Karuizawa Distillery is being revived after it shut down for nearly two decades. Karuizawa Distillery ceased operations in 2000 is now open thanks to a collaboration between a local entrepreneur and the global whisky retailer dekantā. This partnership aims to honour Karuizawa’s rich heritage while introducing innovative whisky expressions to enthusiasts worldwide in 2026.
The company is targeting Asia-Pacific, North America and the European Union and is planning to have Singapore as the global sales hub. It plans to sell directly to consumers, as well as through premium channels, such as department stores, hotels and travel retail.
According to Shimaoka, CEO, the company will be focussing on Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other markets considering that Asia Pacific is growing fast. It has in place distributors for the US, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Founded in 2019, Shimaoka is the majority shareholder in Karuizawa, alongside Ian Chang, the group’s master distiller. They are distilling Karuizawa at Komoro Distillery in the foothills of the Mount Asama volcano in Central Japan. Karuizawa also has on the cards its second distillery, called Furaliss, to be located in Furano, a city on one of Japan’s northern main islands Hokkaido. The Furaliss location is slated to open in 2028 and is being built together with local conglomerate Seibu Group and the city of Furano.