🗺️ Gekkeikan Okura Memorial Museum

Fushimi is located at the southern end of Kyoto City and is recognized as one of Japan's three major sake-producing regions, alongside Nada in Hyogo Prefecture and Saijo in Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a renowned area for the brewing of fine sake, characterized by its sake cellars with white earthen walls, which have conveyed the unique charm of this sake-producing town since the Edo period. One of the representative sake cellars in Fushimi is the nationally famous Gekkeikan, founded in the early Edo period in 1637 under the name "Kasagiyaya." Since its inception, it has maintained a commitment to quality, boasting a history of over 380 years. In 1987, a corner of the original site, featuring a sake cellar over a century old, was renovated and reopened as the Gekkeikan Okura Memorial Museum. This comprehensive museum is dedicated to introducing and conveying the history, techniques, and allure of Fushimi's sake cellars. The exhibition room of the Gekkeikan Okura Memorial Museum showcases traditional brewing tools such as wooden barrels, sake casks, and paddles, which have been designated as tangible folk cultural assets of Kyoto City. It also presents numerous historical materials that narrate the challenges and creative stories since the company's founding. The techniques of the brewers and the culture of sake brewing are introduced in a simple and understandable manner. At the end of the visit, there is an exciting tasting activity. The tasting area offers a variety of sake, from which visitors can choose three types. The selection of sake changes with the seasons, allowing sake enthusiasts to enjoy new brews with each visit. Additionally, for travelers who cannot participate in the tasting, such as those driving, a complimentary bottle of sake is thoughtfully provided.

A street scene where you can feel the charm of the wine-producing region. A building transformed from a century-old wine cellar. A valuable brewing tool recognized as a tangible folk cultural asset of Kyoto City. After the visit, three types of sake are available for tasting.