灘(Nada): a sake giant between Nishinomiya and Hyogotsu

Nishinomiya-Kobe area has been known for big sake companies: Ozeki, Sawanotsuru, Shochikubai, Kenbishi, Hakushika, Nihonsakari and so on. They are all renowned and can even be found outside Japan. Nada ward of Kobe city has another concentration of famous sake breweries. 

This has something to do with Saigoku Kaido route. 

When I was researching about this area, I noticed that there are two Saigoku Kaido routes: Saigoku Kaido highway as we’ve been tracking down here, and Saigoku Hama Kaido(西国浜街道), which I am not familiar with. 

浜(Hama) means coast or beach. As you see, the sea water is very near. Considering how much modern coastlines of big cities have been buried to build modern seaports, Saigoku Hama Kaido is going indeed by the beach or the coast. 
I also noticed that Saigoku Hama Kaido goes basically along with, or on today’s national R-43 and/or Hanshin Highway number 3, which was severely damaged by 1995 earthquake. I remember on that morning, I woke up with a big shockwave that struck my head from behind. I was at my mom’s house in Nagoya, over 190 km away from Nada ward. I saw on TV news that Hanshin Highway number 3 fell and destroyed. 



On the picture below, you will see that Saigoku Kaido main route goes along National R-2, further inland from Saigoku Hama Kaido. 


Along Saigoku Hama Kaido, there are several sake breweries. One of online resources says that the main route was for lords and high class folks, while Hama Kaido was for low-class and normal people. 

Here is a sign of Saigoku Hama Kaido route. 
Again, you will see how near the sea is from Saigoku Hama Kaido. 

References: 

The web institute of local history of Kobe and Hyogo. KDS.(original title:神戸・兵庫の郷土史web研究館　地域創生・ツーリズム研究所) https://kdskenkyu.saloon.jp/tale83shk.htm (In Japanese. Accessed in 5/6/2025)

Sake Breweries of Nada map. Kobe city.(Japanese)  https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/documents/15721/sakaguramap.pdf (Accessed in 5/6/2025)





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