Sake Brands
in Nara

"Kongoriki" is a local sake that has been loved for a long time in Takatori-cho, and as its powerful name suggests, it is characterized by a solid and satisfying sake quality. Development is centered on Ginjo Junmai sake, embodying brewery rooted in the region. Against the background of the climate and history of Takatori-cho, it is brewed with methods utilizing local water and rice, having a taste that harmonizes with the local food culture. Using brewing water blessed by the Kongo mountain range and carefully crafted with traditional methods, Kongoriki is a brand that continues to be loved across generations locally as the pride of Takatori-cho.

"Sawasawa" is a brand characterized by a refreshing and fresh taste as its name suggests. It pursues a balance between ease of drinking tailored to modern tastes and the original umami of sake. Characterized by a light mouthfeel and a clean aftertaste, it is designed to be enjoyed by a wide range of people from sake beginners to enthusiasts, and is particularly suitable for enjoying chilled. With utilization the technical capabilities of Choryo Sake Brewery, it has a taste that appeals to the younger generation as a brand effectively proposing new ways to enjoy sake.

"Ine no Kuni no Ine no Sake" is a brand derived from the fact that Nara has been called "Ine no Kuni" (Country of Rice) since ancient times, and embodies the philosophy of local production for local consumption. It uses sake rice produced in Nara Prefecture and is brewed with the aim of reflecting the climate of Nara in the sake. Crafted cherishing the original umami of rice, it is characterized by a mellow taste typical of Junmai sake and a sake quality that allows you to feel the blessings of the land of Nara. Against the background of the history and culture of the Nara Basin, where rice cultivation has been flourishing since ancient times, it is a brand filled with attachment and pride for the region as a local sake revived in modern times.

"Soho" is a brand that expresses "the joy of encountering high-quality sake rice and the image of powerful and lush green ears of rice". It uses carefully selected suitable rice for sake brewing and pursues sake brewing that brings out the individuality of the rice. Characterized by the balance between the umami and aroma of rice, it is designed to allow you to enjoy pairing with seasonal ingredients, and is highly evaluated by sake enthusiasts. It is deployed as a quality-focused premium line where the technical capabilities of Choryo Sake Brewery and the commitment to rice have come to fruition.

"Futaho" is a vintage Junmai sake released every year, and is a special brand that uses 100% Omachi rice from the Takashima district of Okayama Prefecture. It is characterized by a sake quality that emphasizes the unique fullness of Omachi rice, and allows you to fully enjoy the individuality of the rice. With vintage notation, you can enjoy the difference in taste each year, and it is positioned as a brand attracting attention from sake collectors and enthusiasts. It is a bottle packed with the commitment of Choryo Sake Brewery, where you can enjoy brewing technology that maximizes the charm of Omachi rice and the deepening of taste due to long-term aging.

"Shikizaki" is a series of seasonal limited sake that offers the enjoyment of each of the four seasons. It uses various sake rice such as Omachi rice and Tsuyuhakaze, and is deployed as a brand that shows different expressions for each season. The sake quality is designed to suit each season of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, proposing a culture of enjoying Japanese sake with the changing seasons. It is a brand symbolizing the stance of Choryo Sake Brewery continuing new challenges while maintaining tradition, providing sake fans with enjoyment throughout the four seasons.

"Hatsushigure" is the only brand brewed by Ota Sake Brewery, and is a sake that condenses the brewery's commitment. Using only carefully selected materials such as underground spring water and Asaka rice, it is carefully brewed with traditional handmade methods. Various types such as Junmai sake, Daiginjo, and Genshu are developed, and the scarcity that can only be obtained by direct sale from the brewery is attractive. The brewery's stance of providing only to those who are satisfied with the taste and quality tells of their confidence and pride in quality. Hatsushigure, brewed in Ikaruga, the knee of Horyuji Temple, is loved by visitors as a brand that conveys the history and tradition of the ancient capital Nara to the present. They also produce Narazuke of the same name, which has been well received as an additive-free pickle that makes use of the umami of sake lees.

"Jindaisugi" is one of the brands brewed by Yamamoto Honke, and is a name inspired by the tradition and mystery of Yoshino cedar that has continued since ancient times. "Jindai" means the age of mythology, making it a brand name suitable for the land of Nara with its eternal history. Brewed using subsoil water from Mt. Kongo and traditional methods, Jindaisugi is characterized by a balance between a refreshing mouthfeel and the umami of rice. Against the background of Gojo's history and nature, it embodies the pride of the region as a brand that conveys the tradition of sake brewing from ancient times to the present.

