Ando Jozo Kakunodate: Miso and Soy Sauce Brewery Guide

Which Location Should You Visit? Main Shop vs. Kitaura

Ando Jozo operates two Kakunodate locations, and the right pick depends on whether history or convenience matters more to you. Main Shop occupies a historic building within walking distance of the samurai district, close to the samurai district restaurants. Kitaura main store sits outside the historic core in a factory setting, with an on-site eatery and a sample counter. Both shops sell the brewery's core line of miso, soy sauce, and pickles, so neither location is a compromise on product selection. Because the two addresses sit several minutes apart by car, treat them as separate stops rather than a single quick errand. If you're driving or short on time, Kitaura is the easier stop. If history matters more than convenience, head to the Main Shop instead. Either one works as a single-purpose visit or as one stop on a longer walk through central Kakunodate.

• Main Shop: 27 Shimoshinmachi, Kakunodate, Semboku City; about a 15-minute walk from JR Kakunodate Station; historic building housing the Zashiki Cellar; best for travelers exploring the samurai district on foot.
• Kitaura main store: 42-1 Yamazaki, Kumoshikari, Semboku City; about a 10-minute drive from JR Kakunodate Station; factory setting with an eatery and sample counter; best for drivers and for tasting soy sauce ice cream on the spot.

The Secret to the Flavor: Natural Brewing and Akita Ingredients

Ando Jozo brews using a method the company calls natural brewing, or shizen-shoyu, done mostly by hand instead of by machine. This company is direct about the trade-off. Machine fermentation would be more efficient and stable, but it would sacrifice the flavor that natural brewing preserves. Natural brewing yields smaller batches than mass production, which is one reason shop prices sit above supermarket alternatives. If you compare prices to mass-market miso and soy sauce, expect the natural-brewed versions to cost more per bottle. A master brewer, called a toji, tracks each barrel's fermentation using eyes, nose, and tongue rather than instruments. That role has been passed down inside the family business alongside the brewing method itself.

• Water: drawn from an ancestral well fed by underground water from the Ou Mountains, prized for its mineral content.
• Soybeans: sourced from Akita Prefecture and screened against the brewery's own quality standards.
• Rice: 100% Akita Prefecture rice, valued for the sweetness that the region's day-night temperature swings produce.

Signature Products to Buy and Taste

Kitaura's shop and eatery provide a way to compare Ando products before buying. Soy sauce candies, ice cream, and macarons are among the specialty items associated with the shop. Do not extend the company's natural-brewing message into a claim that every product is additive-free or suitable for every diet: ingredients and allergens vary across miso, soy sauce, dashi sauces, sweets, and prepared tastings. Check the current label for wheat, soy, fish ingredients, alcohol, flavorings, and other allergens. The budget and vegetarian food guide explains why a soy- or miso-based item is not automatically vegetarian.

• Soy sauce ice cream — a Kitaura specialty, best eaten on-site.
• Soy sauce macaroons and soy sauce candy — packaged for travel.
• Additive-free miso — sold in tubs for home cooking.
• Pickles — brewed using the same fermentation base as the soy sauce.

Brewery Tours and Experiences: How to Book the Personalized Bottle Tour

Two different experiences are on offer, and you might expect one when the other is what is actually available. Main Shop's Zashiki Cellar stays open for self-guided viewing during shop hours, at no charge. A walk-in visit is enough to see the historic cellar and browse the shop floor. A separate paid experience, run through the Semboku City Rural Experience Association, adds a guided walk through the brewery and warehouse, a hot miso soup tasting, and a soy sauce bottle personalized with your name. Ando Jozo employees lead the walk-through personally, tying the commentary to the family business. Group size stays capped small enough for the guide to answer individual questions along the way. Walk-ins cannot book the personalized-bottle tour on the spot. Reserve ahead using the details below, and lock in the booking before you finalize the rest of a Kakunodate day trip.

• Fee: ¥3,500 per person, minimum 2 people per booking.
• Length: about 45 minutes, maximum 15 people per tour.
• Booking: reserve at least 7 days in advance through the online form or by phone at 0187-43-2277.
• Payment: complete online before the tour date.

Planning Your Visit: Hours, Access, and Costs

Costs at Ando Jozo split into two tiers. Self-guided browsing and cellar viewing at either shop is free. Guided, personalized-bottle tours cost ¥3,500 per person, booked in advance. Because self-guided visits cost nothing, you can browse both product lines before deciding whether the paid tour is worth adding to the day. Main Shop accepts major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club, and UnionPay, and offers internet access in-store. Both shops list availability as year-round, so no single month is required to catch products in season. If you have questions beyond a standard visit, call the Main Shop directly at 0187-53-2008. Hours shift by season, so check the table below before planning a stop.

Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting Ando Jozo

A few planning errors show up often enough to flag before the trip.

• Confusing the two shops: only the Main Shop is a 15-minute walk from the station, so confirm which one you're headed to before booking a taxi.
• Expecting a walk-in slot for the personalized-bottle tour: it requires booking at least 7 days ahead with a minimum of 2 people.
• Arriving during the New Year holiday: Kitaura closes for the holiday period, and the Main Shop shortens its hours to a 3:00pm close on December 31 and January 1.
• Only checking the Main Shop's hours: Kitaura keeps a separate, shorter daily schedule of 9:00am to 5:00pm.
• Expecting cash-only pricing: the Main Shop accepts major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, and JCB.
• Assuming the tour includes lunch: the paid experience covers a miso soup tasting, not a full meal.

What to See Nearby in Kakunodate

Main Shop sits close enough to the samurai district that most visitors treat the two as one stop rather than a separate errand, so pair it with a broader loop through 10 Best Things To Do In Kakunodate (2026): Top Attractions & Travel Guide. Spring travel can be timed around cherry blossom season in the samurai district. Winter brings a quieter shop floor and shorter Main Shop hours. After tasting soy sauce ice cream at Kitaura, round out the stop with the town's other signature treat covered in the morokoshi sweets and cafes guide. Because tastings are free at both shops, you can sample the products without committing to a purchase. Rain or shine, both Ando Jozo shops operate indoors, which makes the brewery a reliable stop when outdoor sites nearby are less appealing. A single loop can combine the brewery, the preserved samurai residences, and a noodle lunch without needing a car.

How This Guide Was Verified

Food availability, access details, seasonal rules, and the time-sensitive claims in this guide were checked on August 22, 2026 against the official sources below. Independent restaurant menus, prices, opening days, and sell-outs can change, so confirm the operator's same-day notice before making a special trip.

• Ando Jozo
• Semboku Green Tourism: Ando Guided Tour
• Semboku Tourism: Aoyagi Samurai Manor
• Semboku Tourism: Morokoshian