Discover the Birthplace of Japanese Whisky-Just 30 Minutes From Kyoto

"Located at the foot of Mount Tennōzan, about 30 minutes southwest of Kyoto, Yamazaki is the oldest malt whisky distillery in all of Japan. It was established in 1923 by founder Shinjiro Torii as the first venue dedicated to crafting Japanese whisky with the obsessive attention to detail that has made the spirit beloved worldwide. More than 100 years later, it remains the home for making Yamazaki single-malt whisky and other House of Suntory bottles."

"Scoring a ticket to this historic site and working distillery isn't necessarily easy. When you're planning a trip to Japan, you'll need to factor in your whisky drinking plans early. Yamazaki Distillery can only be toured with prebooked tickets (for about $20), and you must enter a lottery on the website for English tours hosted once per day-but the effort is well worth it."

Located at the foot of Mount Tennōzan about 30 minutes southwest of Kyoto, Yamazaki Distillery is Japan's oldest malt whisky distillery. Established in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii, it serves as the birthplace and ongoing home for Yamazaki single-malt and other House of Suntory whiskies. Tours require prebooked tickets costing about $20 and English tours are allocated via a website lottery held once per day. The distillery occupies a damp valley where the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers converge, creating an ideal climate for whisky maturation. Seasonal changes influence maturation and contribute to the distillery's distinctive terroir.

Read at Travel + Leisure