Sake Brands
in Gifu

"Horai" is the representative brand of Watanabe Sake Brewery, derived from the legendary paradise "Mt. Horai" where immortal hermits are said to live. Aiming to be the "brewery with the most smiles in Japan," it is brewed with the climate and humanity of Hida. While maintaining traditional taste, it is characterized by a warm sake quality that makes the drinker smile. It is a sake that brings happy times to celebratory occasions and daily dining tables.

"Tamakashiwa" is the representative brand of Kuramoto Yamada, a high-quality sake with a track record of winning the Gold Prize at the Annual Japan Sake Awards. It has a wide lineup from Junmai Daiginjo to Honjozo, and is characterized by a quality-oriented taste resulting from careful brewing in small lots.

"Okuhida" is a confident representative brand bearing the name of the brewery. Brewed carefully using traditional techniques with 300 years of history and Gifu Prefecture "Hidahomare" in a brewery located at the confluence of the Hida River and the Maze River, a land rich in water and greenery. The powerful yet clear taste produced by the harsh yet beautiful natural environment of Okuhida is exactly the climate of Hida itself.

"Tenryo" is the flagship brand of Tenryo Sake Brewery, boasting a history of over 340 years. Using underground water from the Hida Mountains and sake brewing rice "Hidahomare," it has an orthodox taste where the climate of Hida and traditional techniques live. Daiginjo sake has been selected as an in-flight sake for JAL First Class, and its gorgeous aroma and clear umami make it a gem suitable for special sunny days.

"Hyakushun" is the representative brand of Kosaka Shuzojo, embodying the wish that "drinkers may be healthy and welcome a hundred springs." Using water from the Nagara River, selected as one of Japan's 100 exquisite waters, it features a mellow sake with a faintly sweet aroma and a clean taste. Brewed in a brewery designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan with a history of over 250 years, it is a brand boasting tradition and quality.

"Kuromatsu Hakusen" is a traditional brand of Hakusen Shuzo that has been loved for a long time since the start of production in 1899 (Meiji 32). After temporarily being named "Hanamikura," it is loved again under this name. Brewed with the clear water of Kawabe-cho and the skills of masters inherited from the Edo period, the sake is characterized by a deep taste you never get tired of. It is a comforting local sake essential for local dining tables.

"Yotsuboshi" is a Daiginjo shining with numerous honors, including winning the Gold Prize at the Annual Japan Sake Awards. True to its name, it is brewed carefully aiming for "Four Star" class highest quality, and the fruity Ginjo aroma, smooth mouthfeel, and sharp finish are exquisitely harmonized. It represents the three stars of "Rice, Water, and Climate" that express the landscape of Hida Takayama, and the passion of "People" who connect them as the fourth star.

"Irootoko" is a Junmai Daiginjo born from a unique request: "Make the most beautiful sake that intoxicates women at the best host club." Polishing Yamada Nishiki to 45%, it realizes a gorgeous aroma, honey-like sweetness, and a silky smooth mouthfeel. It is a bewitching sake that intoxicates both mind and body, comparable to premium champagne and fine wine.

"Shiramayumi" is the representative brand of Kaba Sake Brewery, derived from "Shiramayumi," which was composed as a pillow word for Hida in the Man'yoshu. The tradition of the brewery with 300 years of history and the aesthetics of "Kan-zukuri" (cold brewing) produced by the severe winter of Hida are condensed. Like the temperament of Hida people, it is a flavorful sake with a strong core and yet enveloping kindness.

"Onna Joshu (Female Castle Lord)" is the representative brand of Iwamura Brewery, derived from the beautiful female castle lord Otsuya (Oda Nobunaga's aunt) who ruled Iwamura Castle during the Warring States period. It expresses a taste that combines the strength of her who lived stout-heartedly in the world of war and feminine elegance. The transparent and pure umami created by natural water brewing since its founding is attractive.

"Miyamagiku" is the flagship brand of Funasaka Sake Brewery, characterized by a gorgeous aroma and a refreshing, sharp dryness. Especially for the Daiginjo, the gentle aroma reminiscent of fruit and the sweetness of the rice are in harmony, and you can enjoy a transparent mouthfeel. From Junmai to Daiginjo, it is a local sake that stays close to the food culture of Hida and demonstrates its charm at various temperature ranges such as cold or warm sake, and continues to be loved by many people.

"Shiroku" is a traditional brand that can be said to be the origin of Nakashima Sake Brewery, named after the era name "Genroku" at the time of founding. It is a daily sake that has been loved by locals for a long time and you never get tired of. Deeply rooted in local food culture, it protects the old-fashioned taste where the umami of rice expands when warmed.

