Since the days of the samurai, Fukushima has been known as Japans sake kingdom.

Here are the centuries-old breweries to visit.

Since then, the prefecture has been considered the most distinguishedsake-producing region ofJapan.

Buildings surrounded by snowy trees in Japan

Daishichi Sake Brewery.Credit:Courtesy of Daishichi Sake Brewery

Heres how to explore the areas best breweries over a long weekend.

TourTsurunoe Shuzo, which was founded in 1794 and now has a female head brewer.

Next, pop in toSuehiro Shuzo, which was the Meiji emperors official sake supplier.

Two men mix ingredients for traditional sake; sake bottles

Mashing the sake starter at Daishichi, a brewery founded in 1752; sakes of Daishichi Sake Brewery.Sakes of Daishichi Sake Brewery

The brewery pioneered theyamahaimethod, which allows the starter to undergo spontaneous fermentation, rather than using thekimototechnique.

Finish the day atCuisine Inn Tagoto, a 100-year-oldryokan.

Then head to the town of Aizubange and join the line outside Hiroki Shuzo brewery.

Japanese sake bottles

Daishichi Sake.Joey Wong/Courtesy of Fukushima tourism

From there, its only one block toAkebono Shuzo.