Nara Prefecture, Kansai Region
Our first Kansai sake tour took place in Nara, the birthplace of sake brewing. Highlights included Shoryakuji Temple, cedar and cypress plantations, and an in-depth exploration of Nara's rich history, culture, and brewing traditions.
Our tour attracted both repeat participants as well as newcomers with a keen interest in history and culture, making it an inspiring and enriching experience for everyone involved.
Day 1: Birthplace of Sake Brewing and Bodaimoto
On the first day, we visited Shoryakuji Temple, famed as the birthplace of sake brewing. Surrounded by a scenic landscape of lush green maple trees, we learned about the temple's history and the traditional Bodaimoto brewing method. Looking ahead, we plan to join the annual Bodaimoto Festival held at the temple with our guests in January 2025!
After that, we visited Kuramoto Shuzo, where we tasted "Bodai Izumi," a sake pressed from the moromi prepared during the Bodaimoto Festival, and explored the intricacies of the Bodaimoto brewing process and aged sake production. We were also shown Soyashi-mizu (or sour water), a vital element in the brewing process, allowing us to experience the profound historical significance of Bodaimoto brewing.
〒632-0231 奈良県奈良市都祁吐山町2501
https://kuramoto-sake.com/
Day 2: Exploring Yoshino and its Timber Legacy
On the second day, we travelled to Yoshino and visited Yoshino Chuo Mokuzai Co., Ltd. to learn about barrel staves (tarumaru). Our tour began in the mountains, where we observed cedar and cypress plantations. Yoshino cedar, known for its tightly packed growth rings, uniform thickness, and minimal branches due to dense planting, is renowned for its high quality. Its lighter color and subtle fragrance, compared to cedar from other regions, make it highly valued for barrel staves, a tradition that has greatly contributed to the sake brewing legacy of Nada. The story of its role in the rise of sake production left a lasting impression on us.
Next, we toured the factory and observed the sawing process, where massive logs were skillfully cut into planks using belt saws—an awe-inspiring sight.
In the afternoon, we visited Miyoshino Brewery, which crafts sake using Yoshino cedar barrels. After enjoying a delightful pairing of locally made kakinoha-zushi (persimmon leaf-wrapped sushi) with their sake, we toured the brewery. We even sampled koji (malted rice), marveling at its softness and sweetness, which elicited gasps of amazement from the group. The explanation of how the unique local rice and water create flavors born of this land resonated deeply with us. We ended the day with a visit to Kinpusenji Temple, a World Heritage site, concluding the second day on a cultural and spiritual note.
〒639-3118 奈良県吉野郡吉野町橋屋57番地
http://www.homarewood.co.jp/
〒639-3116 奈良県吉野郡吉野町六田1238番地1
https://www.hanatomoe.com/
Day 3: Visiting Kitaoka Honten Brewery and Concluding the Tour
On the final day, we visited Kitaoka Honten Brewery, where we observed sake production on a larger scale. Participants had the opportunity to taste moromi (fermenting mash) and koji (malted rice), and even peek into the brewery's massive tanks—offering a distinctly different experience from the previous two breweries. During the tasting session, we played a five-sake blind tasting game, and to everyone’s surprise and excitement, all participants guessed correctly! The lively atmosphere added a fun conclusion to our brewery visit.
We then returned to central Nara and enjoyed a comforting hot pot made with kasu (sake lees) from "Kaze no Mori" sake, bringing our journey to a delicious close.
北岡本店 Kitaoka Honten Brewery
61 Kamishi, Yoshino Town, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, 639-3111
https://www.kitaoka-honten.com/
This tour offered not only a deeper understanding of sake brewing but also an immersive experience of Nara’s rich history and culture. We look forward to continuing to provide memorable tours in the future.
