Sake tasting at Sasaki Sake Brewery, the only sake brewery in the historical capital, together with the god of sake: The perfect pairing of sake with kaiseki cuisine from Toriyone restaurant at the foot of Matsuo Shrine?

Along with Kamigamo Shrine and Shimogamo Shrine, the famous Matsuo Taisha Shrine in Arashiyama is one of the oldest shrines in Japan. It is also where the god of sake is enshrined. The spacious shrine grounds are full of attractions, including the famous "turtle well" (Kame-no-i), whose waters are used to brew sake, the Reiki Falls, and a garden by famed landscape architect Mirei Shigemori. After touring the shrine with a priest, you will visit the long-established and famous restaurant Toriyone just outside the shrine's gates, where you can enjoy the restaurant's specialty of chicken dishes made in a uniquely Kyoto style. Toriyone once had a poultry farm in the Matsuo area. It is especially well-known for its chicken hot pot. The umami flavors of the chicken melt into the broth in steaming little pots. The seasonal small bowls and takiawase dishes of vegetables and meat are also excellent. Guests can enjoy their meal with some sake, expertly selected by a sake tasting sommelier for pairing well with chicken. The restaurant owner will offer his commentary, bringing guests one step closer to the true essence of Kyoto's hitherto largely unknown chicken cuisine.