Ozawa Sake Brewery, with a proud history of over 300 years, is located in Sawai, Ome City, in western Tokyo.
Nestled along the clear waters of the Tamagawa River, the area offers stunning scenery, with lush greenery in spring and vibrant autumn foliage in fall.
The name of the place, "Sawai" comes from the abundance of pure and renowned spring water that flows through the area in mountain streams. ("Sawa" means streams in Japanese.)
The brewery’s signature sake brand, “Sawanoi,” also takes its name from this prized water source.
The logo of Sawanoi features a sawagani, a freshwater crab native to Japan. These crabs are often found in the pristine streams and upper mountain rivers.
two different types of natural springwater (“shikomimizu”)
Ozawa Brewery offers a richly diverse and captivating lineup of sake, from traditionally crisp and dry styles to aromatic, smooth, and elegant varieties—each with its own distinctive character.
The secret lies in the use of two different types of natural springwater (“shikomimizu”) in the brewing process: medium-hard water from the Kura no Ido (Brewhouse Well) and soft water from the Yama no Ido (Mountain Well).
Kura no Ido lies deep within a cave carved into the ancient bedrock of the Chichibu Paleozoic stratum. Visitors can view this remarkable well as part of the brewery tour.
Environmental Initiatives
Water is the lifeblood of Japanese sake, and it is the forest that quietly gathers and nurtures it. Having once operated a forestry business, Ozawa Brewery still owns vast mountain woodlands in the surrounding region. The brewery’s 22nd-generation owner and current chairman, Junichiro Ozawa, worked for a lumber trading company after graduating from university, where he deepened his knowledge of mountains and timber.
Even as parts of the sake brewing process become mechanized, the spirit behind the craft remains unchanged.
"Heaven bestows, the earth nurtures, and people receive and cultivate.” At Ozawa Brewery, this sacred order is never altered.