Yuasa
historic_site
湯浅町
Historic soy sauce town with narrow streets lined by traditional wood-paneled buildings and artisan workshops.
Small, unhurried town in Wakayama Prefecture widely regarded as the birthplace of Japanese soy sauce. Narrow lanes wind past rows of traditional wood-paneled buildings, many of which once housed soy sauce breweries dating back to the 13th century. A few working breweries still operate today and welcome visitors for tours where you can see the wooden vats and smell the fermenting moromi mash. Walking the preserved streets feels like stepping back centuries, and the nearby coastline adds the option of a seaside detour after exploring the town.
Yuasa has documented soy sauce production dating to 1254, making it the recognized origin of the condiment in Japan. The Jukoji historic quarter has over 300 registered traditional structures, including active sake and soy sauce breweries. The Kadocho brewery (founded 1841) offers guided tours and tasting by advance booking. JR Kisei Line runs from Wakayama City in 45 minutes and from the Kii-Katsuura direction in about 1.5 hours.
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