Nami no Oto Brewing

There’s a brewery called Nami no Oto Brewing in Minamiawaji on Awaji Island, and its brewery was originally a warehouse for Awaji roof tiles that they DIY-renovated. It’s on the coast, where you can hear the sound of the waves.

The brewer, Mr. Kawano, is from Osaka. He studied agriculture all the way through graduate school for six years, worked for a food processing company for five years, and then spent another five years at Osaka’s Kotobukishuzo, where he gained experience brewing both sake and craft beer. He’s incredibly hands-on.

Mr. Kawano’s theme is “beer that brings out the ingredients,” and he was drawn to the richness of Awaji Island’s agricultural products, so he moved there with his family. In fact, he sources Navel oranges from the local Morika Orchard, and uses sea salt from Goshiki Beach as a hidden flavor in SESSION!!.

Their flagship, “THE WEST COAST,” is a West Coast IPA inspired by the sunset at Keino Matsubara, with classic hop bitterness and a solid malt presence. “Navel Orange Belgian White” uses Awaji’s specialty navel oranges for a refreshing profile. “BRUT HAZY IPA” has the interesting contrast of being dry yet tropical.

Also, they just released a new “TAKAMURA ROASTERS IPA,” a collaboration with a coffee roaster in Awaji City. And “WAKABA,” a sake-yeast ale, is an ambitious brew made with fresh rice called “Enmusubi” and fermented and aged at low temperature for three months. Brewing beer with sake yeast is pretty bold, right?

Their philosophy is to connect “people and agriculture,” “people and people,” and “people and culture” through beer, and they value working with local farmers and makers. In April, they’ll also be setting up at “Bakuen HYOGO 2026” in front of JR Hyogo Station, so they’re pushing outward from Awaji Island more and more.