Five Prefectures with Delicious Water

Tap water in Japan is water whose safety and taste are guaranteed by strict checks. It is said that there are only about 15 countries in the world where you can drink tap water, and Japan is one of them, which means that the quality of tap water in Japan is high. Prefectures with great water are also famous for their great sake, so be sure to check those out!

Toyama

Toyama Prefecture is one of the most rainy and snowy areas in Japan. The snow piled up on the Tateyama mountain range eventually turns into clean water. In addition, the prefecture is rich in nature, with nearly 70% of its land covered by forests. This nature purifies the rainfall and allows it to soak into the ground, making it a source of delicious water.

Kumamoto

Kumamoto Prefecture is known for its delicious water, with some people saying that tap water tastes better than bottled mineral water. In particular, the tap water in Kumamoto City is almost entirely supplied by groundwater. It is said that natural water, in which minerals and carbonic acid have been dissolved in a well-balanced proportion over a 20-year period, is tasty and healthful.

Nagano

Nagano Prefecture has an abundance of snow melt water from the Northern Alps.Seven places in the prefecture have been selected as one of the 100 best waters. Wells exist everywhere in the castle town of Matsumoto, and the spring water is used as drinking water. It is also famous for the cultivation of wasabi, for which clean water is essential. Nagano Prefecture is also famous for its longevity, perhaps thanks to its delicious water!

Niigata

Six places in Niigata Prefecture have been selected as one of the “100 Best Waters of the Showa Era” and “100 Best Waters of the Heisei Era” by the Ministry of the Environment. Niigata Prefecture, known for its heavy snowfall, has abundant water resources that are cold even in summer and never run out. There are springs in many places, and sake brewing is very popular near them. Niigata’s sake is known for its elegant aroma and taste, and has many fans throughout Japan.

Tottori

In Tottori Prefecture, the snow that falls in the Chugoku Mountains produces clean water. Tottori is known as a land blessed with water resources, with many spots such as “Amano Manai” and “Fuse no Shimizu” selected as one of the 100 best waters by the Ministry of the Environment. The spring water of “Fuse no Shimizu” is available to everyone through faucets set up along the prefectural road. Hakusan-no-Meisui, which is made by pumping up underground water, is also known as a special product of the prefecture.

Japan’s tap water has strict tests

Japan’s tap water has 51 different safety inspection items. For example, there is a wide range of test items such as bacteria, iron, manganese, and other substances contained in the water, as well as smell, color, and taste.
 For your information, there are only about 18 items tested for in commercially available mineral water. Tap water undergoes much stricter testing than mineral water on the market, which is why tap water is drinkable.