Photo: 663highland / CC BY 2.5This is the distillery Nikka built on the Yoichi coast, and it is open to visitors. The guided tour is free and ends with a tasting, which is unusual in itself. It goes through the outdoor production area, which Nikka's page says you cannot enter without the tour.
You do not need to book to see the Nikka Museum, the distillery shop or the restaurant, which all admit without a reservation by the shop entrance. If you want the guided tour of the production area you must reserve it through the distillery's booking page. The tasting bar serves a range of Nikka whiskies, including distillery-only bottlings, for a fee.
The catch is the paperwork and the distance. Tour times are published only on the booking page, so book before you sail rather than on the day. The trip takes about an hour each way and last entry is 15:30. If you do not drink whisky, the museum alone is not worth the trip.
Five things the plaques won't tell you
- Book the guided tour in advance on Nikka's reservation page; tour times are only listed there.
- Last entry to the no-reservation areas is 15:30, so plan to arrive by early afternoon at the latest.
- The restaurant, RITA's Kitchen, serves 10:00–15:50 with last order at 15:20, and needs no reservation.
- The distillery is closed 23 December to 7 January and on 11 June.
- Check the train timetable at Otaru Station before leaving, and note the time of the last train back.
The tasting bar serves a range of Nikka whiskies, including distillery-only bottlings, for a fee.
Guided days from Otaru
Booked before you sail — there is no tour desk at the pier. Booking through these links supports the site.
More in Otaru
Questions people ask here
How do I get from Otaru to the Nikka Yoichi distillery?
Take the JR Hakodate Line local train from Otaru Station to Yoichi (about 25 minutes) and walk about 5 minutes. Nikka also lists a bus from Otaru Station toward Yoichi at about 40 minutes, then a 2-minute walk from Yoichi-eki-mae Jujigai.
Is the Nikka Yoichi distillery tour free?
Yes. The guided tour is free and ends with a tasting. It requires a reservation made in advance on Nikka's booking page. The museum, shop and restaurant do not need a reservation, and the tasting bar is paid.
What time does the Yoichi distillery close?
Last entry to the no-reservation areas is 15:30. The distillery is closed 23 December to 7 January and on 11 June. We could not find a published opening time on the pages we opened.