The place famous for sake brewing in Kyoto

If you want to drink tasty sake after sightseeing of temples or shrines at Kyoto, please go to Momoyama Fushimi Ward. Fushimi-Momoyama which has abundant ground-water is a place famous for sake brewing. It might be good that you go to there after visiting to Fushimi-inari-taisha shrine or Uji-byodo-in Temple.

Sugidama (a ball which was made from leaves of Japanese cedar) that hangs in the eaves is a sign of sake brewery. I was strolled around sake breweries which were built in Meiji period to Taisho period.

You know, the water is necessary for brew of sake. It is said that Kyoto city has about 21,100,000,000 ton ground-water (its quantity equals Biwa-ko lake which is in Shiga prefecture where it is next to Kyoto). You can drink ground water here and there in Kyoto city, and Fushimi-Momoyama is not an exception also. The ground-water of Kyoto is medium hard water which contains potassium, calcium and so forth well-balanced. And it fits to use for brewing sake, it is said that Fushimi-shu (sake made in Fushimi) is characterized by smooth and mellow. So, first, I thought that I go to drink water!

I aimed to go “Goko-no-miya-jinjya shrine” first, when I reached Momoyama station (JR Nara line). There is forward an entrance about a red torii. It is said that a spring of faint fragrance pure water appeared in the shrine grounds in 862 (Heian era).

The shrine was therefore named “Goko-no-miya,” meaning “shrine of Fragrant Water.” I tasted the water. It was mellow taste and had good body. This water manufactures delicious sake of Kyoto. I saw that a lot of people take it home in the container.

As for the sanctuary in Goko-no-miya jinjya shrine which has been built in Edo period was looked as if quiet and simple in the long-sight, but a splendid coloring that showed the Momoyama culture caught my eye when I got at it. The richly-colored of the sanctuary and the main shrine have been revived in because of the repair in recent years.

Some couples were praying to the god because it is famous as the god of easy delivery. And I also saw that people with new baby pay a visit of thanks to the shrine.

Well, I went next to seek sake. I visited to “Gekkeikan Okura kinenkan (sake museum)” which is using the place that had been used for brewing sake at the Meiji era. Because I was able to do three kinds of sake tasting and received the souvenir of sake 180ml, it seems that it can be allowed though 300 yen is necessary as the admission fee. And the exhibition explanation is written in English. In the sake tasting after the visit, I liked the first sweet, very delicious refined sake very much. The second was dry sake, and the third was plum wine.

There is the coffee shop which has a souvenir shop named “Fushimi-Yume-hyakushu” near there, and the sake tasting can be done there also.

It is said that Fushimi developed by having become the strategic location of the land and water traffic as a stage (post-town) and a port-town in Edo period. The former Fushimi-port surrounding is a place where the excitement of Fushimi of the water transportation town can be felt. Then it is a likely path for stroll at this season when the fresh green is beautiful. Even if it takes “Jyukkoku-bune (riverboat)” that revived service in 1998, it might be pleasant. The time required is about 45 minutes. The charge is 1,000 yen.

The sake of Kizakura brand and the local beer can be tasted eating the Kyoto dishes at a restaurant which is set up as an annex to “Kizakura Kappa Country” when hungry. There are a small museum that is playing back the successive television CM of “Kizakura” and a small gallery which is exhibiting the diorama about “the way of brewing sake”, though there is no explanation in English. The admission fee is free. The restaurant “Torisei” which can taste the chicken dish and nama-zake (pure [undiluted] sake) is also famous.

After I saw outward of “Teradaya inn” which remembered in connection with Sakamoto Ryoma, then I went back to Momoyama station passing through “Otesuji shopping arcade” which was crowded with local shopper. Of course, I had the sake of the souvenir in the hand at that time!

The course this time
Kyoto station (JR line) >>> 12 minutes by local train >>> Momoyama station (JR Nara line)>>> 5 minutes walk >>> Goko-no-miya-jinjya shrine>>>15 minutes walk >>> Fushimi-Yumemi-hyakushu (a souvenir shop and a cafe), Gekkeikan Okura kinenkan (sake museum)>>> 2 minutes walk >>> Jyukkoku-bune (a riverboat)>>> 5 minutes walk >>> Kizakura Kappa country>>> 2 minutes walk >>> Otesuji shopping arcade>>> 10 minutes walk >>> Momoyama station (JR Nara line)

It is also convenient for the access from Kyoto to use the Keihan line or the Kintetsu Line.

May 31, 2007 - 2:20 am
Tags: Culture, Restaurant, Travel
Categories: Culture, Travel

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