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画像引用：一般社団法人　湯浅町観光協会

Kakunaga Soy Sauce Museum

和歌山県

4.1

Tourist Information of This Area

general.prefecture.

Soy sauce museum where you can learn about the history and manufacturing methods

This is a museum where you can learn about the history of soy sauce. Yuasa, where soy sauce originated, has a history of soy sauce that dates back to about 750 years ago, and you can see the traditional brewing warehouses that have been passed down. In addition, panels and videos introduce the manufacturing process of soy sauce, so why not learn about the history of soy sauce, which is essential to our diet?

Features & How to Enjoy

Classic HistoryCulture

Highlights

Point 1

Enjoy Learning about the History and Process of Soy Sauce Production!

The Kakunomoto Soy Sauce Museum, including its newly built annex, is open to the public. The annex displays tools related to soy sauce production, such as a foot-powered wheat grinder and brewing barrels, making for an interesting exhibit. For those interested in soy sauce production or historical tools, the museum is a must-visit spot. Additionally, through dioramas and panels, the museum provides visitors with an enjoyable opportunity to learn about the history and process of soy sauce production. For those interested in soy sauce or cultural experiences, the Kakunomoto Soy Sauce Museum is an attractive destination!

Point 2

Experience the Art of Soy Sauce Making from the Good Old Days at the Craftsman's Warehouse

The craftsman's warehouse at Kakunaga Soy Sauce Museum is an approximately 80 square meter brewing warehouse built in 1866. The tools used in soy sauce production are displayed in this warehouse, and each one bears the efforts and hardships of the craftsmen of the past. When you visit the craftsman's warehouse, you'll feel as if you've slipped back in time. You can experience the atmosphere of a soy sauce warehouse from over 100 years ago and reflect on the art of soy sauce making from the good old days. The craftsman's warehouse is a valuable space that embodies history and tradition, and is an attractive sightseeing spot for those interested in the process and culture of soy sauce making. Why not enjoy the world of traditional soy sauce making at the craftsman's warehouse of Kakunaga Soy Sauce Museum?

Point 3

Experience the Best Quality Soy Sauce at Kakunoshou Honten!

画像引用：湯浅町観光協会

Located near the Kakunoshou Soy Sauce Museum, Kakunoshou Honten is situated in an area known as the birthplace of soy sauce and was once a bustling place with 92 soy sauce shops lining the streets. This area is now designated as an important preservation district for groups of traditional buildings and is highly valued for its historical significance. Kakunoshou Honten itself boasts a history of over 170 years and has a storehouse that has been in operation since the twelfth year of the Tenpo era. Inside the shop, Yoshino cedar barrels and traditional manufacturing methods such as the use of Yunasaki Tamari are employed, preserving the traditional way of making soy sauce from a bygone era. While protecting the region's soy sauce culture and traditions, Kakunoshou Honten provides customers with the best quality soy sauce. For those who want to taste flavorful soy sauce while experiencing history and tradition, this is a must-see place. Come and experience the allure of soy sauce at Kakunoshou Honten!

Point 4

A Town with Historical Buildings and a Charming View!

The area around Kakunomasa Soy Sauce Museum has been designated as an "Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings," so there are many traditional old buildings still standing. You can enjoy strolling around and taking in the charming old townscapes and historical buildings. Additionally, the Kumano Kodo passes through this area. The Kumano Kodo is an ancient pilgrimage route, and you can stroll along it while feeling its history. You can also enjoy shopping along the way. There are various local specialties and souvenirs available. Please enjoy a stroll where you can touch the history and culture in a lively atmosphere!

Point 5

Experience the Soy Sauce Culture of Yuasa with Soy Sauce Manju

At Tsunenaga Hasekura Memorial Museum in Yuasa, you can try the famous soy sauce manju. At first glance, it looks like a regular soy sauce-flavored manju, but it has a special flavor because it uses Yuasa soy sauce. When you open the package, the aroma of soy sauce spreads out. The manju is made with a balance of soy sauce, and the sweet bean paste inside is slightly sweetened. The small size makes it easy to eat, and the delicious taste makes you want to eat another one. It's a perfect souvenir from Yuasa. You can feel the soy sauce culture of Yuasa with the special taste of soy sauce manju. It's recommended for those who love sweets or want to enjoy the flavor of soy sauce.

Sightseeing

Museum of Soy Sauce Brewing with Over 750 Years of History

The Kakunaka Soy Sauce Museum is a museum of a long-established soy sauce brewery that emphasizes handmade production. Founded in 1841, it has been passed down in Kishu Yuasa and you can learn about the traditional brewing methods and history. The museum introduces soy sauce making in an easy-to-understand way through dioramas and panels. In addition, the craftsman's warehouse displays brewing tools that were actually used, making for an interesting tour. For those who wish to visit the craftsman's warehouse, you can watch a video at the soy sauce museum about the manufacturing process of soy sauce. In December 2022, 11 buildings, including soy sauce breweries built from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era, were designated as important cultural properties by the government. The historical buildings are also one of the highlights. At the Kakunaka Soy Sauce Museum, you can experience interesting tours and learning while feeling the history and tradition of soy sauce. Please visit and experience the charm of handmade soy sauce!

