Taste your way round Kyoto’s sake district, Fushimi

Nearly 40 sake breweries line Kyoto’s historic Fushimi Sake District, which has been producing this famous rice wine since the 14^th century. It’s the second-biggest sake-producing region in Japan, and home to the world’s leading sake producer, Gekkeikan Sake Okura Museum.

We visit the museum on a half-day tour of the district (it’s a private tour, so you’ll only be with your group), learning about the history of sake and how it’s made – it’s mostly produced in winter, because the fermentation process needs cold temperatures. We learn about the different ingredients used; the purity of water, the different types of rice and the polishing process all produce different grades and varieties.

We then get to taste some of the different varieties produced at the Gekkeikan brewery next door, which is normally guests’ favourite part of the tour! We also take the group on a guided walk around the streets, and visit Gokonomiya Shrine, which is famous for its healing waters, fed from underground springs.

After tasting the sake at Gekkeikan we walk to the Kizakura Kappa Country, a brewery and restaurant where you can try other varieties and choose to stay for lunch.

I love guiding this tour because the area is fascinating; there are so many sake breweries clustered together here, and it’s amazing to see all the rows of wooden warehouses. It’s filled with beautiful waterways, traditional houses and historic temples, and the area is known for its yakitori chicken too (skewers cooked in sweet, sticky glaze). It’s also the place where the Edo hero Sakamoto Ryoma was shot by Shogunate officials, so there’s lots of interesting history to learn about. There’s something for everyone, sake-lovers or not!