Shinshu Mars Distillery: History, Owner and Facts and FAQ
Updated: 2 hours ago
Shinshu Mars, now officially called Mars Komagatake Distillery, sits at the foot of the Central Alps in Nagano Prefecture. Opened in 1985 by shochu maker Hombo Shuzo, it is one of Japan's highest whisky distilleries.
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Shinshu Mars at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery | Shinshu Mars |
Country / region | Nagano, Japan |
Owner / producer | Hombo Shuzo |
History | Mars Whisky is made by Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society says Hombo was founded in 1872 on the southern island of Kyushu and began distilling shochu in 1909. |
Whisky identity | Mars single malt and blended expressions are distinct |
Visiting | Check the current official visiting arrangements before travelling. |
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Where is Shinshu Mars distillery?
The distillery is at Miyada, a village in Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture. Hombo's official site places it at 798 metres above sea level at the foot of the Kiso Komagatake in the Central Alps. It is about 5 minutes by car from Komagane IC on the Chuo Expressway.
History and owner
Mars Whisky is made by Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society says Hombo was founded in 1872 on the southern island of Kyushu and began distilling shochu in 1909. Hombo's own site speaks of more than 150 years since its founding in the fifth year of Meiji. The company obtained a licence to distil whisky in 1949, which Hombo marks as the start of the Mars Whisky story.
Kiichiro Iwai designed the early distilling. Iwai is regarded as one of the founding figures of Japanese whisky, and the SMWS says he worked with Masataka Taketsuru at Settsu Shuzo. He helped set up Hombo's Yamanashi winery and distillery in 1960. Distilling there was suspended in 1972.
In 1985 Hombo built a new distillery at the foot of Mt. Komagatake in Nagano. Production was mothballed from 1992 to 2011, and the distillery is today owned by Hombo Shuzo. Iwai's original pot stills were moved to Nagano and later replaced with exact replicas, per the SMWS. Hombo says the original Iwai-style pot, in use until 2014, is displayed at the site.
Stills and production
Pot stills: two, a 6,000 litre wash still and an 8,200 litre spirit still (SMWS, April 2024)
Fermentation: six washbacks, three wooden and three stainless steel, running 72 to 96 hours
Capacity: 180,000 litres of pure alcohol a year
Distiller named by the SMWS: Kunihiro Kawakami
Production season: late August to the end of June, with a maintenance break of about two months from July (Hombo)
Casks: mostly ex-bourbon, plus sherry casks and the company's own wine barrels, per Hombo and the SMWS
Sister sites
Hombo's second whisky distillery, Mars Tsunuki, opened in 2016 in Kagoshima on Kyushu. The company also ages whisky on Yakushima island. Many of its limited editions combine Komagatake and Tsunuki spirit.
Range
Hombo's visitor page lists these Mars whiskies among those sold at the distillery:
Single Malt KOMAGATAKE: the flagship single malt, with yearly and limited editions
Single Malt TSUNUKI limited editions
Mars Maltage Cosmo Malt Selection
IWAI Tradition: distillery shop exclusive, honouring Kiichiro Iwai
TWIN ALPS, Mars Extra and Mars Whisky for Outdoor Lovers: blended whiskies
The Lucky Cat series: limited cat-themed releases, one of which is sold out
Visiting Mars Komagatake
Per Hombo, the distillery is open 9:00 to 16:00 (reception and bar until 15:30), closed 29 December to 3 January. The tour is free and self-guided with an observation passage, takes about 20 minutes, and groups are limited to 9 people. Tastings are paid, roughly 20 to 30 types, up to three glasses per person. Parking is free. The barrel storage tour is currently suspended. Details were read on 20 October 2026, so confirm before travelling. Phone: 0265-85-0017.
Official website: Hombo Shuzo, Mars Komagatake Distillery
Shinshu Mars FAQ
Where is Shinshu Mars?
In Miyada village, Nagano Prefecture.
Who owns it?
Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd.
Why is it notable?
At 798 metres it is among Japan's highest whisky distilleries, according to Hombo and the SMWS.
Was it ever closed?
It was mothballed from 1992 to 2011.
Is Shinshu Mars the same as Mars Komagatake?
Yes. The SMWS says the distillery, previously known as Mars Shinshu, is now Mars Komagatake.
Can I tour it?
Yes. The tour is free, and paid tastings are at the bar.
Sources and gaps
Loaded: Hombo Shuzo official English site (Mars Komagatake visiting page), Scotch Malt Whisky Society Unfiltered issue 92 (April 2024), Spirited Asia visit guide (2019). Did not load: Hombo English home page and Whiskybase page; Wikipedia has no Mars Shinshu page. Not reached: ScotchWhisky.com, Whisky Advocate. Conflicts: Hombo whisky licence 1949 versus Wikipedia-based draft details; altitude 798 metres per Hombo versus around 800 in earlier draft. Mothballing years rest on search snippets and the earlier Wikipedia-based draft. Cover photo: Wikimedia Commons.
What makes Shinshu Mars distinctive?
Mars single malt and blended expressions are distinct.
Shinshu Mars whisky bottles and releases
The following expressions are documented in producer or release sources. Special editions can be sold out and some blended labels include sourced whisky.
Bottle or expression | Age or release | ABV | Producer documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
Mars Komagatake Single Malt | Batch varies | Check label | Shinshu malt |
Mars IWAI Tradition | NAS | Check label | Wider Mars blended brand |
Mars Maltage Cosmo Malt Selection | NAS | Check label | Wider Mars blended malt |
Rare and historic whisky editions
These are historical or special releases, not live stock listings.
Bottle or expression | Age or release | ABV | Producer documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
Mars Malt Le Papillon Triple Cask Kiberitateha | Limited | Check label | Limited producer bottling |
The table records named expressions, not live stock. Bottle strength and cask treatment can vary by market and release. Always consult the producer.
More distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Shinshu Mars
Where is Shinshu Mars based?
Nagano, Japan.
Who owns Shinshu Mars?
Hombo Shuzo.
What is notable about Shinshu Mars?
Mars single malt and blended expressions are distinct.
Which bottles does Shinshu Mars have?
Mars Komagatake Single Malt, Mars Iwai Tradition. Releases and availability change.
Can you visit Shinshu Mars?
Check the distillery's official visitor or tour information before making travel plans.
Sources and editorial checks
The original history, references and research remain in this guide. Whisky range and visitor information 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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