I visited Sasaki Shuzo Co., Ltd. located near Nijo Castle in Kyoto, at the site of Jurakudai.
I visited Sasaki Shuzo Co., Ltd., founded in 1893, located near Nijo Castle at the site of Jurakudai.
President Sasaki welcomed us, and we took a factory tour.
President Sasaki and the steaming pot for sake rice
Since it is not the sake brewing season, the factory was not in operation, but during the brewing season, it seems we can see the entire process.
If you wish to tour, please check below. Their website also has translations, making it friendly for foreign tourists.
Brewery Tour Dates【For Individual Participants】
Sasaki Shuzo's brewing water is said to be the silver clear water used by the tea master Sen no Rikyū in tea ceremonies.
It is located at the site of Jurakudai (a government office and residence) where the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi became the ruler and demonstrated his power. There was a time during the peak of Japanese sake when over 300 breweries lined up, but now, Sasaki Shuzo is the only brewery remaining at the famous Jurakudai site.
It is a stubborn brewery that does not handle trendy unfiltered or cloudy sake.
On the shop's floor, there is an old water meter.
It seems to be no longer in use, but Kyoto's tap water seems good. It feels historical.
At the tasting corner, you can buy either three novelty coins with a gacha for one coin of 500 yen, or one sake cup and two coins at the reception, and taste one type of sake for one coin.
It seems the brands available for tasting change with the seasons, and this time I sampled summer sake.
It was refreshing and easy to drink. Chilled summer sake is recommended for hot summers.
A tour of summer sake breweries across the country might be fun.
Sasaki Shuzo's brand product "Jurakudai" was excellent and delicious.
I bought a few bottles as souvenirs and had them delivered.
Sasaki Shuzo Website
On the way back, I stopped by nearby Nijo Castle.
It's close, but walking in the midsummer might be a bit tough. Sweating a lot💦
