Hokkaido is the northernmost of Japan's main islands and home to Nikka's Yoichi Distillery, founded by Masataka Taketsuru in 1934. Taketsuru selected the Yoichi coastal site for its climatic similarity to Scotland — cool summers, snowy winters, salt-laden air. The Yoichi Distillery is one of the few in the world still using coal-fired direct heating of pot stills rather than indirect steam, producing a richer, more robust spirit than typical indirect-heat operations. Additional Hokkaido distilleries include the Nikka Subaru and several modern craft operations established in the 2010s and 2020s.
Quick facts
- Type
- Region
- Region
- Hokkaido
- Origin
- Hokkaido, Japan
Yoichi and Coal-Fired Stills
Yoichi Distillery (Nikka, 1934) is one of the world's last whisky distilleries to direct-fire its pot stills with coal — a labour-intensive method that produces a richer, oilier spirit profile compared with steam-heated stills. Stillmen feed coal manually through the campaign. The practice has been preserved despite higher costs because the resulting spirit character is central to the Yoichi house style.
Sources & further reading (1)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-15
Frequently asked questions
Why did Taketsuru choose Hokkaido?
Masataka Taketsuru considered Hokkaido's coastal climate the closest analogue in Japan to Scotland, where he had trained in distilling. Cool summers, snowy winters, salt air, and abundant clear water supported his ambition to produce Scotch-style single malt in Japan. He founded Yoichi Distillery in 1934 after leaving Suntory.