April means that many breweries are finishing their brewing season and moving into bottling and distribution. We also arrive in one of the busiest seasons for tourism here in Japan as international tourist and Japanese alike travel around Japan to see the most stunning Cherry Blossom spots here in Japan. For us in Kyoto, many of these are just outside our doorstep, with Fushimi being on everyone's must-see list, as there is also plenty of great sake to experience as you are there.
TWTT Podcast - EPISODE 21 - SAKE BREWING EXPERIENCES!
I was delighted when Simone Maynard (@sakemistress) and Maki Tanaka (@sake.amata) asked me to join them on their fabulous sake podcast "TWtT" to share my tiny sake brewing adventure that I had at@gakkogura_sado_obatashuzo and hear all about Arlin Lyons (@tastetranslation) experience @kurabitostay for their EPISODE 21 - SAKE BREWING EXPERIENCES!
You can listen to it via your favorite podcast app or find it here.
"UZUMASA EDO SAKABA” at Toei Eigamura
A very spontaneous visit to the final event of “UZUMASA EDO SAKABA!
Held at Toei Eigamura, an interactive film park that transports you back into the Edo period, this was a super fun night with entertaining performances and great sake!
Probably the best part though was everybody dressed up, with some of these bold caps looking scarily real. Rumour also has it, that these events will become a regular thing, so make sure to check out their website if you are planning to be in Kyoto.
Cheery Blossoms in Fushimi
And as we reached the end of March, the cherry blossoms have arrived in Kyoto and one of the best spots to watch them is the canal behind @gekkeikansake_jp in Fushimi!
If you plan ahead, you can get on one of the boats, but make sure you check real early as these tickets are sold out pretty much as soon as they are advertised...
However, just sitting at a canal and watching the boats, is almost as enjoyable, just make sure you buy a bottle of sake on the way from the train station so you can sip one of the local brews as you are enjoying the moment.
Private Sake Maiko Dinner in Kamishichiken
I have always been fascinated by Kimono and as an extension of that Maiko and Geiko-san and their beautiful look. So it was a real joy organizing a private Maiko dinner for some of my clients in Kyoto's oldest “hanamachi” Kamishichiken along with a small sake tasting as part of our meal.
To be honest, although I have been organising these since I have settled in Kyoto, I don’t think I will ever be not fascinated by this part of Japanese culture….
Sake Enthusiast Catch-up Kyoto
Another great Sake Enthusiast Catch-up, this time back outdoors and with the perfect timing to enjoy the cherry blossoms!
I brought an aged sake that I purchased when I visited Moriki Shuzo last month, that I really wanted to share with the group. Some other sake that were brought were Terada Honke's Patagonia collaboration, Niida Honke and two home-aged sake by Hanatomoe, which I was really looking forward to try and unsurprisingly did not disappoint.
Sake Brewery Tour - We are on the local TV!
It has been a busy season doing sake tours, so much so that one of my sake brewery tours here in Kyoto got a little bit of attention from the local TV station.
Since moving to Kyoto I have been organizing regular sake tours in Kyoto, both private sake tours but also tours for small groups which are always a lot of fun for me but also for the breweries or businesses involved!
So much so, that Sasaki Shuzo asked me if I would mind being filmed by a local TV station as part of a program talking about inbound tourism and my group agreed. They quite loved that they could tell their friends and families they were on Japanese TV.
Sake & Shochu Masterclass
What better way to learn more about sake & shochu then from the makers?! Especially when they hail from far away to Kyoto to hold an intimate Master Class bringing some special bottles with them for us to try.
Held at Kobayashi Saketen in the heart of Kyoto it was great to see @yamatozakura again and try some more of their Shochu including some really interesting fruit and shochu combinations, as well as learn more about @gensakabrewery_co, makers of "Kino" which is a sake I quite like to sip every now and then.
Followed by a DJ set by said makers, great combination and awesome way to spend an evening.
“中酉祭” at Matsunoo Taisha
There are a variety of events and festivals on the sake calendar, but some are more hidden and often only observed and frequented by the people who make sake 🍶
Many people come to Matsunoo Taisha in Kyotos Arashiyama for the New Year’s celebrations but there are other significant yet smaller events. Like this morning, as many sake brewers and miso makers came to the shrine for “中酉祭” to give thanks for the brewing year. A small yet important ceremony held each year in April.
Craft Sake Week 2024 Tokyo
A short but sweet visit to Tokyo for @craftsakeweek in Roppongi Hills to check out the world's largest sake festival!
This has become a bit of an institution on my sake calendar, as it has become the center of the sake world in Japan for its duration (or at least it feels like that to me). It is the place to meet and drink sake with fellow sake lovers, industry people, and anyone curious to find out more about sake in a really hip and cool setup, with some really amazing sake curated day by day by the organizers.
For more information make sure to visit their website, as well as for event info, upcoming dates, line up and more...
H&R Bar-Themed Sake Hotel Rooms
Got to spend a night at @hr_roppongi to check out their bar-themed sake rooms, which come with complimentary bottles of @kikkawa_sake ‘s Afuri!
To be honest, we did not know exactly what to expect, but we warmed up quickly to our little private bar full of snacks and sake. With a fridge filled with 3 types of sake: Jundai, Yamahai, and Mizumoto, it was great to see that there was variety not just the usual "super-premium" and I particularly was a little excited about the Mizumoto...
There might be more holistically approached sake-themed rooms in Japan, so do not expect it to be a converted brewery space. However, the small room-turned-bar is a nice way to start a night out and the perfect place for a nightcap after dinner.
Sake Seeker: Sake and Thai Food!
What a great Thai cuisine and Japanese sake pairing event by @sakeseeker earlier this week at Shibuya-based Thai restaurant @chompoo_shibuya !
I love spicy food and this was a great event with plenty of amazing sake that just paired so well!
My favorite was probably the @hanatomoe_official Mizumoto with a Thai green curry minced pork and I would happily drink @niidahonke ‘s Shizenshu Kaoruyama any day of the week.
Aishu Deito - Osaka
Aishu Deito is back after 4 years of break due to the pandemic!
I first heard about it from a friend who described it as one of the craziest sake festivals, with lots of food, music and brewers being on stage. I could not quite imagine what it would be like, but it sure sounded like a lot of fun so I bought myself a ticket (as this event too, often sells out quickly!)
Well, I was not quite prepared for what to expect, but once there, this is certainly not your normal sake festival. Focusing on Sake✖️Food✖️Music @aishudeito is really more like a music festival. And it also seems one of the few events where the people who make sake also tend to party a little and let loose.
If you go, make sure to arrive at the beginning to make the most out of it, but also stay until the end as it is a lot of fun seeing all the brewers on stage like the rock stars that they are.
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