"Matsunotomo" is Yamamoto Honke's flagship product, and is a sake made using well water from the subsoil water of Mt. Kongo. It is a light and slightly dry sake, characterized by a refreshing mouthfeel that is delicious whether warm or cold. "Matsu" (Pine) is a symbol of perpetual youth and longevity, and "Tomo" (Friend) expresses friendliness, and it has been loved for a long time as a sake that accompanies everyday life. It is a brand that condenses the tradition and technology of Yamamoto Honke with a history of over 300 years, and as a local sake representing Gojo City, it has walked together with the local food culture. It has a strong character as a dining sake and has a depth that harmonizes with various dishes.

"Mandai Oimatsu" is the flagship brand of Fujimura Sake Brewery. "Mandai" symbolizes eternity, and "Oimatsu" symbolizes longevity and dignity. It is positioned as a prestigious sake brewed in the historic land of Yoshino. Brewed with the famous water "Gorogoro Water" of Mt. Omine and carefully selected sake rice, Mandai Oimatsu is characterized by its clear and elegant taste. It has a wide lineup from Junmai Daiginjo to Junmai sake, each boasting high quality. It is a brand that combines Yoshino's rich nature with traditional techniques inherited for over 150 years. They also develop products named after local famous places such as "Mt. Omine Junmai Sake", conveying the charm of Yoshino through sake.

"Yamakatsura" is the flagship brand of Okamoto Honke and is a local sake rooted in the history of Yoshino. "Katsura" is another name for the moon, and "Yamakatsura" means "the moon hanging over the mountains of Yoshino," and is said to have been named in memory of the Yoshino Imperial Court. Using spring water from the Mt. Omine system as brewing water, it is characterized by an elegant and deep taste brewed by the clear water and a rich aroma. They develop various types such as Daiginjo, Junmai sake, and Honjozo, and use the groundwater of the Yoshino River as brewing water. Yamakatsura, which has been brewed for over 100 years in the land full of historical romance called Yoshino, is loved not only by locals but also by people visiting Yoshino as a brand that conveys the pride and tradition of the region to the present.

"Kinko" is the flagship brand of Okura Honke. It is said that the first generation, who loved Manzai (a traditional performance), named the sake after a phrase "Kinko, kinko" from a verse of Manzai, a New Year's dance. It is a historic brand that has been loved for a long time as a local sake of Nara. Brewed with Yamahai brewing since its founding, it is characterized by a rich and umami sake quality. Almost all sake, including ordinary sake, is brewed with Yamahai yeast starter, and "harmony between heavy Yamahai and careful selection, seemingly contradictory" is the essence of Kinko's taste. The taste woven by high acidity and umami goes well with meals, and demonstrates its true value especially when combined with strongly flavored dishes and fermented foods. As a brand that embodies the attitude of Okura Honke to keep protecting traditional Yamahai brewing, it has deep-rooted fans.

"Iroha" is the "OOKURA IROHA" series developed by Okura Honke with a new concept. It was developed as a new style of sake that maintains the umami and acidity of rice from traditional Yamahai brewing while adding transparency and lightness to the aftertaste. With an approach different from the rich and umami taste of traditional "Kinko" and "Okura", it aims for a taste that appeals to a wider range of people, and is a brand that pursues the balance between tradition and innovation. Positioned as a new challenge that responds to modern tastes while utilizing the accumulation of technology of Okura Honke, it is a brand that shows the new possibilities of the brewery.

"Okura" is a special brand where all products are Junmai-style and can only be purchased at authorized dealers. The brewery's desire to deliver to enthusiasts who truly understand is imbued by focusing even more on quality than "Kinko" and making it limited distribution. While the rich and umami sake quality due to Yamahai brewing is common with Kinko, it pursues a more refined taste, and is the crystallization of Okura Honke's technology, where high acidity and rice umami harmonize. Due to limited distribution, it is highly rare and plays a flagship role for the brewery as a brand highly evaluated among sake enthusiasts.

"Bigen" is one of the brands of Okura Honke, and as the name "Beautiful Rock" suggests, it is a brand that aims for sake that combines strength and beauty. Amitos the lineup of Okura Honke, it is characterized by a firm structure and a balance of refined flavor due to Yamahai brewing.

