Three recommended spots related to "Nara sake" brewed in Nara, the birthplace of Japanese sake!
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Did you know that the birthplace of Japanese sake is Nara ?
For those of you who did not know, here are three recommended spots that are closely related to the traditional "Nara sake" brewed in Nara, the birthplace of Japanese sake!!
What is "Nara sake"?
Before introducing the recommended spots, I would like to briefly tell you about "Nara Sake"! "Nara sake" is the sake made by the 27 sake breweries that are members of the Nara Prefecture Sake Brewers Association in Nara prefecture, which is closely related to the history of Japanese sake as its birthplace. While benefiting from the rich natural environment of Nara, each brewery makes optimal use of its unique characteristics, and a variety of sake is produced under the brand using ingenuity and traditional techniques of master sake brewers. In addition, "Nara Sake" has been selected as one of the 12 regional brands selected by the Regional Brand Development Support Office of the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry!
"Nara Sake" brand logo Labels for each brewery
12 regional brands PR film：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S7P9YmLYBw
List of 12 regional brands
3 recommended spots!!
Now I would first like to introduce two of the three spots where you can learn about the history and traditions of Nara sake. The third location is extra valuable as it actually offers Nara sake tastings and purchase!
１． The birthplace of sake in Japan
The first spot located a 30-minute drive from the center of Nara Prefecture is Bodai Mountain Shoryaku-ji Temple, which is nestled in the mountains. It is a temple built by Emperor Ichijo(※1) during the Heian period(※2) , and is said to be the birthplace of Japanese sake.
Bodai Mountain Shoryaku-ji Temple -HP：http://shoryakuji.jp/
- 1 Emperor Ichijo: An emperor of the mid-Heian period who reigned during a time when the culture of the Heian period flourished.
- 2 Heian period: It refers to one of the historical periods in Japan, lasting approximately 400 years from 794 to 1185.
Stone monument of "Birthplace of Japanese Sake" at Bodai Mountain Shoryaku-ji Temple
Steaming kettle at Bodai Mountain Shoryaku-ji Temple
Nowadays, Shoryaku-ji Temple is quietly integrated into the mountain village that surrounds it, but at the height of the Muromachi(※3) period, it was a large temple with 86 sub-temples(※4) , with the monks producing large annual volumes of sake. The brewing techniques which were developed there became the basis of modern brewing methods, including "three-stage brewing" in which the brewing is divided into three batches, "morohaku" brewing (morohaku) (using white rice for both koji(※5) and kakemai(※6) ), "bodaimoto" (the prototype of shubo(※7) ), and burning to prevent spoilage more than 400 years before Pasteur discovered the method of cooking wine in France. Currently, the sake is not brewed on a large scale as it was in the past, but sake is prepared at the Bodaimoto Sake Festival in January every year. A brewery belonging to the "Nara Prefecture Bodaimoto Sake Production Study Group" takes the shubo home and brews(※8) sake using the shubo. The brewed sake is sold at Shoryaku-ji Fukujū-in, so be sure to take a look when you visit!
Experience spots for 'Nara Sake' around the Bodai Mountain Shoryaku-ji Temple ;
Nakatani Sake Brewery Yanagimachi Brewery https://www.the-kansai-guide.com/ja/directory/item/21899/
（About a 25-minute drive from Bodai Mountain Shoryaku-ji Temple）
- 3 Muromachi period: It refers to one of the historical periods in Japan, lasting approximately 240 years from 1336 to 1573.
- 4 sub-temples: It refers to the small temples and residences of monks located around the main temple.
- 5 Koji: It refers to grains such as rice and soybeans that have been inoculated with specific molds, primarily known as 'koji mold'.
- 6 Kakemai: It refers to specific rice used in sake brewing.
- 7 shubo: It is the basis for the alcoholic fermentation of sake.
- 8 Brews: It refers to the process of fermenting primarily food and beverages. Sake brewing primarily uses rice as the main ingredient and employs koji to facilitate fermentation.
２．The oldest shrine in Japan, where faithful sake brewers gather from all over the country
This shrine is a 5-minute walk from JR Miwa Station and about 20 minutes by bus and on foot from Sakurai Station on the JR Sakurai Line and Kintetsu Osaka Line. Oomiwa Shrine in Miwa, Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, is the oldest shrine in Japan, where the god of sake, the Great Deity Ōmononushi, is worshipped, and is an indispensable element in the history of sake brewing, attracting sake brewer worshipers from all over Japan. In addition, there is Ikuhi shrine(※9) dedicated to the ancestor of the sake brewing clan at the Oomiwa Shrine.
Oomiwa Shrine -HP：https://oomiwa.or.jp/
- 9 Ikuhi shrine: This is a sub-shrine of Oomiwa Shrine that enshrines Takahashi Ikuhinomikoto
Torii gate of Oomiwa Shrine
The characteristic of the Oomiwa Shrine is that it lacks a main sanctuary, and Mt. Miwa towering behind it is the spirit of deity. Sugidama (“cedar orb”), which is made from the cedar leaves of Mt. Miwa, which is the spirit of deity, is now displayed on the eaves of sake breweries as a symbol of sake brewing. The Ōsugidama (“Great Sugidama”) at the Oomiwa Shrine is hung on the eve of the Brewing Safety Prayer Festival(※10) on November 14 every year, and then delivered to sake breweries nationwide, making it a symbol of the heart that connects the sake brewer and the deity of Miwa.spirit of body.
