You can learn about sake brewing, taste samples at a low cost, and receive souvenirs for almost the price of a coin! It can get crowded, so it's best to visit early. This is the Museum & souvenir shop of Tsukasa Botan, a sake brewery. It may seem like a restaurant, but there are many reviews recommending it, so I decided to post about it. I arrived on a holiday before 1 pm, and there was a 30-minute wait to enter the museum. However, they give you a specific time slot, so waiting is easy. There are several shops nearby, so it's recommended to get a ticket first, explore the area, and then return for your slot. The entrance fee is 600 yen, which includes admission to the exhibits and videos, 3 tasting coins (with the option to add 1 cup for 100 yen each), and an original cup to take home. During the state of emergency, tastings were suspended, but they have now resumed. They also offered bottled products for takeout during the emergency, so it seems worth visiting as long as they are open. Drivers can also receive these bottled products. The tasting cups are small, but that's common in this area known for tasting comparisons. Even if you've had a lot to drink elsewhere, this amount might be just right. You can also exchange the tasting coins for bottled water if needed. Learn from the videos and exhibits, try the recommended sake, and leave happily. It doesn't feel like they are trying to profit from you here; it's a very cost-effective and enjoyable experience. Thank you very much!

【August 20, 2023】I visited the birthplace of Nikka Whisky, which was established in 1637 as "Kasajiyu". In 1657, there were reportedly 83 sake breweries in this area. They used the Yodo River to transport their products to Osaka and Edo. Nikka Whisky was able to survive by introducing glass containers and conducting research and development to maintain quality and innovate their technology. Currently, they have expanded globally through subsidiaries in the United States, China, and South Korea. I ordered a sake tasting (entrance fee) for 600 yen (tax included) and also purchased 2 bottles of sake. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I had been curious about this place for a while and finally got to visit. The interior is not very large, so you can go around quickly. There was water available outside to drink. You can choose from 10 types of sake for tasting. It was hard to decide... I tried 2, 4, and 10. I liked 2 the best... They have a shop so you can buy some as well.

Using the Kyoto One-Day Sightseeing Pass for Keihan Electric Railway, we got off at Nakashima on our way back from Uji. The Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum is closer to Nakashima Station than Fushimi-Momoyama Station. The entrance fee is 600 yen, which includes a tour of the sake brewery, tasting of three types of sake, and a sake cup for tasting. After the tour, you can use the three coins given at the entrance to taste one cup of sake from approximately 10 types of Gekkeikan sake per coin. If you don't drink alcohol, you can exchange one coin for a 500ml bottle of water, or use three coins to exchange for a 180ml bottle of sake as a souvenir. If you find a sake you like, you can also purchase it at the shop. Who would have thought that one day we would be touring a sake brewery and tasting sake with our family... It's a different kind of enjoyment from going to an izakaya, but it's definitely worth it.

I visited the Tsukasa Koshu brewery for a photo shoot. I discovered a sake that changed my concept of Tsukasa Koshu sake seen in commercials. It's a shame that such potential for making great sake is not widely known. I highly recommend trying the amazing sake made by skilled craftsmen here!

In December 2022, I decided to take a long-distance bus from Eastern Shikoku to the Kansai region for the first time in a while. Although I couldn't visit all the places I wanted to, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to enjoy alcohol, so I decided to explore the streets of Fushimi. Originally, I planned to focus on visiting sake breweries, but my professional curiosity led me to also walk to the tombs of Emperor Meiji and Emperor Kammu from Momoyama-Goryomae Station. In the end, I ended up walking 10km. It was a learning experience. Finally arriving at the sake breweries in Fushimi, I decided to concentrate on the Gekkeikan Okura Memorial Hall this time. The museum had interesting displays of tools, brochures, and videos. Personally, I was fascinated by the sake brewing tools. After the tour, the highlight was the tasting of Gekkeikan's specialty sake. I paid 600 yen at the reception and received a sake cup, which was put to good use here. There were many kinds of sake set up on servers, and I was indecisive about which one to try, but the staff kindly advised me based on my preferences. This was really helpful. Since the samples were served in sake cups, it was just the right amount for tasting. In the tasting area, several staff members took care of us, each wearing work clothes. I have visited several corporate museums and archives, but the staff at this place made me feel their genuine hospitality. It was clear that they were hands-on workers who interacted with regular visitors like me. Being in a similar field myself, wearing work clothes, I felt a connection with them and understood their passion for sharing the enjoyment of sake and the interesting aspects of their work.

