[Kyoto, Fukuchiyama - Miyazu - Ine] A tour around sake breweries to enjoy Tango sake

Towa Sake Brewery: Experience the culture and climate of Fukuchiyama

The first place we visited was Towa Sake Brewery, located in Fukuchiyama City, surrounded by rich nature, about an hour and 45 minute drive from Kyoto Station. Founded in 1717, the brewery once stopped brewing after its wells suddenly dried up, and continued to sell its sake by outsourcing production. However, the current head brewer, Jun Imagawa, trained in various places, and in 2011, he resumed home brewing for the first time in 33 years. There used to be around 15 sake breweries, but now Towa Sake Brewery is the only one where you can enjoy local sake.

In 2019, Imagawa was the first woman to be awarded the title of "Tamba Toji." She makes a wide variety of sake in small quantities by hand, without relying on machines.

On the right is Jun, the master brewer. The sake is made by a loving couple who say they have never had a hangover.

The representative brand, "Ao" from the "Rokkan" series, is made using restored well water and is brewed using the Yamahai method, with only rice, rice malt, and water, for a natural flavor. Another sake, "Fukuchi Sanmanjisenkoku," named after the Fukuchiyama Ondo song, is popular as a sake that allows you to experience the local climate.

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The third from the left is "Ao" and the rightmost is "Fukuchi 32,000 koku"

Enjoy local sake while looking out at Amanohashidate at Genmyoan

Heading out to the sea from Fukuchiyama, our next stop was the inn "Genmyoan" in Miyazu City, where you can enjoy the magnificent view of Amanohashidate, one of the Three Most Scenic Views of Japan. Since it opened in 1935, it is a long-established inn with a long history, having been visited by members of the imperial family, including Emperor Showa.

The hotel has a historic feel, and you can see Amanohashidate from the guest rooms.

On this day, we had a special lunch that was paired with local sake. *The regular lunch menu was not available.

In addition to Mukai Sake Brewery, the alcohol lineup also included Hakurei Sake Brewery in Miyazu City and Takeno Sake Brewery in Kyotango City, and we were able to enjoy them together with local ingredients.

The sake is from Mukai Sake Brewery in the local town of Ine, and comes in an original Genmyoan bottle.

Drawing sacred water at Miyazu's super power spot, Manai Shrine

After Genmyoan, we visited Manai Shrine. This shrine is located further inland than Konojinja Shrine, also known as "Motoise" because it is said that Amaterasu Omikami and Toyouke Okami, who are enshrined at Ise Grand Shrine, were moved to Ise from here. Recently, the shrine has become famous as a power spot. In the main hall, there is a sacred rock that has been passed down since the Jomon period, and there is a mysterious atmosphere.

In addition, in front of the shrine's torii gate, the "Water of Heavenly Manai" springs up, and you can draw some and take it home with you. This water is said to be sacred water that was brought back from heaven by a god named Amenomurakumo-no-Mikoto in a golden bowl for use by the gods, and "Manai" is said to be the highest honorific that can be given to water.

After drinking this sacred water, we were recharged and headed to our next destination.

Mukai Sake Brewery, a sake brewery standing next to the boat houses of Ine

Next, we visited Ine, which is famous for its 230 "Funaya" houses lined along Ine Bay. "Funaya" are buildings unique to this region, with the first floor facing the sea as a boat storage area and the second floor as a secondary living space.

View of the ocean from the first floor of the boathouse.

The owner lives in the main house across the street from the Funaya, but in the past, he had a large family and used the second floor of the Funaya as well. Now that the population has decreased, the space is used as a lodging facility.

The sea is right next to the building, and boat houses are lined up on the opposite shore.

After strolling through the charming town lined with boathouses that are used not only as accommodation but also as restaurants and cafes, you can enjoy the view from the sea on a water taxi or sightseeing boat.

Sea Taxi

The sake brewery next to these boat houses is Mukai Sake Brewery, the closest sake brewery to the sea in Japan. Founded in 1754, it is one of the oldest sake breweries in Ine.

Like Towa Sake Brewery, this brewery also has a female toji brewer. Her signature brand, "Inemankai," is made with red rice and looks like a rosé wine, with a sweet and sour taste and fruity aroma. It is popular among women and those who are not accustomed to drinking sake, and is now attracting attention from overseas as well.

I bought some Ine Mankai sake lees and made some sake lees soup, which turned out to be sweet and sour and flavorful.

Ine Mankai sake lees with their distinctive red color

Although the annual production is small at around 5 million koku, they make sake with great care, respecting the land and the environment.

You can enjoy sake that makes the most of the best qualities of each region.

This concludes our report on "Sake Brewery Tourism to Enjoy Tango Sake." By tasting sake that makes the most of the unique charms of each region, we feel that tourism can be enjoyed not just as a way to "see" but also as a way to "know and taste."

I believe this is born from the desire of the people who live in a particular area to learn about the land, communicate its good qualities, and connect it to the next generation.

If you want to know more about Kyoto, please come and visit us.

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Towa Sake Brewery

Website: https://towa-shuzou.jp/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/towashuzou/

Address: 115 Ueno, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, 620-0825

Phone: 0773-35-0604

Email: info@towa-shuzou.jp

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Genmyoan

Website: https://www.genmyoan.com/

Address: 32-1 Monju, Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture, 626-0001

Phone: 0772-22-2171

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Manai Shrine

Website: https://www.motoise.jp/about/okunomiya/

Address: 86 Morooka, Ogaki, Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture, 629-2232

Phone: 0772-27-0006

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Mukai Sake Brewery

Website: https://www.kuramoto-mukai.jp/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mukaisyuzou/

Address: 67 Hirata, Ine-cho, Yosa-gun, Kyoto 626-0423

Phone: 0772-32-0003

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For guided tours and inquiries in Kyoto , please contact us here (https://www.cec-kyoto.jp/) .