New whisky distillery breaks ground in Furano, Hokkaido

Another Japanese whisky maker has headed north. On 15 June 2026, Karuizawa Distillers Inc. (KDI), which runs the Komoro Distillery in Nagano Prefecture, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new distillery, the Furaris Distillery, in Furano, Hokkaido. Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost main island, and Furano lies on a hilly plateau in its central part. The opening is scheduled for around autumn 2029, with the aim of maturing whisky through Furano’s four seasons and building a brand with exports in mind.

A three-way plan with the Seibu Group and Furano City

The planned site lies within the Prince Grand Resort Furano area, a resort the Seibu Group has operated since opening the ski area in 1972. In June 2025, KDI, Seibu Holdings and Furano City signed a basic agreement, and in March 2026 they concluded a business agreement and a long-term land lease. It reportedly began with an enquiry about whether a maturation warehouse could be placed on Seibu-owned land, and the idea grew into building a distillery. Besides producing whisky, the facility plans to offer tours, tastings and food and drink. Furano City regards the project not only as a source of jobs and tourism but as an initiative that creates an export brand.

From Komoro to Furano: a brand grown in three stages

KDI was founded in 2019, and one of its co-founders, Ian Chang, is known as a whisky maker. The Komoro Distillery, which opened in 2023, makes single malt, and in 2024 it received a special award in the distillery tourism category at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition. Komoro’s single malt will be shipped for the first time in November 2026. The Furaris brand will begin without waiting for the distillery to be completed. The first release, the Furaris Edition, will use spirit made at Komoro; the next, the Furaris Reserve, will be matured in Furano; and the plan ultimately leads to Furaris Whisky, distilled and matured in Furano. The heart of the project is what character the northern climate, with its large temperature swings, will give to maturation.

How to enjoy it in Europe

It will be several years before you can drink spirit from Furano, but there are things you can follow from now. First is the Komoro Distillery’s first shipment in November 2026. As it is the spirit that will form the foundation of the Furaris Edition, if you can get hold of it in Europe, try adding a little water and see how the aroma changes. After that, tasting the Edition, the Reserve and the whisky distilled in Furano in turn will show how spirit from the same maker changes with land and climate. It is a rare chance to watch a new Japanese distillery grow, bottle by bottle.