A day when the town of Fushimi was completely colored by sake

Construction of Fushimi Castle began in 1592 as Toyotomi Hideyoshi's castle to reside in his later years. The current Ote-suji Street was developed as the main road leading to the castle's main gate. It was reborn as a shopping street during the Taisho era, and has continued to adapt to the times ever since. Even today, it is lined with stores essential to the lives of local residents, and is bustling with people every day.

Many of the sake breweries in Fushimi, Kyoto are located around Otesuji Shopping Street, and each can be reached on foot. It is literally an unavoidable main street for enjoying Fushimi sake.

Fifteen historic sake breweries from Fushimi participated in the "Fushimi Sake Festival in Otesuji Shopping Street 2025," held on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The shopping street, which stretches for about 400 meters, was already bustling with visitors by 1:30 p.m., when the first part of the event began.

Participation tickets were divided into three sessions, and over 4,200 visitors enjoyed traditional Fushimi sake throughout the day.

15 sake breweries in Fushimi will be offering new sake and other items

At the eastern end of Otesuji Shopping Street, the Kintetsu Railway's Fushimi-Goryo-mae Station and the Keihan Railway's Fushimi-Momoyama Station are adjacent. When you exit the station, Otesuji Shopping Street spreads out before your eyes.

Booths for each sake brewery will be located in the center of the shopping street, with food corners featuring local restaurants lined up on both sides. Participants will be given original sake cups for drinking sake at the event, and a set of 10 sake vouchers to enjoy sake from each brewery.

Autumn is well underway and mid-November marks the start of sake brewing season.
Each brewery is also offering new sake, and we report on the fresh flavors that can only be enjoyed at this time of year.

A. Kinshi Masamune (established in 1781)
Exhibited sake: (warmed) Kinki Masamune Junmai Ginjo Polished 60g / Ginkaku Aramusha / Kinki Masamune Junmai Ginjo Yamada Nishiki / Matsuya Kyubei

Matsuya Kyubei, named after the founder, is a luxurious sake made from Yamadanishiki rice from Hyogo Prefecture, polished to 35%. You can enjoy a refined ginjo aroma and a clean taste without any impurities.

B Masuda Tokubei Shoten (established in 1675)
Exhibited sake: Tsuki no Katsura Laugh-out-loud / Tsuki no Katsura Yanagi Junmai Ginjo Sake / Tsuki no Katsura Daiginjo Nigori Sake

This daiginjo nigori sake is made using "Iwai," a type of rice suitable for sake brewing, grown without pesticides in Fushimi, Kyoto. You can enjoy the richness and flavor of nigori sake, as well as a refreshing aftertaste.

C Laurel wreath (founded in 1637)
Exhibited sake: (Warm) Tokusen / Argo Sake 5.0 / Argo Sparkling Sake 5.0 / [New sake] Newly Sake Junmai Daiginjo Unpasteurized / Hourin Junmai Ginjo / Hourin Junmai Daiginjo

Gekkeikan continues to challenge itself with new sake based on innovative technology. In 2025, it will release a sparkling version of "Argo Sake 5.0," which was released last September. The refreshing effervescence and crispness of the drink are expected to further broaden the base of sake.

D Kitagawa Honke (founded in 1657)
Entries: [New Sake] Tomioh Freshly Squeezed Unfiltered Nama Genshu / [New Sake] Tomioh Junmai Daiginjo Sasanigori Nama Genshu / Tomioh Daiginjo Yamadanishiki Award-winning Sake

This unfiltered sake is released just a few days after being pressed into the tank. It has a rich, full-bodied flavor, and you can enjoy the freshness of being "freshly squeezed." It's a powerful bottle that can stand up to strong-flavored snacks.

E Miyakozuru Sake Brewery (established in 1970)
Exhibited sakes: Miyakozuru Junmai Ginjo Namasake / Miyakozuru Junmai Ginjo Hiyaoroshi / Miyakozuru Junmai Daiginjo Unfiltered Genshu

The Miyakozuru brand has a history of over 170 years. It has been passed down through many sake breweries and remains a name to this day. You can enjoy the refined and sophisticated aroma that is typical of Fushimi, Kyoto.

