apples (123rf)
Aomori Prefecture, the home of Misawa Air Base, produces about 439,000 tons of apples per year (as of 2022). The prefecture is responsible for about 60 percent of Japan’s apple production. That’s a lot of apples.
The fruit is the symbol of the area, and you’ll find just about any product featuring Aomori apples all over. Don’t miss favorites like apple pies, tarts and butter. And you may be surprised to find hard apple cider and apple brandy, a growing trend not only in Aomori, but Japan-wide.
Though hard apple cider is not as common as beer, wine or chuhai in Japan, the light, refreshing and sparkling drink is slowly starting to gain some following. At around 3-7 percent alcohol content, cider is also earning favor as a health-conscious alternative to other alcoholic beverages.
Apple brandy is also a relatively new concept in Japan, but a spirit that should not be overlooked. Like hard apple cider, apple brandy also showcases the quality and delicious flavor of local apples.
In Aomori’s scenic Tsugaru area near majestic Mt. Iwakisan, a local cidery and distillery are using distinct methods to create their own flavorful apple spirit concoctions, so take note and plan ahead to check them out.
Tugboat
In Hirakawa City, popular cidery Tugboat is producing Crazy Cider Dry, hard apple cider using a “fresh press method.”
This method gives the crisp, award-winning Crazy Cider Dry a well-balanced pucker and umami flavor, according to Tugboat owner Kiyoto Mizuguchi.
“During the fresh press method, all freshly pressed apple juice should be fermented immediately or within 24 hours,” Mizuguchi said. “It is slowly brewed under lower than 20 degrees centigrade until it is matured as an excellent hard cider.”
Mizuguchi said he was inspired to start brewing cider by the distilleries and breweries in Portland. In 2024, Tugboat started producing Crazy Days apple brandy, brewed with local apples and water straight from the Shirakami Mountains, according to its website.
Crazy Days (Photo courtesy of Tugboat Co. Ltd.)
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Crazy Cider (Photo courtesy of Tugboat Co. Ltd.)
Address: 35-2 Michinoshita, Arayamchi, Hirakawa City, Aomori Prefecture
Email: mizu792@gmail.com
TEL: 0172-55-0200
Mohodori Distillery
Another distillery pumping out a popular apple-based brandy is Mohodori Distillery in Goshogawara City. Since 2021, the production of Lovevados 40 first starts off as juice from fermented Fuji apples that is then distilled into delicious, crisp brandy.
According to Mami Yamaguchi, an employee at the distillery, the process of fermenting full fruits first allows for the final product to maintain “a refreshing aroma and clear and elegant flavor.”
(Mohodori Distillery)
(Mohodori Distillery)
Address: 508-5 Omachi, Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture
Hours: Tue – Sun, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
TEL: 0173-23-5805
Plan a visit
Both Tugboat and Mohodori Distillery are in Tsugaru, which boasts vast apple orchards perfect for a nice day trip. They both offer factory tours so you can witness the production up close.
Purchase their products online or at the factories and sample a different taste of Aomori!
