The Sake Anatomy › Sake Brand Index › Tateyama
No.92 · Brewery Profile
Tateyama立山 · Tateyama Shuzo 立山酒造
Named for the Tateyama range, one of Japan’s storied Three Great Mountains, Tateyama Shuzo has brewed on the Tonami Plain since 1830 and is now Toyama Prefecture’s largest producer. Soft underground water from the Sho River system and color-sorted rice underpin a lineup running from everyday honjozo to the prize-winning Amaharashi daiginjo, named for one of Toyama’s most photographed coastal views.
Who makes Tateyama?
Tateyama Shuzo has brewed on the Tonami Plain since 1830 and is now Toyama Prefecture’s largest producer. Named for the Tateyama range, one of Japan’s storied Three Great Mountains, the brewery draws on soft underground water from the Sho River system and color-sorted rice.
What does Tateyama taste like?
Tagged Elegant & Refined and Rich & Umami, the range spans kunshu (fragrant) and junshu (rich) styles. The prize-winning Amaharashi Junmai Daiginjo, named for the Amaharashi Coast scenic spot, is the most polished at 37% milling; the standard Junmai Ginjo balances sweetness with rich umami and a refined ginjo aroma; the seasonal Hiyaoroshi Junmai Ginjo shares that same fuller-bodied profile.
Which bottle should you try first?
Start with the Amaharashi Junmai Daiginjo, the brewery’s prize-winning, most highly polished bottling, named for one of Toyama’s most photographed coastal views.
How does Tateyama compare to other Toyama breweries?
Tateyama’s Elegant & Refined tag matches prefecture-mate Masuizumi, though Masuizumi leans more Aromatic & Fruity where Tateyama pairs it with Rich & Umami instead; Katsukoma sits at a drier point on the spectrum, tagged Rich & Umami and Dry & Crisp.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tateyama named for?
The Tateyama mountain range, one of Japan’s storied Three Great Mountains.
What water does Tateyama Shuzo use?
Soft underground water from the Sho River system.
What is the Amaharashi Junmai Daiginjo named after?
The Amaharashi Coast, one of Toyama’s most photographed scenic spots.
The bottles
Amaharashi Junmai Daiginjo雨晴 純米大吟醸
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“Named for the Amaharashi Coast scenic spot in Toyama.”
Junmai Ginjo純米吟醸
醇酒 Junshu · Rich“Balanced sweetness with rich umami and a refined ginjo aroma.”
Hiyaoroshi Junmai Ginjoひやおろし 純米吟醸
醇酒 Junshu · Rich“Seasonal autumn release.”
Reading the bars: an editorial flavor reading (0–5) of each bottle — Dry→Rich, Light→Full, Subtle→Aromatic, Low→High acidity — not laboratory values. The colored badge is the SSI four-type classification (薫酒 Kunshu · 爽酒 Soshu · 醇酒 Junshu · 熟酒 Jukushu). SMV and acidity appear only where the brewery publishes them.
Sources: sake-tateyama.com · sakenomy.jp