Sake Brands
in Kyoto

"Gekkeikan" is the flagship brand of trust and achievement that the brewery founded in 1637 is proud of. Bearing the name "Gekkeikan," a symbol of victory and glory, it has always led the quality improvement of sake and the creation of new culture. It embodies the essence of the delicate and mellow "Onnazake" (soft sake) nurtured by Fushimi's famous water "Fushimizu." Its smooth mouthfeel and balanced taste are loved by a wide range of generations. From family dinners to official banquets. Deeply rooted in Japanese life, it is a brand that can be called a synonym for sake, continuing to support smiling "celebratory moments" with solid quality.

"Kizakura" is a brand bearing the name of a rare cherry blossom that blooms light yellow flowers in spring, reflecting the founder's wish for "sake loved by everyone." Utilizing Fushimi's famous water "Fushimizu," it pursues a light and sharp sake quality that one never tires of drinking, matching the modern lifestyle. The quality backed by solid techniques is proven by its regular Gold Awards at the Annual Japan Sake Awards. Along with the Kappa characters. It is a sake that can be called a synonym for reassurance and familiarity, having colored Japanese dining tables and delivered smiles for many years.

"Sho Chiku Bai" is Takara Shuzo's representative sake brand, named after pine, bamboo, and plum, which are symbols of celebrations. Leveraging the rich fermentation power of brewery-attached yeast, the expanding umami of rice and smooth mouthfeel are exquisitely harmonized. Long loved as the "Sake of Joy," it boasts high perfection that can be enjoyed deliciously at any temperature from cold to warm. As a national brand that nestles close to the Japanese lifestyle and delivers smiles and satisfaction to the dining table, it is an orthodox yet friendly choice.

"Jurakudai" is the flagship brand that Sasaki Shuzo is proud of. Named because the brewery stands on the site of "Jurakudai," the magnificent palace built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Kyoto. The brewing water is groundwater from the same vein as "Ginmeisui," famously used by Sen no Rikyu for tea ceremonies. The Junmai Daiginjo is characterized by its brilliant aroma and elegant, mellow flavor. It is a masterpiece that expresses Kyoto's history and refinement in liquid form, perfect for special occasions.

"Ikekumo" is the brand symbolizing Ikeda Shuzo, named after the pond-like clouds floating in Maizuru's sky and the scene of the Yura River flowing near the brewery. Finished with local ingredients of Maizuru-produced rice and Yura River's underflow water through Junmai brewing without any additives, it is characterized by a deep taste woven by the strong umami of rice and flexible acidity. While having a sharp finish that stays close to fish dishes unique to the sea town, the mellow aroma spreading over time represents Maizuru's rich nature itself. It is a cup where one feels the soul of Sea Kyoto, Maizuru, filled with the passion of the revived brewery.

"Tamano Hikari" is the flagship brand embodying the brewery's spirit. Its name comes from the appearance of the "shining spirit (tama)" of Amaterasu Omikami, the main enshrined deity of Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine. As a pioneer of Junmai sake brewing, they use no brewing alcohol, sugar, or acidifiers. They brew with "handmade koji" using carefully selected sake rice polished in-house over 48 hours. Characterized by a crisp dry taste with a balanced harmony between natural acidity and rice umami. While protecting 350 years of tradition, they always pursue the "ultimate Junmai sake." It is a representative authentic sake of Fushimi, Kyoto.

"Konteki" is an authentic local sake named with the meaning of "the last drop where the earth's blessings are concentrated." It luxuriously uses "Yamada Nishiki" special-grade rice grown by contract farmers in Tottori Prefecture, brewed with traditional skills using Fushimi's famous "Fushimizu" water. To value the original powerful umami of the rice, excessive filtration is avoided. It features a deep, calm aroma and a beautiful golden color. It is a sincere cup dedicated to enthusiasts who value tradition and pursue the authentic taste of sake.

"Tomio" (Rich Elder) is a brand symbolizing the soul of Kitagawa Honke, born from a deep love for Fushimi's climate and rice. The name "Tomio" contains the wish for people who share sake to be spiritually rich and enjoy life healthily. The greatest features are a full-bodied and rounded taste woven by Fushimi's soft water (Onnazake) and elaborately grown sake rice, and a sophisticated sharp finish that disappears smoothly. From daily Kyoto dining tables to celebratory days. It is a profound sake that gently stays close to any scene.

"Hatsuhinode" is the long-standing representative brand of Haneda Shuzo, named with a freshness that celebrates the beginning of a new year. Through low-temperature long-term fermentation leveraging Northern Kyoto's severe winter cold, it achieves a sophisticated, high-aroma quality without off-flavors. The umami with a clear outline unique to medium-hard water possesses a dignity that adds bright light not only to celebrations but also to daily life. As an essential presence for local traditional events and auspicious days, it is a lucky bottle that connects Keihoku's terroir and people's thoughts to the future.

"Eikun" is a supreme brand representative of Fushimi both in name and reality, named in commemoration of the enthronement of Emperor Taisho. As the words "Tanrei Yuga" (Light and Elegant) suggest, its greatest features are a clear taste without impurities and a brilliantly spreading sophisticated aroma. Polishing Kyoto's proud sake rice "Iwai" to the limit and brewing it with Fushimi's soft water, every drop reflects Kyoto's aesthetic sense itself. Shining with numerous crowns at domestic and international competitions, it is a Japanese fine sake to be proud of in the world.