Although it is commonly associated with mass-produced sake, Tsukasabotan is actually the oldest sake brewery in Kyoto and a leading company in the industry. They conduct innovative research at their research institute. Visiting the brewery is surprisingly enjoyable, and you can have fun tasting and comparing different sake varieties. I highly recommend it.

On Sunday at 9:36, I visited the Tsukasakura Okura Memorial Hall. Although I arrived a little after opening hours, the "closed" sign was up. However, a staff member kindly let me in when they saw me outside. The entrance fee to this museum, where you can learn about sake, is 600 yen. You can taste three different types of sake from Tsukasakura and receive a sake cup as a souvenir. I chose not to taste, so I received a bottle of sake (THE SHOT) to take home. The museum even allowed me to experience the traditional sake barrel opening ceremony, which made for a great photo opportunity. I also bought some sashimi tofu for 300 yen and Kyoto Fushimi amazake jelly for 650 yen at the shop, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you for the delicious experience.

■Visit Date: May 28, 2022 ■Items Received: See below ■MEMO: I purchased a ticket with a sake tasting included. You can learn about the history of Tsukasabotan and the difficulty of making Japanese sake, as well as about the work of professionals. At the end, you can enjoy a sake tasting. You can choose and enjoy three out of ten different types of sake. I tried the Uchigura Junmai Daiginjo Kyosansui, Tokubetsu Junmai Horyu Junmai Daiginjo, both of which were delicious. The 3.9 was truly amazing. It's a joy to be able to enjoy sake that you don't usually get to try. It's best to savor the delicious sake slowly, taking small sips at a time. ■Blog: https://ay-style.net/

Good evening. I am a beauty acupuncture therapist, Kozue. The other day, I visited a sake brewery in Fushimi. This time, I visited the Tsukasa Koshu Okurakinenkan. There is a museum (with admission fee) and a shop here, and if you visit the museum, you will receive coins that allow you to taste 3 different sakes. The museum is very impressive, and you can learn about the history of Tsukasa Koshu. At the end, there is a tasting corner where 10 different sakes are available. However, you only get 3 coins, so it's a tough choice on what to try. If you want to taste more than 3 kinds, you can add coins for an additional 100 yen. They also provide sake for drivers who cannot drink. Here are the 10 sakes available for tasting: 1. Showa's special grade sake, Tsukasa Koshu Tokusen 2. Legendary sake rice "Iwai" Kyoto Shibori Daiginjo 3. Freshly squeezed flavor, Uchigura Junmai Daiginjo Shiboritate Namazake 4. Mochi rice four-stage brewing, Tsukasa Koshu Retro Bottle 5. Huh? Melon, a new sensation sake, Fruits Tsuki Melon 6. Tsukasa Koshu's hidden masterpiece, Plum Wine 7. Kyoto's local brewed sake, Kyoto Sansui Jozo Sake 8. Kyoto's special Junmai sake, Kyoto Sansui Tokubetsu Junmai 9. The highest peak of Daiginjo sake, Kasagiya Yamadanishiki Daiginjo 10. Standard three-stage brewing, Horin Junmai Daiginjo This time, I decided to taste No. 3, No. 5, and No. 10. I started with No. 10, Horin, which I think is probably the most expensive sake available for tasting. It's a Junmai Daiginjo, and as expected from Tsukasa Koshu's highest class sake, it had a taste that sake lovers would enjoy. No. 3 is a Namazake, so it's not suitable for taking home, but I decided to try it. It's a sake that allows you to feel the sweetness and umami of the rice. I was surprised by No. 5, Fruits Tsuki Melon. It seems that it doesn't contain any added sugar or flavoring, but it was a mysterious sake with a melon aroma and flavor. And it's delicious. This was the most surprising sake I've ever had, as I've never tasted anything like it before. Besides melon, they also have peach and grape flavors. This time, I bought several sakes as souvenirs to take home. Brewery tours are really enjoyable. Thank you for the meal.

