Miyagikyo Distillery: History, Owner and Facts and FAQ
Updated: 22 hours ago
Miyagikyo is Nikka's second distillery, opened in 1969 in a green valley west of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture. It was originally known as Sendai distillery, and it is where Nikka makes its floral, fruity style of malt and its Coffey grain whisky.
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Miyagikyo at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery | Miyagikyo |
Country / region | Miyagi, Japan |
Owner / producer | Nikka Whisky / Asahi |
History | Nikka's official site says Masataka Taketsuru established the distillery in 1969, driven by the dream of crafting a more complex whisky by blending different malts. |
Whisky identity | The 12 year old is a historic discontinued expression |
Visiting | Check the current official visiting arrangements before travelling. |
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Where is Miyagikyo distillery?
Miyagikyo is near Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture, in the Tohoku region of Japan. Nikka's own site places it in a lush valley west of the city, in an area known as Mori no Miyako, the City of Trees.
History and owner
Nikka's official site says Masataka Taketsuru established the distillery in 1969, driven by the dream of crafting a more complex whisky by blending different malts. He and his son Takeshi, with a dedicated team, searched across Japan for a suitable site before choosing the valley. (Nikka's company timeline describes Takeshi Taketsuru as Masataka's nephew and adopted son, which is the same person described in two ways.)
The distillery is owned by The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd. Nikka joined Asahi Breweries in 2001, and the Nikka site carries the Asahi Breweries copyright. Miyagikyo was the second distillery Nikka built, after Yoichi in Hokkaido.
Location, water and setting
Two clear streams surround the site: the Hirose River and the Nikkawa River.
The distillery water comes from the Nikkawa River, which flows from the Zao Mountain Range. Nikka says it has one of the lowest hardness levels among Japanese distilleries.
Nikka tells the story that Taketsuru decided on the site straight away after tasting whisky mixed with the river water.
Taketsuru's guiding idea was that good whisky cannot be made without respecting nature. Trees were left standing where possible, power lines were laid underground, and buildings sit at different floor levels to follow the land.
Stills and production
To make a style distinct from the bold Yoichi malt, Taketsuru chose pot stills with bulging necks and upward lyne arms, with steam heating at 130 degrees Celsius. Nikka explains that this lets vapours return to the pot repeatedly, giving a refined, soft character. Wikipedia lists 8 pot stills at the distillery.
Miyagikyo is also home to Coffey stills, an old continuous distillation method used for grain whisky made from corn and other grains. Nikka's site says Coffey grain whisky has been produced at Miyagikyo since the Coffey stills were installed in the 1960s. Nikka's timeline is more specific: the Coffey still was installed at the Nishinomiya plant in 1963 and the Coffey stills were transferred to Miyagikyo in 1999. We have kept both statements here, as the sources differ.
Range and milestones
Miyagikyo Single Malt: one of Nikka's core single malt brands. Single Malt Sendai-Miyagikyo 12 Years Old launched in 1989, alongside Yoichi 12.
Nikka Coffey Grain: pre-launched in Europe in 2012. Nikka Coffey Malt followed in 2014.
Nikka Coffey Gin and Coffey Vodka: launched in 2017.
Nikka Discovery series: the first release in 2021 included Miyagikyo Single Malt Peated, and the 2022 release included Miyagikyo Single Malt Aromatic Yeast.
Nikka The Grain Whisky: released in 2023 as the third Discovery release.
Miyagikyo malt also goes into Nikka pure malts and blends, according to Nikka.
Visiting Miyagikyo
Nikka's page lists the visitor centre open 9:00 to 16:00, the gift shop 9:15 to 16:15 and the warehouse 9:15 to 16:00. Closed dates shown are 23 December to 7 January and 18 to 20 August. Tours can be booked through the official site. These details were read on 20 October 2026, so check before you travel.
Official website: Nikka Whisky, Sendai Miyagikyo Distillery
Miyagikyo FAQ
Where is Miyagikyo?
Near Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.
Who owns Miyagikyo?
The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd., part of the Asahi Breweries group.
What was Miyagikyo called originally?
Sendai distillery.
When did it open?
1969.
Does Miyagikyo make grain whisky?
Yes. Coffey stills at Miyagikyo produce Nikka's Coffey grain whisky.
Who chose the site?
Masataka Taketsuru, with his son Takeshi and a team who searched across Japan.
What makes Miyagikyo distinctive?
The 12 year old is a historic discontinued expression.
Miyagikyo whisky bottles and releases
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt | NAS / release varies | Check bottle | The 12 year old is a historic discontinued expression |
Nikka Miyagikyo 12 Year Old | 12 years | Check bottle | Historic or limited release. Confirm current availability. |
The table records named expressions, not live stock. Bottle strength and cask treatment can vary by market and release. Always consult the producer.
This historical photograph shows a labelled Miyagikyo whisky bottle from 2014, rather than a guarantee of current packaging or availability.
Pictured: Miyagikyo single malt whisky bottle photographed in 2014 by KASEI.
Explore more Japan distilleries
Explore other whisky producers in Japan.
Frequently asked questions about Miyagikyo
Where is Miyagikyo based?
Miyagi, Japan.
Who owns Miyagikyo?
Nikka Whisky / Asahi.
What is notable about Miyagikyo?
The 12 year old is a historic discontinued expression.
Which bottles does Miyagikyo have?
Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt, Nikka Miyagikyo 12 Year Old. Releases and availability change.
Can you visit Miyagikyo?
Check the distillery's official visitor or tour information before making travel plans.
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Nikka Whisky, Sendai Miyagikyo Distillery
Sources, image credits and official links
Loaded: Nikka official site (Miyagikyo distillery page and company history page, both read 20 October 2026), Wikipedia (Miyagikyo distillery, short article). Did not load: the Nikka Japanese age-gate pages. Not tried or not reached: Whisky Advocate (home page only, nothing on Miyagikyo found), Whiskybase (page not found), ScotchWhisky.com. Gaps: stills sizes, annual capacity, current ABVs and prices, and master blender names are not confirmed here. Cover photo: Wikimedia Commons.
The original history, references and research remain in this guide. Whisky range and visitor information may change.
Miyagikyo whisky bottle photograph by KASEI, 24 November 2014. CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for this guide.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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