The city of Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture may be best known for its griddled gyōza dumplings, but a group of sake makers and chefs are working to show that the area has much more to offer culinary-minded visitors.
Leveraging the proximity of their sake breweries to Tokyo, longtime friends Kenichi Shimazaki of Shimazaki Shuzo; Shigeki Tonoike of Tonoike Shuzoten; Yasuhiro Watanabe of Watanabe Sahei Shoten; and Tomoyuki Katayama of Katayama Shuzo formed the Yottemikke Sake Tourism Association last year to entice travelers to explore the prefecture’s gastronomic delights.