☆彡One of the historic sake breweries in the Fushimi area is "Gekkeikan." While it's not a brewery tour, it's a facility that Japanese sake lovers will find irresistible as you can learn about the history of sake brewing and see valuable materials. The entrance fee is 600 yen, which includes a special Gekkeikan sake cup and three tastings. Tasting is a must after the tour, right? ○Entrance Fee (600 yen) Includes Gekkeikan special sake cup and 3 tastings Upon entering, on the left-hand side, there is a 15-minute video about sake brewing. Since you can't see the actual brewing process on a brewery tour, the video is helpful in understanding the process. Besides its long history, Gekkeikan also scientifically verifies yeast strains to study the taste. This commitment is what makes sake enjoyable. The much-awaited tasting offers 3 types of sake, ranging from sweet to dry, with a total of 10 varieties lined up. Even if you see labels you've never seen before, they are easy to choose. I was particularly impressed by the fragrance of "Kadzuki." In the trend of preferring aromatic sake over dry sake, the good aroma of sake seems to be popular lately. However, Kadzuki expresses this sweetness using only rice koji and yeast, which shows the high level of research. By the way, you can add an additional tasting for 100 yen per cup. There are materials that sake lovers will find irresistible. (^ω^*) I'm on Instagram @ginjirou.star

When wandering around, I stumbled upon the sake brewery of Tsukasabotan. Of course, I had to go in. The entrance fee is 600 yen for adults, but it comes with 3 coins for tasting at the end, so it's a good deal. You can see the process of making sake and learn about the history and quality of Tsukasabotan from the staff along the way. They are really friendly, and you can't help but start to like Tsukasabotan. After learning about the greatness of Tsukasabotan, I started tasting with the coins I received. Three coins weren't enough, so I bought more while enjoying the sake. In between tastings, I drank the spring water provided for a palate cleanse. The soft water really refreshed my body and soul. After resetting, I went back to enjoying more sake. It was truly delicious. It was so good that I even sent some sake home. It was like a Disneyland for sake lovers, I had so much fun!

I visited the Tsukasa Koryo Daikura Memorial Hall. Upon paying the entrance fee of 600 yen at the entrance, I received a souvenir sake cup and 3 coins for a sake tasting later. The sake cup is used when drinking Sakamizu (Fushimi's famous water). I was excited as I don't usually have the opportunity to drink Sakamizu. It was explained that the water seeps underground through the Momoyama hills, emerges as spring water at the foot of the mountain, and has a smooth, round taste. It was surprising how different it tasted compared to filtered water. The overall flow of the visit included watching videos on sake production methods and polishing ratios, touring historical materials and the sake brewery, and finally participating in a sake tasting where coins were used to dispense sake. The staff at the memorial hall recommended the order of tasting, and after trying 6 different sakes with friends, I was intrigued by the plum wine made by Tsukasa Koryo, so I purchased additional coins to taste it. The plum wine is made by fermenting plums in Fushimi's famous water, primarily for export overseas. It tasted rich and aromatic, similar to a combination of wine and plum wine, with less bitterness. I ended up buying it at the souvenir shop. The staff also recommended pouring the plum wine over vanilla ice cream, which I tried as soon as I got home, and it was delicious. I felt like being an adult was worth it. If you like rum raisins, you'll definitely enjoy it, so give it a try. I heard that the types of sake for tasting change with the seasons, so I would love to visit again. Thank you to everyone at the memorial hall for being so kind. Tsukasa Koryo is the best!

We strolled around the area and then visited Chokkenji Temple across the street. Luckily, we were guided to the tour company and received a detailed explanation of the sake barrel's rope tying and breaking methods inside the building. We were given 3 medals upon entry, which we could use for tasting at the end. It was a very valuable experience, and the entrance fee was very reasonable with the tasting included. Thank you for the meal!

