Local tells Top 5 Best Sake Breweries in Kyoto!Enjoy sake tasting!

Hi,I’m Keiko from Osaka!

Sake is a Japanese rice wine, which is made by fermenting rice.

There are many sake breweries in Kyoto, and it’s really fun to have a sake tour and tasting.

There are so many variations depending on the processing methods, ingredients and origin, you should definitely try several kinds to find your favorite one while you are in Kyoto.

Here are 5 sake breweries in Kyoto you can visit!

Local tells Top 5 Best Sake Breweries in Kyoto!Enjoy sake tasting!

1.Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum/月桂冠大倉記念館

Gekkeikan is one of the most famous sake makers in Japan as well as one of the oldest companies in the world.

Founded in 1637, Gekkeikan established its facility in Fushimi area of Kyoto, where conditions for sake making were superb.

Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum illustrates the company’s long traditions as well as the history of Fushimi and that of sake making in Japan.

The museum building is a former sake warehouse, and right next to it is Sakekobo, the actual and functional brewery (which also can be visited upon reservation).

The best part of the museum, of course, is sake tasting.

For the entrance fee of ¥300, you will get to tour the museum, taste a few kinds of sake, and even get a souvenir bottle of junmai-shu (pure rice wine).

It’s my favorite sake brewery,I highly recommend you to visit this place!

If you’re looking for a tour in English,Kyoto Fushimi tour is available at Voyagin:here

2.Kizakura Kappa Country/キザクラカッパカントリー

Kizakura Kappa Country is a sake themed park where you can enjoy sake and craft beer in the renovated old brewery facility.

The restaurant offers delicious food as well as beers or sake samplers.

Some of the beers here are made with yeast found in sake!

The Kappa Shop is an exciting sake-shop, offering around 60 varieties of drinks and you can also have a sample taste of a few varieties of sake at the bargaining price of ¥100 each.

For those who want to have a deeper learning on sake making, there is also a Fushimigura, a museum and brewery of sake and beer that you can visit.

There is a free shuttle to Fushimigura from Kappa Country.

The bus departures at 10:55,11:55,12:55,13:55 and 14:55 from parking lot adjacent to the building.

3.Matsui Sake Brewery Kyoto/松井酒造所

Matsui Shuzo is a family-owned brewery with the modern-operational facility with the long tradition.

With prior reservation in spring and autumn, you will also get to see the production area learning the process of sake making.

This is such a small brewery in the middle of the residential area, yet so many people visit here, because of the warmth of the family as well as its superb award winning sake.

“Kagura” is a very popular sake you must try.

If you want a cozy environment to mingle with the actual sake maker, this is the place to visit.



Next,let’s go to the sake brewery in Kameoka City!

If you’re looking for a tour in English,Kyoto Fushimi tour is available at Voyagin:

4.Tanzan Sake Brewery/丹山酒造

Tanzan sake Brewery was founded in 1882, located 10 minutes walk from JR Kameoka Station

Kameoka city is blessed with Pristine water and fertile land for growing rice,so it’s an ideal place to make sake.

Unfortunately sake tour is not available ,but you can watch a video of sake brewing of Tanzan Sake brewery.

The best part of the museum, of course, is sake tasting.

They offer very nice sparkling sake which taste like champagne.

Come and visit this Brewery if you want to try sparkling sake!

5.Tamanohikari Sake Brewery Kyoto/玉乃光酒造

Tamanohikari is another premier brewery in Japan, located also in Fushimi.

Tamanohikari was a pioneer in reviving junmai-shu (pure wine made only with rice and rice koji) after it became the modern industry standard to optimize the process by adding alcohol.

The company continues to seek the highest quality in sake by paying at-most attentions to the selection of rice, water and even to the rice production method.

Since Fushimi district has many sake breweries and many of their traditional buildings preserved, it might be of your interest to take a nice stroll visiting a few of these breweries.

Unfortunately there is no sake tasting and a tour available, but there are a wide variety of sake products in the store.

Also for sake enthusiasts, mark your calendar on November 11 in 2017

There will be a sake festival in Fushimi at Otesuji street, where you can enjoy sake from various sake makers and great food.

Side Tip

I would like to introduce you my favorite place near Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum.It’s a must try cafe when you get tired with sake brewery tours!

Fushimi Yume Hyakushu/ 伏見夢百衆

Fushimi Yume Hyakushu is a cafe with its high ceiling and spacious room which was opened in 1919.

My favorite food is “Seishu Ice cream with yuzu citrus liquor/清酒アイスクリーム(650 yen)”

A rich ice cream goes with yuzu citrus liquor very well.

I didn’t pour yuzu citrus liquor over the ice cream, I dipped it into the liquor.

It was very tasty.

I’ve got drunk on so little:)

Their sake manju(A steamed sake bun with a bean‐jam filling) is popular as well.

It has a nice blend of sweetness and sake.

There is a souvenir shop near the entrance, so it’s perfect place to have a rest and find your souvenirs.

Summary

Top 5 Best Sake Breweries in Kyoto

1. Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum・・・It is one of the most famous sake makers in Japan.
2. Kizakura Kappa Country・・・It is a sake themed park where you can enjoy sake and craft beer.
3. Matsui Sake Brewery Kyoto・・・It is a family-owned brewery with the modern-operational facility with the long tradition.
4. Tanzan Sake Brewery・・・They offer very nice sparkling sake which taste like champagne.
5. Tamanohikari Sake Brewery Kyoto・・・Tamanohikari was a pioneer in reviving junmai-shu.

I love walking around fushimi area, and enjoy sake tasting.

After enjoy sake tasting, you can visit Teradaya(a historical inn, where Ryoma Sakamoto was attacked and injured) and ride on a “Jukkoku bune” boat on the river.

It’s quite relaxing.

I hope you enjoy Sake Brewery Tours in Kyoto!