"Wakaba" is the representative brand bearing the name of the brewery with a history of over 330 years. With the theme of "sake that accompanies the daily dining table," it is characterized by a gentle aroma with suppressed flashiness and a deep taste where the umami of rice spreads. It can be enjoyed in any temperature range from cold sake to hot sake, and goes perfectly with any dish. It is a sake that fits into life and continues to be loved by the people of Mizunami for a long time.

"Hatsumidori" is a traditional brand that Okuhida Shuzo has protected for 300 years. In the Edo period, the name was bestowed by the lord of the Owari domain as "Sake of a mountain village surrounded by water and greenery." Using clear water pumped from the confluence of the Hida River and the Maze River and local Gifu "Hidahomare." Please enjoy the refreshing and profound taste woven by the climate of the historic "Hida Kaido Kanayama-juku" and the skills of skilled master brewers.

"Kujiranami" is a romantic brand named after the fact that "clouds flowing over the mountain looked like whales swimming gracefully." Breath carefully in the mountains at an altitude of 600 meters using natural water from the mountain behind and Gifu Prefecture "Hidahomare," maintaining traditional methods such as steaming with an old-fashioned Japanese cauldron. It is characterized by a gentle and deeply nourishing taste created by the individuality of the brewery with 200 years of history and the silent mountain air.

"Hanamikura" is a brand named when Hakusen Shuzo once made a fresh start aiming to improve the quality of sake. The name, fusing the beauty of flowers and the tradition of the brewery, colored a page of Hakusen Shuzo's history. Although it is now unified into "Kuromatsu Hakusen" again, it is a brand remembered as proof of the brewery's evolution and challenge.

"Sansha" was named after the gorgeous festival floats (Dashi) of the Takayama Festival, one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan and registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. True to its name, it combines gorgeousness and elegance, and is characterized by a refreshing dry taste with a sharp finish. The taste nurtured by the climate of Hida Takayama goes well with the local food culture and continues to be loved for a long time as a sake that you never get tired of drinking.

"Tsushimaya" is a brand named after the trade name of the brewery at the time of its founding, and is a limited distribution product specializing only in Junmai-style premium sake. Using the underground water of the Kiso River, it is brewed with the aim of being sake that heals drinkers and makes them smile unintentionally. It is handled only by authorized retailers who understand the brewery's philosophy and can convey the charm of sake together.

"Chiyogiku" is the brewery's flagship brand, a traditional brand established by the ninth generation Matakichi in the Bunka era (mid-19th century). The lineup includes Junmai Daiginjo "Kinkaku" and Daiginjo "Kohaku-ume," characterized by traditional flavors continued from the 19th century using groundwater from the Nagara River.

"Kusudama" was originally written as "Medicine Ball," but was later changed to "Kusudama" with the meaning of "Gem (Treasure) that maintains longevity for a long time." Using underground water from the Northern Alps of Hida Takayama and Hidahomare grown under contract with local farmers, the traditional taste brewed in the severe cold continues to be loved locally as a celebratory sake.

"Minotengu" is the flagship brand of Hayashi Shuzo, with a powerful name inspired by the rich nature of Mino and the legendary "Tengu." Brewed in the mountains of Kani City, this sake strongly reflects the local climate and is characterized by a solid umami and a sharp taste. With a wide lineup including Junmai Ginjo and Junmai sake, it continues to be loved locally for a long time as a local sake of Mino.

"Nagaragawa" is the representative brand of Komachi Shuzo, which started promotion as a local sake of Gifu in 1978. Using groundwater from the Nagara River and Gifu Prefecture-grown Hidahomare, it is characterized by a pleasant taste that brings out the umami of rice through silent fermentation brewing where natural environment music (healing music) is played 24 hours a day inside the brewery. It develops a diverse lineup including Junmai sake, Junmai Ginjo, Daiginjo, and sparkling sake.

"Enasan" is the flagship brand of Hazama Shuzo, named after Mt. Ena, one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. Using clear underground water from Mt. Ena and sake rice such as Yamada Nishiki and Hidahomare, it realizes a fruity and gentle Ginjo aroma, soft transparency, and welling umami. It is a brand where you can enjoy the individuality of rice with a diverse lineup such as Junmai Ginjo and Junmai Daiginjo.

"Daruma Masamune" is a brand famous nationwide as a pioneer of long-aged sake (Koshu). It is an aged sake glowing with amber color, characterized by a unique mellow aroma and deep taste. Boasting popularity enough to be said "Speaking of Koshu, it's Daruma Masamune," it is a one-and-only existence where you can enjoy complex and profound flavors resulting from long-term aging.

"Nihon Izumi" is a traditional brand bearing the brewery's name, embodying the origin of Nihon Izumi Shuzo's sake brewing. Using the subsoil water of the Nagara River and brewed in the stable temperature environment of the underground cellar, it is a Japanese sake that utilizes the climate of Gifu.