"Hakurei" is the flagship brand named after the dignified appearance of the famous peak "Mt. Yuragatake (Tango Fuji)" in Miyazu Yura when dressed in winter snow. The taste produced by the underflow water of ultra-soft water reminiscent of perennial snow is surprisingly smooth and transparent, and the pure sweetness inherent in rice spreads gently. While having a sharpened freshness like the air of a quiet winter morning, it has a deep capacity that harmonizes beautifully with Tango's seafood. Brewed with respect to the mountains that have watched over the land of Yura and the rich sea over more than 190 years of history, it is a famous sake that can indeed be called "Tango's Pride."

"Nishijin" is a brand bearing the name of Nishijin-ori, Kyoto's representative traditional craft. Like the delicate fabrics woven by Nishijin weavers, it was developed with the goal of being a sake that possesses multi-layered flavors and elegance. This Tokubetsu Junmai, carefully brewed at low temperatures, is characterized by a full-bodied rice umami and a clean finish. With respect for traditional techniques, it is a high-class sake that, along with its brilliant label, broadcasts Kyoto's craftsman spirit to the world.

"Kumino-ura" is the representative brand of Kumano Shuzo, bearing the name of the beautiful scenery of Kumihama Bay spreading in front of the brewery. It pursues a taste where a clear transparency created by the silence and clear air of Tango's winter and the gentle umami of rice are harmonized. Long loved locally and showing the best marriage with Kumihama's seafood, this sake is indeed "a cup for feeling the sea of Tango." Toji Kakimoto's thoughts of valuing handwork live within the soft mouthfeel and refreshing finish.

"Tsuki no Katsura" is the flagship brand with over 300 years of history, named by the Edo era court noble Kimikage Anekōji. Known as the origin of Japan's first "Nigori-zake" (cloudy sake) born in 1964, its taste, balancing champagne-like refreshing effervescence and dense rice umami, has captivated gourmets worldwide. Its "Koshu" (aged sake), aged for decades in ceramic jars, is also famous; its amber brilliance and deep mellow aroma are masterpieces worthy of being called "art of sake." Nigori-zake and aged Koshu. It is one of the brands representing Fushimi, Kyoto, always seeking innovation within tradition.

"Tamagawa" is the representative brand containing the soul of Kinoshita Shuzo, attracting fans worldwide. Based on Toji Philip Harper's belief of "wanting to brew strong sake," it pursues a powerful sake quality making the most of the power of microorganisms, such as "Nature Brewing" without added yeast. The biggest feature is its overwhelming "depth of umami" and "width of change." Refreshing when cold, plump when hot, and how the taste further opens up after opening or through aging, is indeed the real pleasure unique to Tamagawa full of vitality. Please enjoy the powerful yet beautiful taste that continues to update the concept of sake, at your favorite temperature range to your heart's content.

"Shinsei" is the flagship brand of Yamamoto Honke and one of the representative sakes of Fushimi, Kyoto. Its name, derived from a poem by Bai Juyi, symbolizes sake as an existence that dispels all worries and purifies the mind and body. With an extremely clean throatfeel, it has an authentic flavor where the rice's fullness and umami become even more prominent when warmed. Once a nationally familiar brand through TV commercials, it is loved across generations. It is a brand of trust and reassurance, with Fushimi's history and passion packed into a bottle.

"Sawaya Matsumoto" is the flagship brand conveying Matsumoto Shuzo's soul, bearing the original shop name "Sawaya." With the spirit of "Shuhari" (follow, break, and transcend rules) as its pillar, it symbolizes challenging sake brewing that protects tradition, breaks existing frameworks, and opens up new horizons. Characterized by a fresh mouthfeel with a slight gas sensation that utilizes the individuality of the raw rice, pure acidity, and beautiful afterglow. As the "ultimate food-pairing sake" that enhances cuisine and enriches the dining experience, it receives hot support from foodies both domestic and overseas.

"Takumi" (Artisan) is a brand that concentrates the commitment of Kyohime Shuzo, brewed by skilled craftsmen who have mastered traditional techniques. Luxuriously using the finest sake rice "Yamada Nishiki" and slowly fermenting at low temperatures, it draws out a fruity, deep, and noble aroma. Characterized by a moist and calm taste where the natural sweetness and richness of rice are in harmony, not just being brilliant. In every drop where the artisan's pride lives, it is a sake that makes one feel the "craftsman's skill," gracefully staging moments on special days.

"BLACK SWAN" is a brand born from Shirasugi Shuzo's revolutionary challenge of introducing "Black Koji" used in shochu brewing into sake. Using eating rice "Milky Queen," its biggest feature is the vivid and sweet-and-sour acidity from citric acid derived from black koji. The personality of refined acidity that vividly overturns the conventional image of sake stands out. The balance between a multilayered taste like wine and the lingering umami is exquisite. It proposes a new sake style for enjoying marriage with cheese or western dishes. The drop that shaped the "impossible" is indeed the legendary "Black Swan" of the sake world, symbolizing Shirasugi Shuzo's innovative spirit.

"Kagura" is a premium brand of Matsui Shuzo, literally bearing the name of the "brewery where God dwells," into which they pour their highest skill and passion. Eliminating all compromise, it focuses mainly on unfiltered raw sake (muroka nama genshu) to directly convey the original strength and delicacy of the ingredients. The overwhelming richness that spreads the moment it enters the mouth and the multi-layered umami are truly in the realm of art. It is a quality that pursues the potential of Kyoto's local sake to the limit. It is a supreme masterpiece where the soul of Matsui Shuzo lives, coloring any special moment.