Everything you need to know about Chichibu & Hanyu Distillery

A brief History

Chichibu & Hanyu, Japan. Founded in 1940s & 2008.

Chichibu and Hanyu are closely linked, and you can’t really talk about one without the other. Both are tied to Ichiro Akuto, a key figure in modern Japanese whisky.

Hanyu came first. It was a small distillery in Saitama, Japan, originally founded in the 1940s. It quietly produced whisky for decades but closed in 2000. At the time, much of its remaining stock could have disappeared — but Ichiro Akuto stepped in and saved a large number of casks.

Those casks later became some of the most talked-about Japanese whiskies ever released, especially the “Card Series” bottlings, which are now highly collectible.

Chichibu is the next chapter. Founded by Ichiro Akuto in 2008, it’s a modern distillery built on lessons from Hanyu, but with more control over production and a clearer long-term vision.

Together, they represent a bridge between old and new Japanese whisky.

Explore all Japanese Whisky

Taste Profile


Spicy	Fruity	Sweet

Chichibu whiskies are known for being clean and precise, with bright fruit, gentle sweetness, and a balanced oak structure. You’ll often find citrus, honey, and light spice working together without any one element dominating.

Hanyu, on the other hand, can feel richer and more varied depending on the cask. Some releases lean towards dried fruit and deeper oak, while others stay lighter. Because the distillery is closed, every bottle is a snapshot of what was left behind.

Both styles reflect careful production, but they show different stages of Japanese whisky development.

Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients

	Citrus (Lemon / Orange Zest)
	Oak / Wood Spice
	Honey
	Vanilla

The Distillery

The Distiller: Chichibu & Hanyu Distillery

Address: Saitama Prefecture

Open in Maps

Unavailable

Visitor Centre & Opening Times

Chichibu
Limited access. Visits are usually restricted and must be arranged in advance.

Hanyu
No longer open (closed in 2000).

Ownership History

Hanyu Distillery

Owned by the Akuto family
Closed in 2000

Chichibu Distillery

Founded by Ichiro Akuto (2008)
Operated by Venture Whisky Ltd

Ichiro Akuto connects both distilleries, carrying knowledge from one into the other.

Distillery Facts

Overview & History

Hanyu Distillery was founded in 1941 in Saitama, Japan, and operated as a small family-owned distillery producing both malt and grain whisky. It closed in 2000 due to declining demand, and its remaining casks were at risk of being lost.

Chichibu Distillery was founded in 2008 by Ichiro Akuto, grandson of the Hanyu founder. After Hanyu’s closure, Ichiro rescued many of its remaining casks, which later became some of the most collectible Japanese whiskies ever released.

Chichibu represents the continuation of the family’s whisky legacy, while Hanyu has become legendary as a closed distillery.

Production

Chichibu Distillery:

Spirit Type: Japanese single malt whisky
Stills: Small copper pot stills
Scale: Small batch, craft production
Cask Policy: Wide range including bourbon, sherry, mizunara, and wine casks
Approach: Hands-on, detail-focused production

Hanyu Distillery (closed):

Produced both malt and grain whisky
Traditional Japanese production methods
No current production (stocks finite and rare)

Whisky Style

Chichibu:

Rich and concentrated
Orchard and tropical fruit
Honey and vanilla
Spice and oak
Often complex and layered despite young age

Hanyu:

Elegant and refined
Balanced fruit and oak
Light spice
Increasing depth with age

Hanyu bottlings vary significantly depending on cask and age.

Key Expressions

Ichiro’s Malt (Chichibu releases) – Core and limited editions
Ichiro’s Malt & Grain – Blended releases using various sources
Hanyu Playing Card Series – Highly collectible single cask releases (each labelled as a playing card)

The Playing Card Series is one of the most famous collectible whisky sets globally.

Significance

Hanyu is one of the most famous closed Japanese distilleries, with its remaining bottles becoming extremely rare and valuable.

Chichibu is one of the leading modern Japanese craft distilleries and has played a major role in the global rise of Japanese whisky. Together, they represent both the preservation of whisky heritage and the evolution of Japan’s whisky industry.