F Takara Shuzo (founded in 1842)
Exhibited sake: Shochikubai "Subaru" (unpasteurized sake) / Specially Selected Shochikubai (Junmai Daiginjo) / Specially Selected Shochikubai (Daiginjo) polished to 39%

"Shochikubai 'Subaru' (Nama-Zero Sake)" expresses a strong aroma using a unique yeast. It is a brand that you can enjoy the freshness and coolness that only a sake that has been aged raw can have.

G Toyosawa Main Store (founded in the 1800s)
Exhibited sake: Toyoiwai Freshly Squeezed Nama Genshu / Toyoiwai Ginjo / Toyoiwai Junmai Daiginjo / Toyoiwai Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki

"Toyoshuku Freshly Squeezed Raw Sake" has a refreshing taste that complements food and brings out the flavor of the ingredients.

H Matsumoto Sake Brewery (established in 1791)
Exhibited sakes: Momo no Shizuku Junmai Ginjo / NEW KYOTO Hakuryoku (Kyoto only) / Momo no Shizuku Junmai Daiginjo

Byakuroku, part of the NEW KYOTO.JP series, was released to mark the 100th anniversary of the company's relocation to Fushimi, Kyoto in 2022. It has a refreshing aroma of pear and apple, and a light taste with an alcohol content of 14%.

I. Kyohime Brewery (Established in 1918)
Exhibited sake: Daiginjo Takumi / Junmai Daiginjo Takumi / Junmai Daiginjo Murasaki / Junmai Daiginjo Murasaki "Iwai"

Yamada Nishiki Daiginjo Takumi is made entirely from Yamada Nishiki rice. It has been awarded gold medals at the Wine Glass Awards and the Kanzake Awards, making it a Daiginjo that can be enjoyed in a wide range of flavors.

J Matsuyama Sake Brewery (established in 1923)
Exhibited sake: [New sake] Tokoku Celebration Junmai Ginjo Unfiltered Genshu Ichibi (chilled or warmed) / One-year low-temperature aged Junmai Ginjo / Tokoku Celebration Junmai Daiginjo Kyoto-limited Unfiltered Nama Genshu / Not for sale: Tokoku Barrel Sake Junmai Ginjo for Today / [New sake] Not for sale: Tokoku Junmai Ginjo Origarami Tobetori

Matsuyama Sake Brewery not only offers new sake, but also a wide range of other brands, including sake exclusive to this event. The "Jukoku" brand, which was launched in 2023, has been gaining attention every year, and further development is expected in the future.

K Shotoku Sake Brewery (Established in 1645)
Exhibited sake: [New sake] Junmai Ginjo Winter Sake - Freshly Squeezed - / Junmai Ginjo Autumn Sake - Chilled Genshu - / Junmai Daiginjo Iwai 40 / Junmai Daiginjo Yamadanishiki 35

"Junmai Ginjo Winter Sake - Freshly Squeezed" has the gassy flavor that only new sake can offer, a rare taste that can only be enjoyed during the sake brewing season.

L Saito Sake Brewery (Established in 1895)
Exhibited sake: [New Sake] Eikun Junmai Shiboritate Nama Genshu / Eikun Akiagari Junmai Sake / Eikun 130th Anniversary Junmai Daiginjo Usu-Nigori / Ichigin Junmai Daiginjo Naka-Harvested Genshu

Saito Sake Brewery, which will celebrate its 130th anniversary in 2025, served "Eikun 130th Anniversary Junmai Daiginjo Usu Nigori."

