Kiku-Masamune
Sake Brewery Museum

Information

Kiku-Masamune was founded in 1659 and boasts a history of over 350 years. Built under a theme of "presenting the origin of sake," this sake brewery museum with a long-established brand displays a large number of exhibits, most of which are designated as Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan. Collections in the Museum include the exhibits showing the sake brewers' work, life and an introduction of "kimoto-zukuri," a traditional four-week hand process which starts by mixing koji, water and steamed rice to create "moto" (shubo or yeast starter) to cultivate yeast, which turns the sugar into alcohol. Also popular among overseas tourists are tasting of namazake, freshly pressed sake and daiginjo-flavored soft serve ice cream. (daiginjo: sake made with white rice polished to 50% or less). Explore and enjoy every area of the Museum.

See Location Below

01 Learn the basics of sake making at a long-established sake brewery

Demonstrated in detail at the Museum is the sake-making process, including "motoba," a place for cultivating yeast which is essential to sake-making, "kashiba," where sake rice is washed (by stomping using the feet) and "funaba," where sake and white lees are separated. Comments are also received from overseas tourists who appreciate the explanations being given in foreign languages using QR codes. There is a photo area for taking pictures to post to SNS such as Instagram. Happi coats (Japanese traditional coats) with the Kiku-Masamune logo are available for you to wear with the photos. Come and learn the culture and the passion for sake making of Kiku-Masamune, a brewery which has long been established since around 1600.

01 "Hyaku Moku" - Kiku-Masamune's new junmai-daijinjo brand

In 2016, Kiku-Masamune launched a new brand "Hyaku Moku" for the very first time in 130 years. This suprising news attracted great attention nationwide. Hyaku Moku is junmai daiginjoshu made absolutely from Yamada Nishiki, a sake rice variety of the highest quality which is referred to as the "King of Sake Rice". Yamada Nishiki used for this sake is contract-grown in the fertile land of Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture. According to the brewery, with a sharp and dignified flavor incorporated with a well-balanced richness, the aftertaste of umami from just a sip or two of Hyaku Moku brings out the flavor of the dishes. Hyaku Moku apparently pairs well with Italian and French cuisine thanks to its flavor somewhat resembling to that of white wine. Hyaku Moku, an unsurpassed sake brand which prompted many people to say "Kiku-Masamune has really gone all out." Don't miss the opportunity of tasting this flavor for yourself.

01 A wide range of original Kiku-Masamune merchandise

At the souvenir corner, a variety of Kiku-Masamune merchandise is sold, including limited edition sakes and original goods. In addition to their standard Kiku-Masamune ginjo-shu (made from white sake rice polished at least to 60%) and junmai-shu (made only from rice and rice koji), you can also buy Hyaku Moku, the brand mentioned earlier. Don't miss your chance to try namazake, unpasteurized sake. Also highly recommended is the thick, refreshing and extremely popular "sake brewery soft serve ice cream". Moreover, a line-up of cosmetic care products made using sake is available such as milky lotion, toning lotion and cleansing cream. Japanese sake in fact contains plenty of moisturizing components such as amino acids. This makes sake-based cosmetics extremely suitable for skin conditioning.

Other Points

01

So many spots you just cannot miss! Check out the following:

A gigantic wooden sign of Kiku-Masamune hung up at the entrance
A chair on which Emperor Showa sat
A huge painting featuring a beautiful woman, and more

02

Important spots outside the Museum:

"Tsurube"-A bucket to draw water from the well
A waterwheel shed used for milling rice
You will find them on your right and left, just inside the entrance.

Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum

Address 1-9-1 Uozaki-nishimachi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe View in Map

Opening Hours

Everyday
:9:30am–4:30pm
Year-end & New Year holidays
:CLOSE

A ten-minute walk from Hanshin Railway Uozaki Station

Website

神戸酒心館Kobe Shu-Shin-Kan
Brewery

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