A Town of Pure Water and Sake
You’ve heard of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine and its magnificent one thousand vermillion gates, but Fushimi Ward has quite a few more hidden gems. Located in the south of Kyoto, Fushimi Ward has long played an important role as a transportation hub, connecting Kyoto and Osaka by river. The town is blessed with excellent sake and food, as well as photogenic scenes such as its narrow streets lined with sake cellars and pleasure boats running along its canal. History buffs are sure to love the stories featuring famous warriors and statesmen that took place here.
Due to its abundant underground reserves of clear, high-quality water, Fushimi has also blossomed into a center for sake (Japanese rice wine) production, a tradition that continues to this day with more than 20 active breweries. Fushimi’s mineral-rich natural water is what makes the area’s sake well-balanced, smooth, and perfect for pairing with food. Many breweries offer sake tasting to the public, too—it’s a great opportunity to sample, and appreciate the subtleties of Fushimi sake!
Let's not forget about the scenery by the canal. The canal, flowing from the great Lake Biwa, snakes through a jumble of nameless winding alleyways that are lined with old, wooden houses and cellars. It’s a small, quiet canal, brimming with water, reflecting the white clouds in the sky, as small boats float along to and fro. Standing in the middle of this romantic, nostalgic scene, we feel as though time has paused. In addition to sampling some of Fushimi’s sake, there’s no better way to take in the landscape and historical scenery of the area than the 50 minute Jikkoku-bune Cruise. Once onboard the vessel, you’ll meander down the river past traditional covered boats, and the signature wood and plaster walls of numerous sake breweries. The ride is made more beautiful throughout the seasons, too, by the many willow trees and other seasonal flora that line the river’s banks.
Due to its abundant underground reserves of clear, high-quality water, Fushimi has also blossomed into a center for sake (Japanese rice wine) production, a tradition that continues to this day with more than 20 active breweries. Fushimi’s mineral-rich natural water is what makes the area’s sake well-balanced, smooth, and perfect for pairing with food. Many breweries offer sake tasting to the public, too—it’s a great opportunity to sample, and appreciate the subtleties of Fushimi sake!
Let's not forget about the scenery by the canal. The canal, flowing from the great Lake Biwa, snakes through a jumble of nameless winding alleyways that are lined with old, wooden houses and cellars. It’s a small, quiet canal, brimming with water, reflecting the white clouds in the sky, as small boats float along to and fro. Standing in the middle of this romantic, nostalgic scene, we feel as though time has paused. In addition to sampling some of Fushimi’s sake, there’s no better way to take in the landscape and historical scenery of the area than the 50 minute Jikkoku-bune Cruise. Once onboard the vessel, you’ll meander down the river past traditional covered boats, and the signature wood and plaster walls of numerous sake breweries. The ride is made more beautiful throughout the seasons, too, by the many willow trees and other seasonal flora that line the river’s banks.