"Tenpyo no Iraka" is a brand name derived from the novel of the same name by Yasushi Inoue, expressing the history and culture of Nara as an ancient capital. It is a brand that reflects the glory of Nara in the Tenpyo period and the beauty of Japanese culture symbolized by the roof tiles of Toshodaiji Temple in sake. It is considered a brand that Okura Honke, deeply rooted in the land of Nara, tried to express the history and pride of the region with sake, and is positioned as a prestigious sake that fuses the traditional technique of Yamahai brewing with the history of Nara.

"Tsukizuru" is a sake brand that was once brewed by Inoue Sake Brewery. Since they are currently out of business, it is difficult to obtain. It has become a phantom local sake loved by the locals.

"Tosen" is the flagship brand of Nakagawa Sake Brewery. It uses pure water from the foot of Mt. Nijo, and the name expresses its transparency as "Transparent Spring/Fountain". Brewed as Junmai sake, it is characterized by a clear and pristine taste without impurities, while softly feeling the umami of rice. The slightly distinct acidity tightens the whole, possessing a good balance that can be enjoyed during meals.

"Taima no Kehaya" is a brand named after the legendary wrestler Taima no Kehaya, who is said to be the origin of Japanese Sumo. Katsuragi City is the place where the legend of Taima no Kehaya remains, and the local pride is crowned on the sake name. It is a Junmai sake utilizing the technology of Nakagawa Sake Brewery, and while the brand name makes you feel strength, it is finished to be easy to drink. It is loved by locals as local sake that conveys the history and culture of the region.

"Naragin" is one of the brands developed by Nakatani Sake Brewery, meaning "Nara's Ginjo Sake". It brings the regionality of Nara, specifically Yamatokoriyama, to the forefront and is characterized by a high-fragrance sake quality due to Ginjo brewing. The technology of precise sake brewing by numerical management of Nakatani Sake Brewery is utilized, realizing stable quality and refined taste. While inheriting the tradition of Nara, a historic sake brewing place, it is a brand that practices sake brewing that suits modern tastes.

"Genyo" is a brand with a mysterious and powerful image of "Phantom Hawk". Hawks have been symbols of bravery and nobility since ancient times, and as the name suggests, it expresses rarity and high quality. Currently reflecting Nakatani Sake Brewery's precise sake brewing by numerical management, it pursues a firm taste with structure while maintaining stable high quality. Focusing on Junmai sake, it is characterized by a sake quality where you can fully enjoy the umami of rice.

"Asaka" is the representative brand of Nakatani Sake Brewery, named after the image of morning freshness and highly fragrant sake quality. Like a scent drifting in a refreshing morning, it is characterized by a fruity and gorgeous Ginjo aroma. Focusing on Junmai Ginjo, it has a slightly sweet and easy-to-drink sake quality that suits modern tastes. Through Nakatani Sake Brewery's precise numerical management sake brewing, stable high quality is realized, and the well-balanced taste that can be enjoyed widely from beginners to enthusiasts is attractive.

"Mikkaodori" is a brand with a friendly name that evokes the tradition of Yamatokoriyama and the bustle of festivals. You can feel the concept of "sake that can be drunk happily", and it aims for a sake quality suitable for daily dining tables and regional gatherings. Thanks to Nakatani Sake Brewery's technology, it balances stable quality and ease of drinking, playing the role of local sake loved locally. Backed by the history and culture of the castle town Yamatokoriyama, it is a community-based brand.

"Sanka" is a brand of Umenoyado Sake Brewery brewed at the foot of Mt. Katsuragi, meaning "Scent of the mountain". As the name suggests, it is characterized by freshness that makes you feel the breath of nature and a gorgeous aroma due to Ginjo brewing. The balance between fruity and elegant Ginjo aroma and a refreshing mouthfeel is good, and the compatibility with meals is also outstanding. It is a fragrant sake where the tradition and technology of Umenoyado Sake Brewery breathe.

"Unfeigned SAKE" is an innovative brand of Umenoyado Sake Brewery conscious of global expansion, meaning "unfeigned, pure". While utilizing the goodness of traditional sake, it pursues a modern taste and design that is familiar to overseas fans and younger generations. Focusing on Junmai Daiginjo, it is characterized by a refined aroma and clear taste, and is an ambitious work proposing new possibilities for sake.