Visit Japan Web Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum
Visit Japan Web invites you to explore Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. It is situated approximately five minutes on foot from Keihan Railways Chushojima Station. Whether one is a connoisseur of Japanese rice wine or not, the building, grounds and exhibit hall are certainly worth a short trip.
Founded in 1637, Gekkeikan is now Japan’s second largest brewer of sake. The factory is in an area renowned for its natural springs. It is located by the old canal used for transporting the product to both Kyoto and Osaka. The water was said to be almost sweet in its purity, making it ideal for use with rice, molded rice, and yeast in producing Japan’s best-known drink.
After visiting the museum, you can enjoy tasting a variety of sakes made with the underground water that is Fushimi’s natural gift, using traditional techniques refined through our history of challenge and creativity.
While Japanese rice wine is often referred to as sake in English, it actually refers to alcohol in general. In Japan, the preferred term for rice wine is “Nihonshu”. It has a distinct aroma as well as a sweet fruity taste. It typically has an alcohol content ranging from 14% to 19%. Drinking chilled nihonshu in summer can make you feel refreshed after work and increase your appetite. In winter, hot nihonshu can make you feel warm and relaxed. So it’s a perfect drink for any occasion.
There are approximately 2,000 nihonshu breweries in Japan producing over 10,000 products. Each nihonshu brand has its own unique aroma and taste.
