Mukai Sake Brewery
An impressive array of sake, compatible with anything
Founded in 1754, Mukai Sake Brewery is a small sake brewery with an annual production of about 5 million bottles. Ms. Kuniko Mukai has served as head brewer since 1999 and is the eldest daughter of this family business. At the time of her appointment, there was a lot of buzz about her because she was the first female head brewer in Japan. Because of her perseverance in making wholly unique sake, "Ine Mankai" (their ancient red rice sake) was served during the G20 Osaka Summit held in 2019. The brewery has turned into a hot-spot with a constant flow of visitors, the majority of which are tourists looking to try their famous sake. Ms. Mukai aims for flavors that are moderately bitter and sour, and that pair wonderfully with food. The brewery also preserves all but abandoned production methods (natural yeast without mashing, and Kimoto production, which is traditional sake yeast mash starter and the oldest surviving traditional style of sake making). They have using these methods since the Edo period. If you are lucky enough to catch Ms. Mukai at the brewery, she loves to chat!
from the head brewer:
When I was a kid, the only people around me were fishermen, and I was disappointed that my family business was sake brewery. Needless to say I had never thought of becoming the head brewer. However, while studying in the brewing department at my university and helping with the family business, I ended up deciding to immerse myself in this world. When I became head brewer I kind of became a social icon for a while, and that alone boosted the brewery’s popularity. But nowadays, I focus on making sake that people keep coming back for. We are creating enduring, unique sake, using traditional methods. If you come to the brewery, don’t hesitate to say hi!
Kyo no Haru (Kyoto Spring)
An unfiltered Junmai sake brewed using 100 percent "Omachi" Okayama rice. The rice polishing rate is 65 to retain the flavors of the rice. There is also the special Junmai sake version, made using 100 percent "Kyo no Kagayaki” Kyoto rice.
(Right) Omachi 1,870 yen (720 ml),
(Left) Large fishing flag label 1,540 yen (720 ml) (both including tax)
Ine Mankai
Red sake made with ancient red rice. A sake that started out as Ms. Mukai’s university thesis, and turned into a reality.
2,090 yen (720 ml, tax included)
Natsu no Omoide (Summer Memories)
This is a sake that Ms. Mukai made for the first time in 1999 so it holds a special place in her heart. It has a strong sourness, and it goes well with dishes like tuna sushi
1,650 yen (720 ml, tax included)
access 35 minutes by car from Yosa Amanohashidate IC Expressway. 5 minutes on foot from Ine stop
address 67 Hirata, Ine-cho, Yosano-gun, Kyoto
TEL 0772-32-0003
hours 9:00-12:00 13:00-17:00
closed: New Year holidays only
Payment information: Cash only
Parking is available nearby