I visited Fushimi for the first time in years. As a side trip, I decided to stop by Tsukasa Botan and Ki no Sakura. The highlight was the tasting set of 3 types for 600 yen. Before that, I learned about the history of Tsukasa Botan and the process of making sake. It was difficult to choose which one to try because there were so many options, but each one had detailed descriptions of its flavor characteristics. The staff were knowledgeable and helped me decide while maintaining an appropriate distance. If you like a particular sake, you can purchase it at the nearby shop. I don't usually buy Tsukasa Botan or Ki no Sakura, but when I come to Fushimi, I always want to stop by these places.

Fushimi is known as the sake district of Kyoto. It is also the birthplace of the famous sake brand "Gekkeikan". At the Daikura Memorial Hall, you can view valuable materials related to Gekkeikan and enjoy sake tasting for 400 yen. The tasting includes three types of sake: "Retro Bottle Ginjo Sake", a sweet and rich sake reminiscent of Gekkeikan from about 50 years ago, "Plum Wine", a sweet wine made from Kishu plums that is easy to drink, and "Tamanoizumi Daiginjo", a dry sake. I enjoyed a quick look at the materials and the tasting corner. The tasting portion is about one small cup, but with a souvenir bottle included, it's not a bad deal for 400 yen.

This memorial hall or exhibition hall is my first visit. I don't really know the taste of sake, so it's just a vague idea. The entrance fee was 400 yen. I drank well water for sake. There were old wooden sake barrels and panels explaining the brewing process. There were sake bottles from the Meiji era, as well as other artifacts. The posters from before the war were too innovative to use, it seems. They were properly hidden, even though they were wearing shoes. I received a mini sake when entering the hall. After viewing the exhibits, we were allowed to taste. Around 1970 style, it was a sweet ginjo sake. Towards the end of the 1980s, there was a daiginjo Tamagawa. This one was dry and delicious. It seems like this is limited to this place. Then, there was plum wine. Since plums alone won't ferment, something else is added, and the color is... Kasagi is also a limited edition, priced at 3700 yen for 720ml. It had a smooth taste. I'm not sure if it's worth the price. The Yellow Cherry Blossom Museum is free, but here, there are souvenirs and tastings, so it's understandable that it's paid.

Visited the restaurant on a weekday around 3:00 PM. Paid the entrance fee and received a bottle of junmai ginjo sake as a souvenir. Explored the premises and came across a spot where brewing water was flowing. It was free to drink as much as you wanted. After the tour, got to taste 3 different types of sake and was satisfied. Bought a microwave-safe tokkuri at the souvenir corner before leaving. Highly recommended for those who want to learn about the history of Gekkeikan.

I visited a sake brewery tour in Fushimi Momoyama. You can also do tastings there. I thought that the daiginjo sake was easy to drink. There was a bird on the roof. The entrance fee is about 400 yen, but once you enter, you learn that the sake breweries prospered because of the high-quality water in Fushimi. You can taste the water from Fushimi. There is also a souvenir shop nearby, like Gekkeikan. They used to call it "Fushisui" in the past. The water from Fushimi is available for tasting. Some people were filling containers with it to take home. There were many old sake bottles displayed. I received a souvenir as well. The souvenir I bought myself was this! The sake lees candy was incredibly delicious!!!! It had a milky richness to it!

After visiting Kizakura, we headed to Tsukasakon. There is an entrance fee for the tour, but the souvenir shop is great. They had Nara pickles! There were two types available for tasting, Nara pickles (chopped) and Nara pickles. We all tried them and decided to purchase the Nara pickles. The Nara pickles come in a 200-gram pack and are sliced to your preference. They are not too salty or strong in flavor, with a nice sweetness and a crispy texture. They are perfect as a side dish with rice. Overall, both types were delicious, but the sliced ones had a better texture. It was a bit pricey for a set of three, but we enjoyed the tasting experience and were able to make a decision easily.

During the daytime, there were 4-5 groups waiting for someone. I watched nostalgic commercials at the facility across the street while waiting. The restaurant was spacious, and I ordered the Ryoma set meal. Each portion was small, allowing me to enjoy a variety of dishes. It may not be satisfying for young people who want a hearty meal, but it's just the right amount for older people who want to try a variety of foods.