happy with what they make, and it shines by way of every part they do.
The rooms have been superbly designed and, whereas giving all the trendy comforts of a high-end resort, nonetheless seize the unique spirit of the 300-year-old brewery.
I can’t thank the workforce at Maruto Shoyu sufficient for his or her hospitality, care and a spotlight to element throughout our keep. I couldn’t advocate it extra!