Access

Access the Soy Sauce Museum with a 15-Minute Walk from JR Yuasa Station

If using public transportation to access the Tsunaga Soy Sauce Museum, it is about a 15-minute walk from JR Yuasa Station. You can refer to signs and maps to find your way from the station to the museum. If traveling by car, it's about a 5-minute drive from the Arita Interchange on the Hanwa Expressway. Simply follow the road signs after exiting the interchange, and you should arrive at the museum relatively easily.

Basic Information

	Address	50 Yuasa, Yuasa-cho, Arida-gun, Wakayama 643-0004
	Business Hours	9:00～17:00
	TEL	0737-62-2035
	Web Site	http://www.kadocho.co.jp/

Average Review

4.1

4 Reviews

こちらのガイドさんの醤油愛に感化されました。「最初の一滴」の物語を熱く語って頂きました。湯浅から紀勢線の２駅南の由良の興国寺を開山された法燈国師（ほっとうこくし）さんが南宋に留学され味噌作りを学ばれ伝えたのが「径山寺味噌（きんざんみそ）」。日本に戻られてから味噌作りの中で上澄み液を調味料として美味しいと気付き「醤油」が誕生しました。なぜ由良で作られ無かったかと言うと、由良の水はアルカリ性で不向き、湯浅の水は山田川の伏流水が豊富でしかも軟水で大変適していたと。無料でビデオも楽しく見せられて、荷物になるので敬遠していた「濁り醤」を買ってしまったのは言うまでも有りません。「小学校の見学があると、法燈国師さんがいなかったら醤油は無かってん。ほっとこうひぃ（ホットコーヒー）さんと覚えといて」とお話しされているそうです。ガイドさんの豆知識（その１）法燈国師さん＝鎌倉時代、生国は信州松本。高野山で修行を積まれ、南宋に留学、醸造を学ばれる。発酵食のお陰で92才の長寿だった。（その２）径山寺味噌＝「けいざんじみそ」と間違った読みをされるので後から「金山寺味噌」の漢字があてられた。（補足）豊富な伏流水も、「木の国」紀州の豊かな森が有ってのこそです。

近くにお店も構える角長醤油さんの資料館。醤油作りの器具や資料を見学でき、ビデオも流されていました。湯浅醤油が日本における醤油の起源とのこと。その元は、僧侶が中国から金山寺味噌を持ち帰ったこと。そこからの液体をとるために、醤油作りが始まったとのことでした。

（2022年5月情報）日本の醤油の故郷と言われている湯浅の醤油は、当時に近い製法を守っているのは、ゆささの地ではこちらの角長さんのほか、もうほとんど残っていないないそうです。当時の醤油の製法の様子を、その道具や機械とともにそのまま展示した資料館。千葉県銚子の醤油（ヤマサやヒゲタなど）も、湯浅からの移民が黒潮にのって、銚子にやってきて主にその製造を担ったと言います。ここ資料館によると、日本の醤油の由来は、中国の宋に渡った法燈国師（1207ー1299）が、中国の金山寺味噌の製法を日本に持ち込み、その製法時に桶底に溜まった液や上澄の液が醤油の元になったそうです。なぜ湯浅で醤油作りが発展したのか？以下巽好幸著『「美食地質学」入門』109−110ページより麹菌が湯浅醤油発展の鍵を握っている。穀類のデンプンを、発酵可能なブドウ糖へと糖化させるには麹菌が健やかに育たなければならない。この麹菌の生育にとって最大の敵は「鉄分」であり、鉄分の多い水を用いたのでは糖化がうまく進まず、うまい醤油はできない。この麹菌の特性にこそ、由良に代わって湯浅で醤油作りが発展していった理由である。この由良あたりには、1億数千万年前の付加体、、おおよそ1億年前から数千万年前の付加体と地下深部から上昇してきた変成岩、それにごく最近（約1万年前以降）に河川などが堆積させた砂利が分布している。・・・興国寺は混在岩からなる小山に建っているし、由良の背後にも、この混在岩が広く分布して山地を成している。だからこの辺りの水は混在岩、特にその中に点在する玄武岩中の鉄分を溶かし込んでいる。そのせいで醤油の製造に欠かせない麹菌の活動が制限されてしまい、良い醤油が作れなかったに違いない。一方で湯浅の河川や地下水は、鉄をほとんど含まない砂や泥の地層を通り抜けてくる。そのため、麹菌の働きを最大限に生かせるのだ。湯浅の人たちは「湯浅の水が醤油づくりに適している」というが、その原因は地質にある。

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日本のエーゲ海と呼ばれる石灰岩の景勝地！