Sake Trivia

[Trivia] First visit of the year to the shrine should be to pray to the god of sake. I want to know more about the gods associated with sake!

There is a deep connection between sake and gods, and there are many shrines related to sake brewing all over the country. Sake sommelier Eriko Fujita explains the three major sake god shrines that are revered by those involved in sake brewing and are recommended for New Year's visits.

  • Share this article

Why sake breweries have Shinto altars

For Japanese people, alcohol has been an integral part of festivals since ancient times. It was believed that offering sake to the gods and then drinking the sacred sake that was given back to everyone would grant them power through the drinking party. Also, before fermentation was scientifically explained, brewing sake was left to the power of nature and was the domain of the gods. Even today, many sake breweries have a Shinto altar where the god of sake brewing is enshrined. Every morning, the chief brewer and brewers face the altar and pray to be able to make good sake.

Let's visit the god of sake on our first visit of the year!

There are shrines throughout Japan that worship the god of sake brewing, but Okami Shrine in Nara Prefecture, and Matsuo Taisha and Umemiya Taisha in Kyoto Prefecture are known as the three major shrines dedicated to the god of sake, and are revered by many sake brewers.

Ogami Shrine (Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture)
Ogami Shrine is said to be the oldest shrine in Japan, and enshrines the gods of sake, Omononushi no Okami and Sukunahikona no Kami, as well as Takahashi Ikuhi, who is said to be the ancestor of the chief brewers. Every year on November 11th, many people involved in sake brewing visit the shrine for the Grand Festival to Pray for Safety in Brewing, where they are given cedar balls made from the cedars of Mt. Miwa, the shrine's sacred object, and hang them under their eaves as a sign that new sake has been made.

Matsuo Taisha Shrine (Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto City)
Matsuo Taisha Shrine is said to be the oldest shrine in Kyoto, and enshrines Oyamagui-no-kami, the deity of household safety and the protection of the region. Around the 5th century, the Hata clan, who came to the area at the invitation of the Imperial Court, made an effort to develop the region, and as they were skilled in sake brewing, they came to be worshipped as "Japan's No. 11 sake brewing deity" after the Muromachi period. Every November, the "Kamiu Festival" is held as a prayer for brewing, and people involved in sake brewing from all over the country visit the shrine. In addition, at the "Sake Museum" on the grounds, you can enjoy exhibits on the culture of sake and the process of sake brewing, and you can also receive a "Hokkusake-mamori", a talisman for alcohol drinkers.

Umemiya Taisha Shrine (Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City)
The enshrined deity, Oyamatsumi-no-Kami, is also known as Saketoke-no-Kami, and Konohanasakuya-Hime-no-Mikoto is also known as Saketoke-no-Mikoto, and is said to be the god who started sake brewing. At the Kamiu Festival, a prayer festival for the safety and prosperity of brewing, which is held in November, the first harvest of the divine rice is presented to those involved in sake brewing who attend.

Why not visit the shrine for the first time in the new year and pray to the god of sake, asking that you be healthy and be able to enjoy delicious sake throughout the year?

Celebrate the New Year with sake

Sake has long been considered sacred, connecting gods and humans. The year 2025, the Year of the Snake, brings to mind the mythical legend of the Yamata no Orochi (Eight-headed Serpent). Susanoo-no-Mikoto was asked to slay a terrifying eight-headed serpent monster that appeared in Izumo (present-day Shimane Prefecture). He filled eight barrels with sake, which the monster happily drank, and when it became drunk, he cut it down. The magnificent sword that emerged from the monster's tail at that time is said to be the Kusanagi sword, one of the three sacred treasures.

New Year's is a time when we drink celebratory sake, such as toso, which is drunk to ward off evil spirits and pray for long life and good health, and sacred sake, which is served at first shrine visits. Please be sure to celebrate with some delicious sake, but drink in moderation so that you don't end up drinking too much like the Yamata no Orochi.


Writer/Sake Master Eriko Fujita
Expand your world to a sake specialty store in Osaka and encounter a variety of sake and sake breweries. Favorite sakes are Akishika, Ohgi, and others.
Other than drinking, my hobbies include collecting minerals and raising swallowtail butterflies.

Featured articles

1 10
FEATURE
Discover Sake

Search for sake

Featured articles

Sake World NFT