Visit Tsunan

Snow becomes water, water raises the rice, and rice and water become sake. The chain described on the terroir page can be followed on the ground in Tsunan.

The stops, in order

Arranged in the order the water flows, from the mountain snow to the brewery.

1. Snow and water

   Mount Naeba and its snowmelt

   TSUNAN SAKE BREWERY describes its brewing water as snowmelt from the Naeba mountain range: very soft water. Snow that settles on the mountains melts, sinks into the ground, and over time returns as springs and groundwater. The story of the sake starts with this snow.

   Naeba-Sanroku Geopark (official, in Japanese)

2. Water

   Ryugakubo spring pond

   A spring-fed pond selected for the Ministry of the Environment's "100 Exquisite and Well-Conserved Waters" of Japan. According to the Tsunan tourism association, about 30 tonnes of water rise every minute, some 43,000 tonnes a day, so the 1.2-hectare pond is replaced within a day. It is the place to see snowmelt returning to the surface. Drinking water can be drawn near the car park. It closes in winter.

   Ryugakubo (Tsunan tourism association, in Japanese)

3. Land

   The river terraces and the Mountain Park Tsunan lookout

   The Shinano River and its tributaries cut the land into steps, up to nine levels, said to be the largest river terraces in Japan. Fields and villages sit on the flat terraces, and springs emerge from the terrace cliffs. Temperature and snowmelt timing change with altitude, which shapes how the town farms. The tourism association points to the lookout at Mountain Park Tsunan for a view across old and young terraces at once.

   River terraces (Tsunan tourism association, in Japanese)

4. Jomon

   Umorea, Tsunan Archaeological Center

   People have lived on these spring-fed terraces since the Jomon period. Umorea shows finds from the Honnoki site, flame-style pottery, and a full-size reconstruction of a pit dwelling from the Okinohara site. It also houses a visitor space for the Naeba-Sanroku Geopark. The museum opened in October 2025 in the renovated building of a closed elementary school.

   Umorea (official, in Japanese)

5. The land's story

   Naeba-Sanroku Geopark

   Spanning Tsunan and the village of Sakae in Nagano Prefecture, it was certified as a Japanese Geopark in 2014. It presents the land made by volcanoes and rivers, and the nature and life shaped by snow, as one story: a map and guide for the stops on this page.

   Naeba-Sanroku Geopark (Tsunan tourism association, in Japanese)

6. Sake

   TSUNAN SAKE BREWERY

   Wrapped in snow, the brewery stays naturally cold through winter, which suits slow fermentation. Here Uonuma Koshihikari and water from the Naeba range become GO GRANDCLASS and GO UONUMA SPARKLING. The brewery has a shop. Please contact the brewery before visiting to ask about tours and opening days.

   TSUNAN SAKE BREWERY (official)

Before you go

• Season. Tsunan lies in heavy-snow country, and in some winters the snow is several meters deep. Some places, such as Ryugakubo, close in winter, and some roads close too.
• Hours and fees. They change, so they are not listed here. Check each official page.
• Roads. Restrictions on national and prefectural roads are published by Niigata Prefecture.
• Where to stay and eat. The Tsunan tourism association covers the whole town (in Japanese).