Fujioka Sake Brewery Guide: Discovering The Craft Behind “Sookuu” Sake

At Kyoto Insider Sake Experience, our mission is to share Japanese culture with our international guests through the world of sake. We hope to help more people discover the joy of sake and enjoy it even more deeply. Our team of sake sommeliers is always working to expand our knowledge and offer service that feels thoughtful and welcoming from the customer’s point of view.

As part of this effort, we visit sake breweries several times a year. In 2025, we were fortunate to tour a number of breweries, gaining meaningful insights and memorable experiences along the way.

Fujioka Sake Brewery: A Stylish Local Brewery

This time, we are excited to introduce “Fujioka Shuzo,” one of the representative sake breweries in Fushimi, Kyoto –

（Water in Fushimi, Kyoto— once called “Fushimizu,” is blessed with high-quality underground water, and Fushimi still boasts the second-highest sake production in Japan)

Fujioka Shuzo is located just a 10-minute walk from our company. Nestled in a quiet residential area, the brewery features a stylish building with brick and wooden walls, resembling a café or gallery but with a certain gravitas.

History of Fujioka Sake Brewery

Founded in 1902 in Higashiyama, Kyoto, Fujioka Shuzo expanded to Shiga Prefecture during its peak, producing about 8,000 koku annually (with being roughly about 180 liters. Today, the brewery produces around 220 koku annually)

However, in 1994, the sudden death of the third-generation owner struck the brewery hard. His wife (the current owner’s mother) took over but faced further challenges when the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake nearly destroyed the brewery.

At that time, the fifth-generation owner, Masakatsu Fujioka, was studying brewing at Tokyo University of Agriculture. Driven by a strong desire to produce sake again, he trained at various breweries and sought support from many people to revive the business.

In 2002, Fujioka Shuzo was reborn by renovating an old warehouse into a new sake brewery, with Masakatsu himself taking on the role of toji (master brewer) and beginning the production of new sake brands like “Sookuu.”

Brewery Tour Experience

Entering the brewery through a stone-paved corridor, we found a shop area selling sake right in front of us, and to the left, a bar with a chic setup where we could observe fermentation tanks through glass. Guided by a staff member, we climbed the stairs outside the shop to the reception room, where we were warmly welcomed by the fifth-generation owner, Masakatsu Fujioka.

In the center of the room was a large, impressive table made from a renovated wooden box (fune 槽）once used for the pressing process, showcasing the owner’s sense of style and the brewery’s history.

We sat around the table in a nice setting with a brochure for each and received a thoughtful greeting from the owner, who shared the brewery’s history, dedication to sake-making, and answered all our questions. 

Then, being equipped with caps and aprons, we entered the sacred sake-making area.

The brewery, having been converted from a warehouse, you can see thoughtful touches everywhere, and each one gives you a sense of the care put into the place.

Around four people are involved in the sake making process, with the owner personally handling the koji-making, which can often require nearly two days of sleepless work.

While larger breweries might produce one batch of sake daily during the season, Fujioka Shuzo manages only one batch per week, emphasizing the owner’s belief in the importance of taking time and care in the brewing process.

Tasting Session

After the tour, we returned to the reception room, where two types of sake and “yawaragimizu” (a glass of water to sip between drinks) awaited each of us.

• “Sookuu” Kurazukuri Kinu Hikari
  • Made from Kinu Hikari rice grown in Ohara, Kyoto, by the brewery staff.
  • With a polishing ratio of 50% (Daiginjo standard), it offers a refreshing aroma and elegant taste, leaving a clean finish.
• “Sookuu” Special Junmai Nama Genshu – Omachi
  • Made from Omachi rice from Akaiwa, Okayama.
  • Combines the freshness of namazake with the solid flavor of genshu, also offering a clean finish, enjoyable at various temperatures.

The owner’s philosophy, “Good sake surely connects to heaven and people,” was strongly felt with each sip. It evokes a comforting, gentle feeling—this is the essence of “Sookuu.”

The owner joyfully mentioned, “Sookuu is pronounced ‘so-ku’ and in English, that means `So Cool!’. 

Indeed, both the brewery’s story and the sake itself provided a “So Cool!” experience.

Fujioka Shuzo offers brewery tours for the general public from June to September, outside of the sake brewing season. When you visit Kyoto, we hope you will take the opportunity to enjoy not only the charms of Kyoto and Fushimi, but also the world of  “Sookuu.”

Brewery and Tour Information

Name of Brewery	Fujioka Shuzo
Address & Map	Imamachi 67-1, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8051 Map
Region / District	Fushumi Sake District, Kyoto
Opening Hours	11:30am – 18:00pm (excluding Wednesday)
Website	https://www.sookuu.net/
Shop / Purchases	YesSake, fermented foods, home-made ice cream and various local souvenirs are available for purchase.
Tasting	Available
Guided Tours	Available (only during June to September, excluding sake making period)
English Support	Not available
Reservation	Required
Notes	Brewery tours are offered upon reservations. Visitors can also enjoy sake and some food to pair with at their bar ‘En’.