Sake Brewery Tour, Sake Tasting & Walking Tour of Nishijin in Kyoto

Brewing Sake in a Historic District that Harnesses Kyoto’s Water and Climate

Nishijin sits in downtown Kyoto, once thriving as the home of Nishijin-ori, a fine textile craft. Today, its rich heritage endures, with traditions passed through the ages. Established in 1893, Sasaki Sake Brewery brews sake in Nishijin in the heart of Kyoto, known as Rakuchu.

Sasaki Sake Brewery, featuring its row of white-walled buildings

Sasaki Sake Brewery stands at the southern end of the former Jurakudai, once home to Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598), the warlord who unified Japan. Blessed with abundant pristine groundwater, this area fostered various water-related industries like sake brewing, tofu production, dyeing, and the tea ceremony. Drawing from the same springs as tea master Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591), Sasaki Sake Brewery sources its water from Kinmeisui and Ginmeisui.

Stroll the Streets of Nishijin, Where a Strong Sense of Old Kyoto Remains

While Fushimi is renowned for sake today, Kyoto's sake brewing roots lie in its center. Kyoto's basin geography, surrounded by mountains, collects high-quality groundwater, stored in underground bedrock reservoirs. Nishijin also saw sake flourish due to being able to select rice, an ingredient essential for sake brewing, from the annual tribute rice that gathered in Kyoto, Japan’s old capital. 

A live music club in a renovated sake brewery

While Sasaki Sake Brewery is the only surviving sake brewery, the area exudes nostalgia with a live music club housed in a refurbished sake cellar and traditional Kyoto machiya townhouses lining narrow alleys. In this historic Nishijin area, you will also find a 150-year-old Japanese sweets shop and Kyoto's oldest tofu store.

Observe the Refinement of Traditional Sake Making

At the brewery, craftsmen known as "kurabito" oversee the sake brewing process. These experts are well-versed in every step, from soaking the rice to bottling the sake, and will explain in depth both the process and the tools involved. You can witness nearly every aspect of sake production at Sasaki Sake Brewery.

Rice undergoes milling, washing, bran removal, soaking, steaming, and cooling to achieve the desired consistency (The processes available for viewing vary depending on the season)

The storehouse maintains a cool temperature regardless of outside conditions, thanks to its traditional features like high ceilings, mud walls, and ventilation windows, crucial for optimal sake brewing. Sasaki Sake Brewery preserves handmade techniques while embracing innovation. They have adopted a centrifuge to separate the unrefined sake mash (moromi) without pressurizing it, resulting in a smooth aroma and clean taste.

The brewery is filled with the delightful aroma of sake. You might get to witness the fermentation process depending on when you visit

During your visit, you might get to stir the sake base with a long wooden stick or observe the jōzō process, where fermented moromi is strained into clear sake and sake kasu (sake lees). As sake is made through a complex process, the production stages you witness may differ depending on the time of year.

Stirring the sake base with a stick

Tasting 3-4 Types of Sake With Different Charms

Following the brewery tour, you can enjoy a tasting of Sasaki Sake Brewery's diverse lineup of sake. Sample three to four different sake varieties, including Junmai Daiginjo, a rare treat not typically available for tasting, alongside other seasonal options.

Seasonal sake tasting experience

You will also enjoy snacks that pair well with the sake you will taste, from pickles pickled in Sasaki Sake Brewery's sake to sake kasu karinto (fried dough snack coated with sake lees). By trying multiple sake types, you will discover your preferences and learn to enjoy sake in different ways.

Kyoto vegetable and fruit pickles, marinated in Sasaki Sake Brewery's sake

Preserving Kyoto's Culture & Crafting Superior Sake

After the experience, you can buy your favorite sake at the store, which stocks the complete range of Sasaki Sake Brewery's products. We recommend the flagship brand Jurakudai Junmai Daiginjo, known for its fragrant and elegant flavor, created to take advantage of Kyoto's chilly winter climate. Another favorite is the Koto Daiginjo, fruity and ideal for Japanese cuisine.

Sake brewed from renowned Ginmeisui loved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi

"Crafting various types of sake from rice and koji is a cherished Japanese tradition. I hope more people will discover and appreciate it," says Akira Sasaki, the fourth-generation owner of the brewery. Come and experience Kyoto's rich history and culture firsthand, and taste the charm of Sasaki Sake Brewery's sake.