SAKURA TOWN SAKE STORE

30/05/2025

Sake’s Secret Ingredient: Sakekasu

Ever wondered what’s left behind after sake is made?
Meet sakekasu — the flavorful, nutrient-rich paste born from the sake brewing process. 🍶

From cooking to skincare, this hidden gem of sake culture is packed with benefits —
it’s tradition, taste, and creativity all in one.

Ready to find out how sakekasu is made and how people use it?
We break it all down in our blog post dated May 27th, 2024.

Tap the link in bio to read more!

25/04/2025

Savoring Sake Across Seasons :

As the seasons shift, so does the best way to enjoy Japanese sake. 🌸❄️☀️🍁

Did you know that certain sake types pair better with particular times of the year?

🍶 From crisp and refreshing in summer to rich and warming in winter, sake reveals different charms throughout the seasons.

Now is the perfect time to learn how to savor sake all year round. Discover tips and insights in our blog post dated Feb 5th, 2024.

Tap the link in bio to explore more!

31/03/2025

Did you know that sake has been deeply intertwined with Japan’s spiritual traditions for centuries?

🍶 From ceremonial offerings at shrines to rituals that mark life’s milestones, sake is more than just a drink—it’s a symbol of connection, gratitude, and purity.

⛩️ Discover the fascinating history behind this tradition in our blog post dated May 10th, 2024.
Tap the link in bio to read more!

12/03/2025

When we think of the tea ceremony, tea is the first thing that comes to mind.

But did you know that sake also plays a role in this tradition?

🍶 Sake appears in the Japanese tea ceremony as part of the kaiseki course meal, which precedes the tea preparation. In this formal setting, sake is not just a beverage but a gesture of hospitality and connection.

🍵 The act of passing and sharing sake cups symbolizes respect and deepens the bond between the host and guests, aligning with the tea ceremony's core values of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.

Learn more about this unique tradition in our blog post dated Dec 26th, 2024 - link in bio!

07/02/2025

Sushi and sake are a match made in Japanese food heaven! 🍶🍣

The combination of these two is symbolic of Japanese cuisine, where rice – the key ingredient in both – ties them together.

The delicate flavors of sushi and sake complement each other perfectly, creating a beautiful balance that reflects the essence of Japanese dining culture. 🥢

Curious about how they work together? Dive into our blog post dated June 28, 2024 to learn more – link in bio!

24/12/2024

Sake: A Wellness Booster in a Cup

It's that time of the year again - as we welcome 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect and set goals for a healthier and happier you. 🐍

Did you know that sake can be part of that journey?

When enjoyed in moderation, sake isn’t just a delightful drink—it comes with surprising health benefits. From promoting relaxation and reducing stress to supporting digestion and enhancing skin health, sake offers more than meets the eye. 🍶

Curious to learn how this traditional Japanese beverage can complement your wellness routine?

Explore the details in our latest blog post - link in bio!

27/11/2024

In traditional Japanese weddings, sake is more than a drink—it's a sacred symbol. 💍✨

During a Shinto wedding, known as Shinzen Shiki, the sacred Three-Three-Nine Ritual (Sansankudo) unfolds. The bride and groom take turns drinking Omiki, a sake believed to be imbued with divine power, from three differently sized cups. This ritual of nine sips symbolizes their union, marking the start of a journey blessed by the gods.

🍶 The significance extends even further. Another key moment in the ceremony is when both families share Omiki, symbolizing two households coming together and the start of a shared commitment to support the couple’s new journey together.

👓📖 Want to delve deeper? Our Homepage blogpost covers the history of the Three-Three-Nine Ceremony and the symbolic steps of the ceremony. Discover the timeless traditions behind each sip and the meaning they carry.

18/10/2024

Antique Sake Sanctuary - when History Meets Modern

📍Location: Yumehyakushu in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto Japan

If you're passionate about Japanese sake and its unique history, you'll love exploring Fushimi Yumehyakushu (伏見夢百衆) in Kyoto.

