Inside Onyado Fukuchiyo: Japan’s First Sake Brewery Design Hotel
Attached to a centuries-old sake brewery in the historical brewing town of Hizen Hamashuku, Onyado Fukuchiyo offers a rare blend of cultural depth and intimate design. With just one group welcomed per night, this exclusive auberge invites guests into a world of whitewashed walls, warm wood tones, and the quiet rituals of one of Japan’s most respected sake labels, Nabeshima.
Japan’s first Sake Brewery Auberge, Onyado Fukuchiyo is run by Fukuchiyo Sake Brewery and housed in a 230-year-old former merchant residence. Renovated with sensitivity and restraint, the space preserves its merchant-era bones – thick thatched roof, high ceilings, earthen walls, while introducing soft lighting, Japanese modern furnishings, and a thoughtful balance between stillness and indulgence.
The Location
Hizen Hamashuku, in Kashima City, Saga Prefecture, is a town shaped by its proximity to the old Nagasaki Kaido Road. Once a prosperous stop for travelling merchants, the area grew into a hub of sake brewing during the Edo period, and its townscape remains remarkably intact today. Wander a few blocks from the auberge and you’ll find yourself among preserved breweries, timber-framed houses, and narrow alleys carrying the subtle scent of koji and the occasional breeze from the Ariake Sea.
Read more: Kyushu's Historic Craft Capital: A Creative Journey Through Arita, Saga.
The Experience
Onyado Fukuchiyo redefines what it means to stay above a restaurant. In French, auberge refers to an inn where the food is central to the experience, and here, the food is inseparable from the sake that defines the house.
At the rear of the building lies Souan Nabeshima, a six-seat restaurant named to evoke a sense of refined but unpretentious hospitality. The counter is carved from a single slab of bubinga wood, facing an open kitchen where the chef orchestrates a seasonal menu rooted in Kyushu’s ingredients and guided by Nabeshima’s sake pairings; more than 20 varieties, each chosen to elevate the moment. The restaurant’s thatched-roof design and dimly lit interiors lend it the atmosphere of a secluded retreat: deeply personal, softly ceremonial.
The Space
A private stay here means total exclusivity: the house is rented in full, limited to just one group of up to four guests. The 200-square-metre layout includes bedrooms on both floors, a lofty atrium library, and a sunken engawa overlooking a seasonal garden.
Every part of the house is designed to invite pause. Read quietly under double-height ceilings, pour another glass of sake in the garden-view lounge, or play your favourite album in the atrium.
Who is it For?
Onyado Fukuchiyo is for those who travel with intention. Whether you’re a sake enthusiast, a design lover, or simply someone in search of a deeply rooted place to disconnect, this is an inn that offers presence over polish.
The experience suits couples, close friends, or solo travellers who appreciate quiet luxury and meaningful encounters. There are no grand gestures here—just perfectly prepared dishes, a thoughtfully composed interior, and the kind of stillness that stays with you long after you leave.
Start planning your customised itinerary today with our curated Journeys.
Brewery Access
As a rare offering, guests are invited to step inside the usually closed-to-the-public Fukuchiyo Sake Brewery. You’ll learn about the brewing process, sample fresh pours directly from the tanks, and gain insight into what makes Nabeshima one of Japan’s most highly regarded sake brands. It’s a quiet privilege and one that reinforces the sense of being not just a visitor, but a guest in this living community.
Practical Information
How to Get There
From Saga Airport
Take a limousine taxi (reservation required) to Hizen-Hama Station (approx. 50 minutes), then walk about 6 minutes to Onyado Fukuchiyo.
Address
2420-1 Hamamachi, Kashima-shi, Saga-ken
Check-in / Check-out
- Check-in: 15:00
- Check-out: 11:00
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