138-year-old miso brewery reborn as hands-on museum in Niigata

Hospitality operator SUZU GROUP has opened the YANAGI MISO MUSEUM, a new cultural facility dedicated to preserving the region’s fermentation heritage. The museum is housed within the historic Yanagi Jozo brewery, which the group acquired in November 2024.

The project transforms a portion of the working 138-year-old brewery into an experience-based museum. It was established as a place to connect the fermentation culture of Japan’s “snow country” with the future. Visitors can learn about traditional miso production, view historical photographs and tools, and observe the brewing process up close.

A key feature of the museum is the “Ishigura,” a former stone storehouse once used for brewing soy sauce. This renovated space now serves as a workshop area for events focused on fermentation and regional food culture. The room’s design retains the original exposed beams and framework, and a central table was repurposed from a large wooden tub formerly used for miso fermentation.

The facility includes a cafe that serves a “Miso Brewery Lunch.” The signature meal is the Yanagi Sennen Tofu Gozen, a set meal featuring tofu simmered in a homemade sauce made with the brewery’s signature brown rice miso. The dish was named with the wish that the Yanagi Jozo brewery will continue for another thousand years, offering visitors a taste of the region’s “delicious memories.”

Beyond the brewery walls, the museum aims to spur wider regional revitalisation. It will serve as the starting point for “Miso Kaido” walking tours, guiding visitors through the historic Mishima area, which was once home to over 50 blacksmiths and other traditional businesses. SUZU GROUP also plans to offer accommodation packages that combine a stay at its HAKKO HOUSE NAGAOKA property with hands-on experiences at the museum.