October 11, 2026

SENDAI: Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery (Winter)

Yes, here comes another backlog post… LOL! This time, I’m taking you back to March 2024, when I revisited Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery, one of the three whisky distilleries I visited during my trip to Japan. The other two were Suntory Hakushu Distillery and Fuji Gotemba Distillery.

For full itinerary, you can always refer to JAPAN TRIP 2024: 11D10N in Yamagata, Sendai, Aizu Wakamatsu & Tokyo. You may check out my exploration in some area in Tohoku Region.

It was wonderful to be back here after my previous visit in 2018, especially to see how much the place had changed over the years! It felt so good to be back at Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery after six years! Sometimes, revisiting a familiar place is just as exciting as discovering somewhere new.

Getting here is not too difficult. From Sendai Station, take the train on JR Senzan Line to Sakunami Station. There is free shuttle bus service at scheduled time. The bus ride from the station takes about 5 minutes ride JR Sakunami Station to the distillery.

Sakunami Station is also decorated with Nikka’s elements

The shutter bus that took us to the facility.

We joined the Distillery Guided Tour, which lasted approximately 60 minutes and included a look at the whisky production process, followed by a tasting session.

The best part? The guided tour is free of charge! However, advance online reservations are required, and you’ll need to select your preferred time slot.

One thing I noticed during this visit was how much the facilities had changed since 2018. The reception area and visitor centre had a fresh, updated look, while the gift shop and tasting area had also been renovated with a brand-new appearance. Everything felt refreshed and inviting!

The whole whisky tour is in Japanese but worry not as there are visuals in English where you can understand even though you do not understand Japanese language. Alternatively, you may opt for headset/ audio.

We followed our guide around the distillery grounds, and I must say, the surroundings were so beautiful!

The landscape was thoughtfully designed, with lush greenery, a touch of lingering snow, and charming red-brick buildings scattered throughout the grounds. Adding to the scenery was the magnificent view of Mount Kamakurayama in the background.

The combination of nature, architecture, and the peaceful surroundings made the entire place incredibly picturesque. It was a lovely setting to learn about the whisky-making process while enjoying the beauty of the Japanese countryside.

During the tour, we visited several areas of the distillery, including the fermentation area, pot still area, and whisky storage area, before making our way to the bar for the tasting session.

At the end of the guided tour, we got to sample two whiskies and one fruit liqueur – Rare Old Super – a classic Nikka whisky, Single Malt Miyagikyo – the distillery’s signature single malt whisky and Apple Wine – a fruity and sweet alcoholic drink.

Of course, one tasting session wasn’t quite enough for us. After the guided tour, we headed over to the Tasting Bar to try some of the special and limited-edition selections available at our own fee.

There were more interesting whiskies to explore, so it was a great opportunity to sample something a little different. If I remember correctly, each person was limited to three orders, so it was worth choosing carefully!