- 10 Brewing Safety Prayer Festival: It is often held during the winter season when sake brewing takes place, and it is a festival that prays for the safety of brewing. Depending on the timing of the event, it also prays for a good harvest in addition to the safety of brewing.
Sugidama displayed on the eaves of a sake brewery
By hanging the sacred cedar orbs, which contain the power of Mt. Miwa, on their eaves, each sake brewery hopes for safe brewing and improvements in quality. Seeing the hanging lush cedar orbs is a sign, saying "new sake is ready" and the custom has taken root in Japanese culture as a winter tradition. Oomiwa Shrine is recommended not only as a spot related to "Nara sake", but also as a tourist spot in Nara Prefecture as the oldest shrine in Japan! Along the way from JR Miwa Station to Oomiwa Shrine, there are spots where you can purchase Nara sake and places to enjoy Miwa thin noodles, allowing you to experience the essence of Nara. Additionally, after visiting Oomiwa Shrine, you can take a short drive of about 10 minutes or a train ride of about 30 minutes to reach Sumo Shrine. (Address: Anashi, Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture). In fact, Nara Prefecture is not only the birthplace of Japanese sake but also the birthplace of sumo wrestling. After visiting Oomiwa Shrine, please consider also visiting Sumo Shrine.
Experience spots for 'Nara Sake' around Oomiwa Shrine;
・Umenoyado Sake Brewery Co., Ltd https://www.the-kansai-guide.com/ja/directory/item/21357/
（About a 30-minute drive from Oomiwa Shrine）
・Choryo Brew Park https://www.the-kansai-guide.com/ja/directory/item/21678/
（About a 30-minute drive from Oomiwa Shrine）
・Gojo Sake Brewery Co., Ltd https://www.the-kansai-guide.com/ja/directory/item/21640/
（About a 50-minute drive from Oomiwa Shrine）
３． A spot where you can taste sake all 27 from “Nara sake” breweries!
A 10-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station and a 15-minute walk from JR Nara Station. “Nara Izumi Yusai” which is Located in Nishiterabayashi-cho, Nara City. This is located on a corner shared by the remnants of the Todaiji Temple townhouse, Kofukuji Temple, and Gangoji Temple.
Nara Izumi Yusai -HP：https://www.naraizumi.jp/
Appearance of Nara Izumi Yusai
At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that there are 27 sake breweries that are members of the Nara Prefecture Sake Brewers Association. Each brewery has its own personality and uniquely attractive features, but it would take a lot of time to go see them all, wouldn't it? That is why "Nara Izumi Yusai", is such a delightful surprise! You can sample and purchase sake from all 27 sake breweries that are members of the Nara Prefecture Sake Brewers Association! In other words, even if you can not afford to visit all the sake breweries individually, it is a valuable spot where you can taste all the "Nara sake" in one place! If you are worried about not knowing enough about sake to get the benefit of such an aficionado’s paradise, there is no need to worry! People of various ages from both Japan and around the world come to visit the store, and the staff members provide very attentive service. Tasting is possible from 200 yen for 60 ml. (a typical sake serving), so you can try various types of "Nara sake" at a low price.
Masu and Ochoko from Nara Izumi Yusai and Tasting image
Additionally, along with the purchase of Nara sake, items such as Nara pickles and cream cheese, which pair well with sake, are also available for sale. These delicacies will help you enjoy Japanese sake to its fullest at home as well. I am sure that once you visit, you will want to conquer all the sake from the 27 sake breweries, and if you do, you will definitely become an "Nara Izumi Yusai" repeat customer!
These are the three recommended spots to "Nara sake" brewed in Nara, the birthplace of Japanese sake! Visiting these three spots will surely pique your interest regarding "Nara Sake" and make anyone a fan of Japanese sake!
Experience spots for 'Nara Sake' around Nara Izumi Yusai;
・NIPPONIA HOTEL Nara Naramachi https://www.the-kansai-guide.com/en/directory/item/21879/
（About 1 minute on foot from Nara Izumi Yusai）
List of External Links
・Nara Prefectural Sake Brewers Association -HP : https://yamato-umazake.com/
・METI Kansai Regional Brand Development support Office -HP : https://www.kansai.meti.go.jp/tiikibrand.html
・METI Kansai Regional Brand Development support Office -Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/kinki_12brand?igsh=MTBlYTlhbTg5dTUwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Author of this article
・METI Kansai Regional Brand Development support Office
Seizing the opportunity of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, we are working to enhance the 'earning power' of regional brands through increasing their recognition both domestically and internationally, developing sales channels, and attracting inbound tourism. We are providing concentrated support for 12 regional brands in Kansai as models, in collaboration with relevant government ministries and support organizations.
