Spoon & Tamago - japanese art, design and culture

all photographs by Koji Fujii(TOREAL) courtesy EA Research and Design Office

Located in tranquil Joetsu City, Echigo Yakuso is a health food company that has been researching medicinal herbs and fermented foods for over 40 years. During their production process of products, which include teas, vinegars, kimchi and supplements, the company realized that tons of alcohol was being produced as a bi-product of the process. Instead of letting it go to waste, the company decided to put their knowledge of local herbs to use to create a distilled alcohol they called The Herbalist Yaso Spirits.

The name “Yaso” comes from the Japanese homonym meaning wild herbs, but ya can also mean 8, which served the purpose of indicated that 80 different herbs—from the more common mugwort and turmeric to the obscure mulukhiya and polygonatum—went into the spirit.

A process of trial-and-error ensued and in 2020, The Herbalist Yaso Gin was born. It would go on to win numerous international awards including high marks at the IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition.

To keep up with demand, the company decided to create a new distillery that would not only help stabilize supply but also create a hub for visitors to learn about the distillation process, local herbs and the Yaso brand.

They hired local architecture firm EA Research and Design Office, led by principal architect Takeru Shoji, to create a space that would help tell the story of Yaso Spirits. The Echigo Yakuso Distillery was completed in August 2022.

Comprised of three main floors, the structure is visually defined by large, arched openings on all four sides of the square box, connecting the architecture to the earth only at the four corner points. This gives “the architecture a sense of upward buoyancy rather than downward gravity,” explains the architect. Terraced gardens which grow juniper berries and other herbs surround the structure.

The second floor has a large atrium, which allows visitors to walk around the distiller and view the entire distillation and production process. A further flight of stairs leads to a bar space on the third floor with a 360° window that boasts generous views of Mt. Yoneyama and Mt. Myoko.

The ceiling is finished with distorted mirrored stainless steel. “The effect is reminiscent of the surface of water, and the scenery and people reflected in it blend, evoking the sensation of being immersed in water, or indeed in a gin,” says the architect.

If you’re in the Echigo region you should definitely consider a stop by The Echigo Yakuso Distillery (map), which offers tours, tastings and other workshops.