Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum Guide｜History, Tastings & Visitor Tips

If you’re visiting Kyoto and want to delve into the world of sake, Kyoto’s Fushimi Sake District is a must-visit. There are about 25 sake breweries in this area, but unfortunately most of them do not offer tours or tastings, so it can be difficult to know where to go or what to do. Perhaps the best place in Fushimi to deepen your sake knowledge, and learn more about its unique flavours, is the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Read on to find out more about the museum, and how to make the most of your visit there.

Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum

Gekkeikan was founded in 1637 and is now one of the largest sake producers in Japan. A family-owned business, Gekkeikan has been run by the Okura family for 14 generations. Gekkeikan also operates a museum, the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, where visitors can discover the history of the company, learn about the sake making process, and also sample some of Gekkeikan’s sake. In the museum, you can feel the history and atmosphere of a traditional sake brewery, and see various historical materials relating to the company’s history, as well as equipment traditionally used to make sake. Exhibits are labelled in English, and there is an online guide accessible on your smartphone.

Front Desk and Reception

Reception area and lobby. Tickets for entry to the museum can be purchased here. After purchasing your admission ticket, you will receive a souvenir ochoko (sake cup) and three tokens for the tasting. A small seating area is available at the entrance, perfect for taking a quick rest. There is no cloakroom available so you are asked to bring all of your personal belongings with you. Heavy or over-sized luggage can be held at the reception upon request.

Exhibition Room (Gekkeikan’s History and Sake Culture)

The South Exhibit Room features exhibits that detail the history of Gekkeikan. You can gain a detailed understanding of the history behind Gekkeikan’s growth as a leading sake brewery.

The North Exhibit Room contains traditional equipment and tools used in the sake-making process, such as a traditional rice steamer, a sake press, and a cedar fermentation tank. Here you can get a feel for the traditional process of sake brewing and immerse yourself in the production process.

Tasting Area

The tasting area offers 10 different types of sake, and you can choose any three to sample. (or more for an additional fee.) Each sake has its own distinct flavor and aroma, so if you’re unsure which ones to pick, you can refer to the information sheet provided for each sake.

You may have the chance to try exclusive bottles which are only available to purchase at their shop.

If you prefer not to drink, no need to waste your tokens! You can exchange your tokens to a bottle of water/per token or a bottle of sake to take home to enjoy.

Courtyard and Well

In the courtyard you can see traditional cedar fermentation tanks, and Gekkeikan’s Uchigura Sake Brewery with its famous chimney. The courtyard also features a well where you can try the soft, pure Fushimi water-drawn from about 50 meters underground and used in sake production at Gekkeikan.

They also have a massive sugidama (cedar ball) which is a symbol of sake. If you visit in November, you may see it in a vibrant green color. This green color signifies that the new sake of the year has just been freshly brewed.

Shop

The shop stocks a wide range of Gekkeikan sake, as well as a selection of sake-ware and other souvenirs. Special brewery exclusive editions and limited seasonal releases may also be available. Near the register, you’ll find a Gekkeikan original stamp. Why not add another stamp to your book as a souvenir of your trip to Japan?

Should I visit the Museum by Myself?

Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum can be a great place to visit by yourself. It’s easy to do a self-guided tour to check out the various exhibits, and there is an online guide you can access on your smartphone, although the amount of information is limited, particularly in relation to the sake production process. As a result, you may not be able to gain a thorough understanding of how sake is made, the sake categories, or why sake tastes the way it does, but you can still enjoy the atmosphere of the museum. Admission includes three tokens, which can be used to sample three types of sake in the tasting area. During peak seasons (Golden Week, weekends during autumn and spring), the museum can get very busy, so it is worth making a reservation on the Gekkeikan website.

For anyone thinking of visiting the museum by themselves, joining the Kyoto Insider Sake Experience for our 1.5 hour sake tasting either before or after your museum visit would be a good option. Together we will try seven types of sake, and we will give you a basic understanding of the sake production process, introduce you to the sake categories, and guide you towards discovering your sake preferences, all of which should help you appreciate the sake you taste at the museum even more.

Should I visit the Museum with a Sake Expert Tour Guide?

For anyone who wants to fully understand the flavors of sake, and learn about how sake is made, it’s certainly worth visiting the museum with a guide who is knowledgeable about sake. Our 3-hour sake tours are run by certified sake sommeliers who will show you around the museum and explain the sake production process, the sake categories, and the deep culture of sake. This experience will give you the context to greater appreciate your time at the museum. After sampling three types of sake at the museum, we will move on to our tasting room nearby to try another seven types of sake.

Information

Address: 247 Minamihama-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8660, Japan
Opening hours: 9:30 – 16:30 (last admission 16:00)
Closed: New Years holiday period (from December 28 to January 4), O-Bon festival (from August 13 to August 16)

Reservations:
Reservations can be made for tours starting at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour. Walk-in tours (with no reservation required) are available at 00 and 30 minutes past the hour, however availability depends on crowd levels. During peak seasons (cherry blossom seasons and color leaves seasons), weekends and public holidays, making a reservation is advisable. Reservations can be made two weeks before your desired visit date until the day before.

Tips on visiting:

*Entering the above address directly into a map app may lead you to the wrong location. Rather than using the address, search for ‘Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum’.

*To avoid crowds, choosing an hour during the morning or early hours in the afternoon may be better.

*The museum sometimes closes unexpectsuddenly, so it’s best to check their website before visiting.