Gifu Stream Fishing: A Gujo Trip to the Kanomizu River and a Craft Beer Detour
Yagichan
Yagichan’s Fishing & Travel Blog
Ise Kadoya Beer Gekumae Shop: Tasting NEKO NIHIKI, Hop Nyaon, and Sakekasu Hazy IPA ZAKU
Yagichan
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On this trip I picked up some craft beers from Ise Kadoya Beer! Here I’ll share what I actually thought after drinking them, along with the details on each beer. Every one of them had its own personality and made a great travel companion! I hope you find your own favorite flavor among them!
The shop I stopped at to buy these was Ise Kadoya Beer’s Gekumae shop. They stock a huge lineup, from year-round staples to limited releases! Definitely check it out next time you visit Ise Jingu!
You can get from Nagoya to Ise City in Mie Prefecture on a single train!
The Gekumae shop is in a great location, about a two-minute walk from Ise Jingu’s Outer Shrine (Geku). The fridge case is lined with more than ten kinds of canned and bottled beer, making it an easy souvenir stop on your way around the sights. On this visit I picked out three bottles that caught my eye and brought them back to taste side by side that night. Each one had such a distinct personality that even the trouble of choosing was part of the fun.
目次
Ise Kadoya Beer NEKO NIHIKI
The first one I picked up at the Gekumae shop was this, NEKO NIHIKI. It stands out for its adorable packaging and beautiful haze. The juicy, fruity flavor makes it especially popular with women!
Don’t let the cute look fool you — the alcohol content is pretty high, so be careful! lol
NEKO NIHIKI Details
- Product name: NEKO NIHIKI (can)
- Style: Hazy Double IPA
- ABV: 8.0% / IBU: 35
This beer was born from a collaboration with Culmination Brewing in Portland, USA. Now that the brewery has closed, it’s become a phantom collab that can never be brewed again. It’s marked by a gorgeous aroma reminiscent of grapefruit and tropical fruit, and it’s so juicy and easy to drink that it barely feels like an 8% Hazy Double IPA. Even people who aren’t fans of bitterness will likely find themselves thinking, “I can actually drink this!”
Ise Kadoya Beer Hop Nyaon
Next up is this one, Hop Nyaon. Its adorable packaging comes from a collaboration with illustrator Miltata! (*This was a limited-time release and is no longer sold.) Even among Hazy IPAs, it stands out for its bold, rich flavor. Really full-bodied stuff!
It was a limited release with such a cute package — if I ever spot the next series, I’m buying it on sight!
Hop Nyaon Details
- Product name: Hop Nyaon
- Style: DDH Hazy IPA
- ABV: 7.0% / IBU: 50
This one goes all in on New Zealand-grown Nelson Sauvin hops using the DDH (double dry hop) method, making it a beer that’s all about hop aroma. A rich bouquet of guava and nectarine unfolds, finishing dry and clean. If you want to really soak in the hop aroma, this is without a doubt the one to grab. It’s a limited release, so buying it the moment you see it is a must.
created by Rinker
¥880
(2026/08/03 06:43:33時点 楽天市場調べ-詳細)
About Miltata
Born in Gunma Prefecture. After graduating from Nagoya University of Arts and Sciences and working at Junya Ishigami + Associates, they went on to become an illustrator under the name Miltata. They now create illustrations for advertising, books, encyclopedias, and product packaging.
Ise Kadoya Beer x Zaku: Sakekasu Hazy IPA ZAKU
The last one I picked up is this, Sakekasu Hazy IPA ZAKU. It’s a collaboration beer with Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten, brewers of the renowned Mie sake Zaku! *This is a limited release and is not currently sold.
A collab between Zaku’s sake lees and a Hazy IPA? That’s just unfair (in the best way)…
I was a little nervous going in, wondering what it would taste like, but it was so delicious it genuinely surprised me!!! I ended up buying another bottle to bring home, that’s how much I liked it lol
Zaku Sakekasu Hazy IPA ZAKU Details
- Product name: Sakekasu Hazy IPA ZAKU (happoshu, a low-malt beer-style beverage)
- Style: Hazy IPA
- ABV: 6.5% / IBU: 35
- Ingredients: barley malt, wheat malt, oats, wheat, rice, sake lees, hops, lactose
This collab beer makes generous use of sake lees from Zaku, the renowned Mie sake that was even served at the Ise-Shima G7 Summit. It was born from the idea of “expressing omiki (sacred sake) through beer,” and sure enough, the first sip brings a gentle, elegant aroma reminiscent of ginjo-shu, followed by a subtle, lingering richness like amazake. It takes the best of both beer and sake, and pairs beautifully with Japanese food. No wonder I couldn’t resist buying a second bottle after stumbling on it during the trip.
created by Rinker
¥880
(2026/08/03 06:43:33時点 楽天市場調べ-詳細)
- Where can I buy Ise Kadoya Beer?
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Besides the company’s own shops near Ise Jingu’s Outer and Inner Shrines, you can also buy it through the official online store or Rakuten Ichiba. The Gekumae shop opens at 9 AM, making it easy to stop by on your way to or from sightseeing. If you’re bringing some home as a souvenir, cans are the easiest to carry.
Q
- What’s the difference between the Gekumae shop and the Naikumae shop?
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Both are Ise Kadoya Beer’s own shops, but they’re in different spots. The Gekumae shop is about a two-minute walk from Ise Jingu’s Outer Shrine and opens in the morning before you start sightseeing. The Naikumae shop is inside Okage Yokocho, and many people stop by there as part of a food-walking course after visiting the Inner Shrine. Both shops carry the same lineup, though the beers on tap can vary day to day.
Q
- If it’s my first time, should I try NEKO NIHIKI or Hop Nyaon?
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For craft beer beginners, I’d recommend NEKO NIHIKI. Even though it’s a Hazy Double IPA, it has relatively low bitterness and a tropical, juicy drinkability that makes it easy to enjoy. Hop Nyaon, on the other hand, is a serious hop-head’s beer, with an intensely strong hop aroma from its DDH method that craft beer fans really appreciate. If you want to be surprised from the first sip, go with Hop Nyaon; if easy drinking is your priority, go with NEKO NIHIKI.
Q
- Is it okay to carry Ise Kadoya Beer at room temperature if I’m buying it as a souvenir?
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If it’s the canned type, carrying it at room temperature for a few hours is fine. That said, Hazy IPAs are more aromatic the fresher they are, so once you get home, refrigerate it as soon as possible and drink it within one to two weeks. For long trips or hot summer days, using an insulated cooler bag is even safer.
Q
Wrap-Up
That wraps up my visit to Ise Kadoya Beer’s Gekumae shop, which I discovered on this trip! Ise Kadoya Beer puts out so many limited-time flavors that every time I go, I find myself wondering what beer I’ll get to meet this time! There’s also a shop near the Inner Shrine where you can eat in, so if you’re curious, definitely check it out! Discovering a new craft beer is honestly one of the best parts of traveling. New places, new shops, new people. Why not set out on a trip where you can feel all kinds of new encounters too? And if you have any recommendations of your own, I’d love to hear them!
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Hi, I’m Yagi, an outdoor enthusiast from Japan who loves trout fishing and travel. I share firsthand fishing reports, local rules and licenses, destination guides, gear reviews, and outdoor adventures from across Japan and beyond. Whether you are planning a fishing trip to Japan or simply enjoy exploring nature, I hope these guides help you travel with confidence and discover something new.
