Course Summary
Several areas around Saku city grow outstanding Koshihikari table rice, including the exclusive Gorobei-mai brand. The Asahina and Mochizuki Course centers around the fields in these areas that grow the sake rice Hitogokochi. You’ll visit the Hitogokochi rice fields of the Fuyou Sake Brewery in the Osawa area, which produce excellent rice thanks to the abundant water from the Chikuma River system, the Hitogokochi and Kinmon Nishiki rice fields of Kamenoumi Tsuchiya Brewing in the New Gorobei Fields area, which is famous for Gorobei-mai table rice, and the Hitogokochi rice fields of Osawa Sake Brewery nestled in the beautiful Kasuga area, which is supplied with water from Mt Tateshina. After enjoying the panorama of fertile fields and the view from the terraced rice fields below the mountains, taste the sake made with Hitogokochi rice from the three breweries and you’ll recall the scenes you saw from your ebike.
Course Map
Course Details
After leaving KURABITO STAY head for the rice fields surrounding Suwa Shrine in the Osawa area, including the ones where Fuyou Sake Brewery grow Hitogokochi sake rice with plentiful water from the Chikuma River system. Enjoy the view of fields extending on both sides of the road as your ebike whisks you in comfort to the Roadside Station Hot-Park Asahina, where we’ll take a group photo against the scenery of Mt Asama and the panorama of the New Gorobei Fields.
Moving into the New Gorobei Fields, you’ll visit the Kamenoumi Tsuchiya Brewing rice fields growing the sake rice Hitogokochi, then carry on through the area facing the imposing Mt Asama before taking a break at Chatamaya, a shop specializing in egg-based products including their famous egg ice cream.
Then it’s back on the road through the Fuse area, enjoying the beautiful scenery of fields and atmospheric villages as your ebike takes you along the banks of the Kakuma River toward Asahina. On arrival at the Osawa Sake Brewery’s own fields, you’ll be treated to a magnificent view of terraced rice fields extending toward Mt Asama. And when you drink the Shinano no Kataribe sake made from the Hitogokochi sake rice grown in those fields, you’ll recall this breathtaking scenery.
Carrying on, you descend the road you climbed from the Asahina area to arrive at the Mochizuki shopping street, which still retains traces of its status as a post town on the Edo Period Nakasendo trail. Stop to refuel at beloved local restaurant Güsk, famous for pasta and for using lots of local ingredients, then keep going along the old Nakasendo trail to the neighboring post town of Motai, home of Osawa Sake Brewery.
After arriving at Osawa Sake Brewery, quench your thirst with non-alcoholic cider made from brewing water drawn from Gosensui, a water source that is part of the Mt Tateshina system, before entering the brewery. Learn about the history of sake brewing in their museum, and shop for sake to take away as a souvenir at the brewery store.
The return journey has plenty of descents, giving you a different view from the one you saw setting out. Take a break at the Roadside Station Healthy Terrace Saku-Minami for another opportunity to find souvenirs before returning to KURABITO STAY. And you can recall the scenes you saw from your ebike while enjoying sake from Osawa Sake Brewery, Kamenoumi Tsuchiya Brewing, and Fuyou Sake Brewery in the KURABITO STAY lounge.