This beautifully preserved Taisho-era building, which once served as the main office of Gekkeikan until 1993, offers a delightful blend of tradition and modernity - along with amazing sake and light bites that will brighten your day.

🍶 During our visit this week there is even a special sake-tasting event (利き酒会), running until October 31st this year. It offers a great opportunity for visitors to taste a variety of locally brewed sake while learning about Fushimi’s deep sake culture.

But that’s not all - the cafe inside is devoted to offer something for everyone, sake beginners included.

🥧 The regular cafe menu features delicious, approachable treats like Sake Lees Financiers (酒粕フィナンシェ), Sake Manjū (酒まんじゅう), and Amazake Cider (甘酒サイダー), introducing you to sake flavors in a light and friendly way.

☕️ Their coffee is brewed with Fushimi’s famous water, the same used in their renowned sake, making this cafe a perfect stop for sake enthusiasts with their non-drinking companions.

Even the building itself is a treat for the eyes. From the high ceilings adorned with antique-looking lights to the wooden furniture, its blend of Western and Japanese styles adds a unique charm to your visit.

Fushimi Yumehyakushu is more than just a cafe - it s a living piece of Fushimi’s sake legacy, lovingly preserved. If you’re visiting Kyoto this fall, make sure to stop by for a taste of history and the finest sake around. 🗾

11/10/2024

From Sake Day to Zuiki Matsuri: Celebrating Rice, Harvest, and Tradition

As we have celebrated Sake Day on October 1st - a day dedicated to honoring the craft of sake brewing - Japan’s deep cultural connection to the rice harvest becomes even more apparent.

⛩️ Do you know that it is on the very same day that the famous Zuiki Matsuri begins? This festival, which runs from October 1st to 5th, celebrates the autumn harvest - a vital part of Japan’s cuisine and sake production.

Held at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, the festival kicks off with a grand procession that winds through the local community.

Along the route, visitors are greeted not only by young maidens and flower-adorned umbrellas, but also beautifully crafted mikoshi (portable shrines) that are unique to this festival.

🌾 These shrines, adorned with real crops freshly harvested and carefully prepared a month in advance, are a visual tribute to the season’s bounty. Notice the rice stalks hanging on the top of the mikoshi?

As a manifestation of the community's gratitude for the harvest, these mikoshi make Zuiki Matsuri one of the most visually stunning and meaningful celebrations of the year.

🍶 As we honor the rice that goes into crafting sake, this festival reminds us of the abundance that nature provides and the enduring traditions that celebrate it.

27/09/2024

30/08/2024

Matsuno'o Taisha - The Spiritual Home for Sake Brewers & Lovers

📍Location: Matsuno'o Taisha, Kyoto Japan

Situated in a secluded area by the Katsura River in West Kyoto, Matsuno'o Taisha makes a nonetheless striking impression with a pair of special statues at its very entrance -

🍶 These are "heishi" - traditional vessels used in Shinto rituals to hold sake as offerings to deities, whose quiet yet unusal presence is a nod to the shrine’s foundational connection to sake brewing.

Built for the worship of the God of Sake, for over 1,300 years Matsuno'o Taisha has been the legendary site for sake brewers and lovers alike.

⛩️ Not only is the shrine famous for its annual Sake Festival, the Sake Museum located right inside Matsuno'o Taisha is built for visitors to dive into the rich history and techniques of sake brewing every day throughtout the year.

Unlike other museums that focus solely on the technical or historical aspects of sake brewing, the Sake Museum also highlights the religious rituals and ceremonies that are integral to the sake brewing process.

After all, this is a museum situated at the birthplace of Japan's sake culture, where sake is revered as a sacred offering rather than just a daily beverage.

🇯🇵 Next time when you visit Kyoto, let's take a trip to this cornerstone of Japan’s sake heritage, with hidden depths waiting to be explored.