The hometown of sake: Nara
Nara is a special place in the history of sake as the "birthplace of sake." Its origins date back to the Muromachi period. At Shoryakuji, a branch temple of Kofukuji, the groundbreaking brewing method known as "Bodaimoto" was developed, which became the foundation for modern Japanese sake. This technique allowed for the production of clear and delicious sake, unlike the cloudy sake that had been made previously.
The technology born in Nara spread throughout the country and became the foundation of today's sake culture. The pure water of Kasuga Taisha combined with the advanced techniques of the temples allowed sake to expand from Nara to the entire nation. Nara is not just a tourist destination; it is truly the "hometown of sake," having played a pivotal role in the history of sake.
Kazeno Naramachi is a hotel that was created by renovating the old residence of the long-established sake brewery 'Nara Toyozawa Sake Brewery', which was founded in the first year of the Meiji era.
This land, through which the pure water vein flowing from Kasuga-taisha Shrine runs, has long been active in sake brewing, and the Nara Toyozawa Sake Brewery has been brewing the famous sake 'Houshuku' using this water.
At the hotel, you can fully enjoy Nara Toyozawa Sake Brewery's sake in a space where you can feel the history and charm of the sake brewery. We offer a special experience to savor Nara's sake culture with all five senses, including limited edition sake not available in general distribution and sake lees baths using brewing water.
By staying at the hotel, you can feel a deeper connection to the history of Nara Toyozawa Sake Brewery and the charm of Nara, the birthplace of sake.
Preserving tradition and connecting to the future through sake brewing
Founded in 1868, Nara Toyozawa Sake Brewery, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018, is a long-established brewery in Nara that supplies sake to many temples and shrines, including Todai-ji and Kasuga-taisha. Since its establishment, it has continued to cherish traditional handmade brewing methods. Furthermore, the master brewer, Tadaji Fujisawa, has been recognized as a 'modern master craftsman' by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, reflecting the high level of skill and commitment to tradition.
As mechanization in sake brewing progresses, most of the process is still carried out by hand. In particular, the production of koji, which is said to influence the flavor of the sake, is done entirely by hand. Currently, 80% of the sake produced by Nara Toyozawa Brewery is classified as 'specific designation sake', which can be seen as evidence of this commitment.
In order to convey tradition into the future while preserving traditional brewing methods, Nara Toyozawa Sake Brewery is undertaking various challenges. One of these is the development of new types of sake that anticipate and meet the needs of the times. Additionally, to allow more people to enjoy sake casually, they are also working to promote sake by opening a standing bar called "Toyoshuku" within a train station.
Nara Toyozawa Sake Brewery Official Website
Kazeno Naramachi
offers enjoyable sake
Our hotel offers sake from Nara Toyozawa Sake Brewery. Additionally, we also have limited edition sake depending on the season.
※ The types may change.
Uses carefully selected sake rice "Yamada Nishiki." After that, through long-term low-temperature fermentation, the umami of the rice is maximally extracted, resulting in a sake that represents Nara Toyozawa Brewery, with a gorgeous aroma and concentrated rice flavor.
National New Sake Competition 30th Year [Gold Award Winner]
This is a special bottle that has been aged for over a year at -5°C immediately after pressing the daiginjo. The ice temperature aging slowly brings out the aroma and flavor, resulting in a smooth, rich, and elegant taste reminiscent of fruit, with a delicate mouthfeel that lingers gracefully into the finish.
Using the only sake rice in Nara, "Tsuyuhakaze," polished down to 60%, it is fermented at low temperatures with the "Nara Uruhashi yeast" separated at the birthplace of sake, Shoryakuji Temple. The soft umami of the rice is characterized by a pleasant mouthfeel.
"I thought I would name it if I encountered the best sake," said Professor Takeo Koizumi, an honorary professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture, who is the creator. The subtle ginjo aroma and the balance of the rice's umami make this sake pair perfectly with any side dish.
100% made from the rice variety Gohyakumangoku. You can truly feel the umami and richness of the rice. It also has a very high aroma, characterized by a refreshing scent reminiscent of grapefruit and mandarin, along with a mellow acidity derived from lactic acid.
A new sensation sparkling based on sake.
With a refreshing sweetness and mild carbonation, it is very easy to drink and can be enjoyed as an aperitif for toasting.
"Nara Shuwa Ball" was born as part of a project proposing a new way to enjoy sake from Nara, the birthplace of sake. It is a refreshing and easy-to-drink cup that adds the lightness of carbonation to Nara's local sake. With the desire to invigorate Nara's sake and local dining establishments, it is a bottle that conveys a new sake culture unique to Nara.
How to enjoy sake
Enjoy Nara's fine sake and cuisine
at the counter restaurant
We offer a dining experience that pursues the pairing of dishes with Japanese sake, served in a counter-style that allows you to enjoy the cooking process live. You can savor dishes made with carefully selected ingredients from Nara and enjoy Japanese sake to your heart's content.
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Learn about sake brewing
in Nara, the birthplace of sake
Not only is it enjoyable, but experiencing it is also one of the charms of Japanese sake. I recommend visiting the current sake brewery of Nara Toyozawa Shuzo to learn about sake making. During the brewery tour, overnight guests can also taste Japanese sake that is not available on the market.
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Stay in a historic former sake brewery residence.
After enjoying a meal, you can return to your room and leisurely soak in the afterglow. This is a luxurious way to spend time, made possible by our hotel, which is themed around sake. In the guest rooms, we offer a sake lees bath, known to promote blood circulation and improve skin quality. It is said to be effective not only during the cold season but also for alleviating cold sensitivity, which is common among women.
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