Gin owes its sharp and versatile flavor to a distinctive distilling process and the wide variety of botanicals used.

In this three-hour experience, you’ll tour a local distillery in Asahikawa to see how gin is made, taste several types of gin, and create your own using botanicals of your choice. After crafting your gin, enjoy two cocktails paired with seasonal snacks, and a Japanese teishoku set lunch is included.

Your day begins at Takasu Distillery, where you’ll take a guided tour of the facility and learn about gin production. Sample different gins at the distillery’s bar and discover how botanicals influence the flavor.

Next, enjoy a Japanese set lunch at a nearby restaurant with a variety of options. After lunch, you’ll select from a range of botanicals to make your own gin and taste your creation.

Finish the experience by sipping two cocktails accompanied by seasonal snacks and take home a few 200 ml bottles of the gin you made.

Takasu Distillery is about a 30-minute taxi ride from Asahikawa Station. Asahikawa, Hokkaido’s second-largest city, is surrounded by rivers and mountains and offers a variety of attractions, including its famous winter festival with ice sculptures and the hearty local Asahikawa ramen.

This experience earned the EAT! MEET! JAPAN award in 2023, a program that highlights authentic Japanese food and drink experiences to preserve and share the country’s culinary traditions with the world.