I will post this because the national-famous vinegar maker, Iio Jozo, is rated 3.04 on this site. Most of the vinegar available in stores is not real vinegar but a synthetic seasoning with a strong acidity. Traditional breweries like Iio Jozo that use natural fermentation methods are very rare. The difference lies in the taste - the umami is completely different. Iio Jozo's vinegar is made through natural fermentation and long-term aging, using sake as the base ingredient. Furthermore, the rice used to make the sake is pesticide-free. Such breweries are truly rare, and I earnestly hope that gourmet enthusiasts will take notice. Iio Jozo is a top-tier establishment among Japan's finest, and I hope it will continue to thrive for generations to come. By the way, there are only two breweries that make red vinegar used in Edo-style sushi from their own sake lees, and Iio Jozo is one of them.

The other day, I received souvenirs from my gourmet trip in northern Kyoto on 2018-07-21! It's the "Fuji Vinegar" from Iio Jozo! This might be the highlight of this trip. In the past, it was an unknown product to people outside the local area. During my time as the sales representative for northern Kyoto, I would buy it as a souvenir every time I visited, and it became a staple in my home. Even after I no longer worked as a sales representative, I would still visit regularly to purchase it. And now, for the past few years, they have started selling it at the Nara co-op, which was a pleasant surprise and convenient! It had been a while since I visited the store. I went back today! Just like in the past, you can smell the vinegar from the parking lot. The store itself has not changed at all. (I'm happy about that!) Today, perhaps because it's a holiday, it was not the landlady but a staff member who welcomed me! The staff member seemed to be a local, and was very friendly, which I appreciated! "Konpira Udon"! "Onojin Soy Sauce" from Mineyama! etc... I have a reservation tonight at "aceto"! Local stories flow freely. Of course, we always use "Fuji Vinegar" at home. However, at the Nara co-op, you can only buy the regular "Fuji Vinegar". But when you visit the store, there are many different varieties available! And just like in the past, you can still taste each one. (If you wish, they will even show you around the brewery!) The one that caught my eye today was the "Fuji Vinegar Premium". I don't remember this being available when I used to visit the store. "It's my first time!" according to the staff member, it was released as a new product after the son took over as president. I immediately tasted it. Even the regular "Fuji Vinegar" is in a different league compared to mass-produced products from major companies, but this... What is this... This taste... "The taste, the quality is just... unbelievable!" My wife also said, "Delicious!" She seems very satisfied. How can I describe it... "It's smooth and spreads in your mouth!" The acidity and smoothness, which are normally contradictory in mass-produced products, are perfectly balanced, but the Premium version is in a league of its own. My wife and I both agreed, "We have to buy it!" I will taste the various "purpose vinegars" next! The next one that caught my wife's attention was the "Sunomono Vinegar". The dashi flavor is really strong in this one! It might be easy to use! And the dashi flavor seeps in slowly... "Maybe even the grandchildren will like this!" So, souvenirs for our home, our son's home, and our daughter's home are decided! The tasting continues! My wife then got interested in the "Honey and Sweet Potato Vinegar". We were told that you can enjoy it as a beer cocktail at "aceto" tonight! It seems like my wife is excited to try it. (I also had it at the restaurant at night, and it was surprisingly delicious!) *Please refer to the post about "aceto" for more details. Alright, the first round of souvenirs has been purchased. Today is unusually hot outside (too hot!). To avoid it spoiling on the way back in the car, I arranged for it to be delivered to my home by courier! I'm looking forward to it! And today, it arrived. I'm trying out the various vinegars with the dinner my wife prepared. "It's really delicious!" It's a top-notch vinegar. I wonder if my grandchildren will remember the taste of "Fuji Vinegar". Thank you, Iio Jozo! I always appreciate your products. Here's to enjoying them once again!

In the Osaka area, it is quite difficult to find "Fuji Vinegar" from Iio Jozo. My wife found yuzu ponzu at the Ion in Shijonawate and bought it for me! There are two types of ponzu, one made by a soy sauce shop and the other by a vinegar shop. The vinegar shop's ponzu tends to have a more "refreshing" taste. We decided to use it for our weekend shabu-shabu with freshly caught red snapper and yellowtail. It had been years since we had Iio Jozo's yuzu ponzu. It has an "elegant taste"! The balance between vinegar and soy sauce is excellent. It is not overly seasoned, so the yuzu aroma shines through. In short, it has a "honest taste". It goes perfectly with shabu-shabu! While there are many types of ponzu in Kansai, there are few as refined as this one. It was so delicious! I still have some left, so I will treasure it.

"Authentic vinegar is here. In the past, when I was in charge of sales in northern Kyoto, local customers taught me about this place. In Miyazu, it is a well-known long-established store. Especially, 'Fuji Vinegar' is a classic among classics. At that time, it was hard to find outside the store, so I would stock up every time I went on a business trip. On a holiday, I took my wife to Miyazu and even visited the factory. Fuji Vinegar by Iio Jozo, once you taste it, you can't go back to using store-bought vinegar. It's more like, 'What have I been using as vinegar until now?' Your concept of vinegar changes. Especially when having vinegar dishes without heating. Honestly, I've never been a fan of vinegar dishes. Because as soon as I put it in my mouth, I would cough. But Fuji Vinegar is different! Of course, it's vinegar, so it's sour. But it's not harsh or stingy. The acidity and sweetness spread in a well-balanced way in your mouth, even to your throat! It was shocking! (I was told during the factory tour that they use a different amount of rice). Before I met Fuji Vinegar, even when I went to restaurants, I wouldn't touch vinegar dishes saying, 'I don't like vinegar dishes.' (I'm sure there are delicious dishes using proper vinegar, not just Fuji Vinegar). But meeting Fuji Vinegar changed my concept of vinegar! I want everyone who reads this review to try it at least once. Recently, of course, you can also buy it online, and in our house, it has become common to have it at the nearby Nara Co-op. But if you happen to visit Miyazu City, please stop by the store as well. Besides the classic Fuji Vinegar, they also have various other vinegars. The staff at the store are very kind and will explain everything in detail even if you visit suddenly."

As part of a university lecture, we visited a rice brewery and tasted different types of sake. The taste varied depending on the vinegar used, but the fresh vinegar we tried was smooth and fruity, without the harsh acidity when drinking it straight. However, when I ordered some online later, it seemed like the acidity had intensified, which was disappointing.

Exterior: The restaurant has a modern and stylish appearance, with large windows that allow plenty of natural light to come in. The outdoor seating area is spacious and well-maintained, creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests.