Nagahama Distillery: History, Owner and Facts and FAQ
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Nagahama Distillery is a small craft whisky distillery in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, run by Nagahama Roman Beer Co., Ltd. The company's own site calls it the smallest distillery in Japan.
In this guide
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Nagahama at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Producer / distillery | Nagahama |
Location | Shiga, Japan |
Ownership | Nagahama Roman Beer Company |
History / origin | Japanese small-scale whisky and blended malt including sourced components |
Whisky characteristics | Japanese small-scale whisky and blended malt including sourced components |
Visiting | Consult current official visitor information; not every distillery is open to tours. |
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Where is Nagahama distillery?
In Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The company address is 14-1 Asahi-cho, Nagahama, Shiga 526-0056.
At a glance
Operator: Nagahama Roman Beer Co., Ltd., which also brews beer and runs a restaurant in a converted Edo period rice storehouse
Describes itself as Japan's smallest distillery, with distinctive pot stills and one fermentation per cask
Brands: Amahagan, plus single malt, new make and collaboration releases
The company
The official site presents three sides to the business: a restaurant in a renovated Edo period rice warehouse serving local ingredients including Omi beef, a brewery making three signature beers plus seasonal craft beer, and the whisky distillery. The distillery says it aims to please whisky fans in Japan and around the world 100 years from now.
Products
The product menu lists new make, single malt, Amahagan, artist collaborations, a Gold Saint anime series, other whisky and festival releases. News items from October 2026 mention a third collaboration, Amahagan Mizunara Cask Blend, which pairs Chikubu Island matured spirit with mizunara cask spirit, and an Amahagan World Malt zodiac bottle for 2027.
Visiting
The company runs distillery tours and bottle making experiences, announced month by month on its news page, for example distillery tours for December 2026 and early January 2027. Details and prices were not read, so check the official site.
Official website: Nagahama Roman Beer and Nagahama Distillery.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs Nagahama Distillery?
Nagahama Roman Beer Co., Ltd.
Where is it?
In Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture.
What is Amahagan?
A whisky brand from the distillery, including world malt and collaboration releases.
Sources and gaps
Facts come from the official Nagahama Roman Beer site (home page read 20 October 2026).
Gaps: founding year, still details, capacity, founders, ABVs, tour prices and the history pages were not read, and there is no Wikipedia article. Because the evidence is a single home page, this draft is short and should be expanded before publishing. Whisky Clan does not publish tasting notes in its distillery profiles.
What makes Nagahama distinctive?
Japanese small-scale whisky and blended malt including sourced components
Nagahama whisky bottles and expression comparison
AMAHAGAN World Malt includes sourced malt whisky. It should not be represented as entirely distilled at Nagahama.
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation and context |
|---|---|---|---|
Single Malt Nagahama | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Distillery's own Japanese malt whisky, batch dependent |
AMAHAGAN World Malt Edition No.1 | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | World malt series using imported malt components |
Explore related distillery guides
Frequently asked questions about Nagahama
Where is Nagahama located?
Shiga, Japan.
Who owns or operates Nagahama?
Nagahama Roman Beer Company.
What is distinctive about Nagahama?
Japanese small-scale whisky and blended malt including sourced components
Which Nagahama Distillery whiskies are documented?
Documented labels include Single Malt Nagahama, AMAHAGAN World Malt Edition No.1. Core and special releases are distinguished in the bottle section.
Can you tour Nagahama?
Please check the producer's current visitor information; not all locations welcome visitors.
Sources and editorial checks
Existing history and sources are retained above. Ownership, operating status, bottlings and tours may change.
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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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