🍻 I'm going to share a tour of Japanese drinking culture! 🙈❤️
A whiskey bar in Nagoya. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Ito from Rubin's Base, about 60 of our regular customers went on a bus tour! 😘
What kind of tour do Japanese whiskey lovers take???
🩷🙈Only read if you want to see it🤙
· --
🥃About Rubin's Base, a bar in Sakae
Rubin's Base is a whiskey bar in Sakae, Nagoya, boasting one of the best selections in Japan. 🥃
They have many rare and unusual whiskies, including some that Mr. Ito has personally acquired, so if you're interested, please check it out! 👍
Master Ito, despite not speaking a word other than Japanese, has an amazing ability to connect with people from any country.
When I'm not at the shop, I'm in the restroom 🤮
For more details, check out my Nagoya post 😊
· --
🚌Bus Tour Itinerary
👊Departure from Nagoya Station
↓
🍻Cheers on the bus! We're opening all those precious bottles everyone brought! !
↓
🕛Lunch! Some people are already drunk~ 🤮
↓
⛰️Arrival at Mars Komagatake Distillery! It's so refreshing because of the high altitude! ✨
Lots of beautiful water flows here. Single malt Komagatake and Minami Shinshu beer are made here. Even the general public can take a tour! Tastings are also available if you sign up.
I bought a dressing that's supposed to be delicious 🍅
↓
🔥Everyone's already drunk, but we're having a BBQ! Sharing Matsusaka beef, matsutake mushrooms, and other ingredients everyone brought! Those who get sleepy or pass out will leave!
↓
🧟Wake up
↓
🏝️We returned to Lake Biwa and went to the Nagahama Distillery on its shores! This is famous as one of the smallest distilleries in Japan! The whiskey is distilled using the clean water of Lake Hamana. We were also given a tasting and tour here!
↓
😪 Arrived in Nagoya while fast asleep from exhaustion
😊✌️ This was a grueling route, so please don't try it yourselves!
ーーーーーー
🗺️ Related Spots List 🗺️
ーーーーーー
🥃 Rubin's Base
📍 Access
· Address: 4C NOA Building, 3-2-31 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
· Approximately 5 minutes on foot from Exit 8 of Sakae Station on the Higashiyama and Meijo Subway Lines
· Approximately 8 minutes on foot from Yabacho Station on the Meijo Subway Line (approximate)
🕰️ Business Hours
· 17:00 - 24:00 (Last Order 24:00)
· Closed: Sundays and public holidays
※ Information confirmed on July 18, 2026. Please check the store's official information for the latest business hours.
· -------------------
⛰️Mars Komagatake Distillery
📍Access
· Address: 4752-31 Miyata-mura, Kamiina-gun, Nagano Prefecture
· 🚗 Approximately 5 minutes by car from Komagane IC on the Chuo Expressway
· 🚆 Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Komagane Station or Miyata Station on the JR Iida Line
· 🅿️ Free parking available
🕰️Opening Hours & Tour Information
· Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
· Last Entry & BAR Use: Until 3:30 PM
· Admission Fee: Free (Tasting is charged)
· Self-guided tour: Approximately 20 minutes
· Visitor Building (Shop & BAR): Approximately 30 minutes
· Closed: December 29th - January 3rd (Temporary closures may occur)
💡One Point
· You can visit without a reservation, but during busy times, priority will be given to those with reservations.
· The distillation equipment is typically in operation from late August to the end of June each year. The equipment is closed for maintenance from July to late August.
ーーーーーー
🌲 Komagane Camp Center
📍 Access
· Address: 759-437 Akaho, Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture
· 🚗 Approximately 5 minutes by car from Komagane IC on the Chuo Expressway
· 🚆 Approximately 15 minutes by bus bound for Komagatake from Komagane Station on the JR Iida Line, get off at the "Kiriishi Park Shita" bus stop
· 🚌 Approximately 15 minutes on foot from the Komagane IC bus stop on the Chuo Expressway, or approximately 5 minutes by local bus
· 🅿️ Free parking available (approximately 100 cars)
🕰️ Business Hours & Usage Information
· Operating Period: Mid-March to late November (subject to change depending on weather)
· Front Desk Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
· Check-in
· Auto Campsites & Tent Sites: 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
· Cottages: 3:00 PM -
· Check-out: Until 10:00 AM
· Shower use: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (200 yen/use)
· Closed: Irregular holidays, closed during winter
💡One Point
· Convenient location for overnight stays before or after visiting the Komagatake Ropeway or Senjojiki Cirque.
· A wide range of rental equipment is available, making it suitable for camping without bringing your own gear.
· Reservations can be made through the booking website up to 5:00 PM two days prior to your stay.
ーーーーーー
⛵️Nagahama Distillery
📍Access
· Address: 14-1 Asahi-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture
· 🚆 Approximately 4 minutes on foot from the East Exit of Nagahama Station on the JR Biwako Line
· 🚗 Approximately 10 minutes by car from the Nagahama IC on the Hokuriku Expressway
· 🅿️ Parking available (approximately 5 cars; use nearby coin parking when full)
🕰️Opening Hours & Tour Information
· Restaurant & Bar Hours: 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
· Closed: Tuesdays
· Distillery Tour: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (approximately 30 minutes; reservation required)
· Tour Fee: 2,200 yen (tax included)
· Capacity: 6 people per tour (ages 20 and over)
🍽️Restaurant Use
· Lunch, Cafe, and Dinner available (during opening hours)
· The famous fish and chips, paired with whiskey and craft beer from the Nagahama Distillery, are popular choices.
💡Tips
· The tour takes about 30 minutes, so it's recommended to enjoy the restaurant and shop before or after.
· If you plan to use the restaurant after the tour, it's best to mention your intention when making your reservation.