M Tamanohikari Sake Brewery (established in 1673)
Exhibited sake: [New sake] Junmai Daiginjo freshly squeezed undiluted sake / Nigori Sparkling Kyo no Hikari / Organic Junmai Ginjo GREEN Omachi / Junmai Daiginjo Short-stalked Watasen

In October of this year, Tamanohikari was certified as an "awa sake," a type of sake that must pass rigorous screening. The brewery's first sparkling sake, "Nigori Sparkling Kyo no Hikari," was released in 2024 and features the same fine bubbles as champagne, thanks to a secondary fermentation process in the bottle.

N Yamamoto Honke (founded in 1677)
Exhibited sake: [New sake] Unfiltered raw sake with a tare-guchi finish / (Warm) Shinsei extra dry special junmai genshu Kyoto no Kagayaki / Celebration junmai daiginjo 35% / Special Yamada Nishiki junmai daiginjo 35% / Special Yamada Nishiki junmai daiginjo 25%

This unfiltered sake is bottled without any processing from the mashing stage, offering a robust flavor and freshness that can only be enjoyed at this time of year.

O Kizakura (founded in 1925)
Exhibited sake: Junmai Sparkling Piano / Nakaragi Junmai Ginjo / (warmed) Special Selection Junmai Ginjo Kizakura / [New sake] New Rice New Sake Daiginjo Nouveau

With a light 5% alcohol content and a taste that brings out the sweetness of the rice, Junmai Sparkling Piano is creating a new generation of sake fans. It is a brand that allows you to experience the diversity of sake and the depth of sake-making techniques.

The venue also had a wide selection of food, mainly from local restaurants, with each restaurant offering a selection of snacks that showcased their unique characteristics, with a focus on dishes that paired well with sake.

Promoting Fushimi sake to the world through "GI Kyoto"

We spoke to Kitagawa Yukihiro of Kitagawa Honke, chairman of the Fushimi Sake Brewers Association, about his thoughts on the past year and his outlook for the future.

"I became chairman of the union last year, and in addition to my regular duties, the year was filled with big events, such as the World Expo and GI certification.

"GI Kyoto" aims to prevent the misuse or abuse of the Kyoto sake brand, with an eye to expanding overseas. In the future, we are considering acquiring the designation for areas within Kyoto, such as "Fushimi" and "Tango."

Additionally, this year saw a sharp rise in the price of rice used for sake production. The price of sake rice fluctuates one year later than that of table rice. Considering the current situation, another wave of price hikes is likely, and an increase in the price of sake as a whole is inevitable. The question is how much people will accept a price increase for sake alone, while other alcoholic beverages are not seeing large price increases. It will be important to create opportunities for people to connect with sake through events like this, so that sake does not become a part of their daily lives."

A geographical indication (GI) is the name of a product that has special characteristics such as quality and social recognition that have been nurtured by factors unique to the region, and its purpose is to register and protect it based on criteria such as its place of production, special characteristics, raw materials, and production method.

As of November 2025, 34 GIs have been certified in Japan, including for sake, shochu, and wine, and the number is increasing every year. GI Kyoto was registered as a GI for alcoholic beverages in the sake category on October 1, 2025.

The conditions vary in each region, and the conditions for GI Kyoto include "using only water collected within Kyoto Prefecture," "manufactured within Kyoto Prefecture," and "storage must be within Kyoto Prefecture."

As the price of rice used to make sake rises, the price of sake itself is also rising. However, when you consider the effort and quality involved in sake brewing, the value is fully justified. Communicating this value through events and increasing opportunities for people to experience sake on a daily basis will lead to the revitalization of the entire industry.

On March 14th, 2026, the Fushimi Sake Festival, where all the breweries in Fushimi will open their breweries to the public, is scheduled to be held. We hope to continue to follow the trends of each brewery as they create new Fushimi sake, along with the history they have cultivated over the years.

Writer: Yuki Arai
A freelance writer who conveys the culture and stories of sake. After graduating from university, he got a job at a liquor store in Kyoto City, and then worked in sales at a food manufacturer before going independent.WEB SITE）
Qualifications: JSA SAKE DIPLOMA, Wine Expert, SSI Sake Master, Sake Studies Instructor