Sake Lover’s Paradise: Exploring Fushimi Sake in Kyoto

Tour and Taste at One of Japan’s Top Three Sake Breweries

Gekkeikan is one of Japan’s most prominent sake brands.

With a 380-year history, Gekkeikan is one of Japan’s most prominent sake brands. Just a 10-minute walk from the subway or train station, you'll arrive at the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Along the way, you’ll see traditional white-walled breweries. During early autumn’s sake brewing season, the air is filled with the sweet, fragrant scent of steamed rice and fermenting sake mash, offering a sensory introduction to Fushimi’s sake heritage.

Inside the museum, visitors can explore the tools and methods of sake production and learn about Gekkeikan’s 380 years of history. Another sake brand Kizakura also has museum in Fushimi area.

Inside the museum, visitors can explore the tools and methods of sake production and learn about Gekkeikan’s 380 years of history. There’s also an opportunity to sample the brewery’s underground water, a key ingredient in their sake. However, the highlight for many visitors is the sake tasting. Upon entry, you’re given a small sake cup as a souvenir, and you can choose three sakes to taste from 10 different Gekkeikan varieties. Although each sake has a description, the decision process can be delightfully challenging, adding to the fun of the experience!

Admission fee including a small sake cup as a souvenir, and you can choose three sakes to taste. You can choose three sakes to taste from 10 different Gekkeikan varieties.

Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum

Address: 247 Minamihama-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto Opening Hours: 9:30 AM–4:30 PM Admission Fee: 600 yen, age 13 to 19 100yen,below age 12: Free Website: https://www.gekkeikan.com/museum/

Sample 18 Sakes at Once in Fushimi Sake Alley

Inside Fushimi Sake Village,there is one sake alley and 8 restaurants. This alley is dedicated to showcasing the sakes from Fushimi’s 18 breweries.

For the sake lovers who want it all, Fushimi offers an experience like no other. Just a few minutes' walk from the subway or train station along the Otesuji Shopping Street, you’ll find Fushimi Sake Village. This alley is dedicated to showcasing the sakes from Fushimi’s 18 breweries. Their signature offering is a tasting set of 18 different sakes, served in a wooden tray with 18 compartments—each holding a cup of sake. The visual spectacle alone makes for an Instagram-worthy moment, and the tasting experience is top-notch, covering a range of sake from Junmai to Ginjo.

The visual spectacle alone makes for an Instagram-worthy moment. Their signature offering is a tasting set of 18 different sakes, served in a wooden tray with 18 compartments—each holding a cup of sake. Not only is the variety impressive, but the setting also allows guests to order sushi, yakitori, or Western dishes to complement the sake. You can easily make a full meal out of the experience while savoring some of the finest sakes Fushimi has to offer.

This makes Fushimi the perfect destination for both sake enthusiasts and those curious about Japan’s sake culture, offering a rich blend of history, taste, and a uniquely immersive experience.

Fushimi Sake Village has 8 restaurants for guests.

Fushimi Sake Village

Address: 82-2 Hiranocho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto

Opening Hours: 11am-10pm, restaurants close on Tuesdays

Website: https://fushimi-sakagura-kouji.com/