Summer is around the Corner
We have been having warm days as May. Summer is almost there and it’s a great season for joining outdoor event! Here we are going to introduce one of the local sake events coming up next weekend in Otsu, Shiga. However Shiga is a prefecture located next to Kyoto, you have an easy access to Otsu from Kyoto by JR railway.
Sake Brewing in Shiga
Shiga Prefecture with Lake Biwa is a basin surrounded by the Ibuki Mountains in the east, the Suzuka Mountains, the Hira in the West, and the Hibi Mountains. Well known Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan, taking up 1/6 of the area of Shiga! It is with a lakeshore 235 kilometers long. Lake Biwa’s history stretches back four million years, and plays an important role as the source of water for 14 million people not only in Shiga, but also in other prefectures in the Kansai area, such as Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto. This is also an indispensable place for animals and plants in addition to people, with over 1,000 different types of plants and animals making their home near the lake.
It has long been known as a granary and much of Shiga’s sake is sourced from groundwater from these mountains. In addition, Shiga’s rice cultivation is very prospered. In particular, many sake breweries use “Nipponbare” and “Tamaei” as sake rice, and they produce distinctive and savory flavors for each brewer. With rich souse of water and sake rice … Shiga is just another best place for sake brewing.
Local Sake Event ‘Osake Biyori’
Sake event ‘Osake Biyori’ (おさけ日和) will be held on 2nd June 2019 in from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Nakamachi shopping street. 15 local sake breweries will join this event to offer their fresh sake. Entrance fee is free and you will just have to buy tickets at the event. You will also be able to buy some otsumami snacks at the event.
Event facebook page (Japanese)
Event date : 2nd June 2019
Time : 11:00 – 16:00
Place : Nakamachi shopping street, Otsu Shiga Access : 20 minutes from JR Kyoto station (Get off at JR Otsu station and walk for 10 minutes)
Want to Learn More about Sake?
Our sake tour is held everyday except Tuesday throughout the year in Kyoto! Join us on a Kyoto Insider Sake Experience tour. You’ll get to try and learn about a variety of sake and the secrets of sake and Japanese culture!
