Kiminoi Shuzo is a sake brewery in what is now Arai City, located in Arai-shuku along the ancient Hokkoku-kaido Road in the northern provinces. It was built in 1842 and specializes in the yamahai method of preparing the yeast starter for sake by spending great time and effort using underground water from the base of Mount Myoko.

Arai is famous for its large amounts of snow with accumulations sometimes measuring over 10 meters. Its winters are severely cold. However, this “land of tremendous snowfall” is thus blessed with natural refrigeration in winter and abundant underground water from the Yashiro-gawa River originating at the base of Mount Myoko. It is the perfect environment for sake brewing.

Kiminoi Shuzo inherited its traditional techniques from the Edo period and continues to brew sake in the same way as the old days.