Okazaki, Aichi, Japan｜Kakukyu Hatcho Miso no Sato Factory Tour

2022.5.2 This is one half of two long-established Hatcho miso stores. It's along the national highway and has good access, but the parking lot doesn't seem that spacious. There are factory tours, a museum, a food court serving Hatcho miso cuisine, a souvenir shop, and much more. The tour has a fixed time, and you must apply and then gather together to enter. It's nice to see the buildings where you can feel the history, and the museum is also very interesting and satisfying. Although it is small, it is as detailed as a rural folklore museum and is fun to see. We even got a souvenir at the end! You can buy it at supermarkets around Aichi Prefecture, but it's so delicious that it might be a good idea to give it as a souvenir to someone far away.

The tour is free, but registration is required at the reception. It's a little hard to understand, so I think it would be good if there was an easy-to-understand information sign outside. The tour lasts less than 30 minutes, and you can enjoy learning about the history of miso making with a veteran employee who is good at speaking and explaining with humor. Finally, you can sample miso soup. I buy miso at the shop because it is delicious. Kakukyu-san will get you killed. (lol)

You can visit the construction site without making a reservation in advance if there is a slot available. It starts every hour, so if you can wait a little bit on weekdays, you won't have to worry about getting in. No eating or drinking is allowed during the tour, except for hydration at the museum. Also, be careful of rain and sunlight as you will pass through areas without roofs. There was some trivia included in the explanation, which I learned a lot from. It took about 30 minutes, and at the end we received a souvenir of Hatcho miso powder. It was free and you could make reservations freely, so I felt it was quite reasonable.