Kobe’s Nada district feels like a candy store for most sake enthusiasts. Responsible for about 30% of Japan’s sake production, and with many breweries located in walking distance from each other, it’s possible to visit multiple breweries and museums on a day trip. It’s especially fun to explore this part of town on foot. One of those places that I definitely wanted to visit during my daytrip to Nada district was the Kikumasamune Sake Brewery Museum.
Kikumasamune was introduced to me during the WSET 3. Our instructor served us a nice and fruity sake, and asked the class what classification this sake might be. We were all surprised when he told us we just drank a futsu-shu, literally translated to ‘standard sake’. Futshu-shu is a label for cheap sake, ones that are not produced using the standards for premium sake. The futshu sake we drank was the Kikumasamune Gin Pack, and it’s one of the sake that made a big impression on me during the WSET. When I read that Kikumasamune has a museum located in the Nada district, it was a no-brainer for me to visit it.
Nada district is easily accessed by both JR as well as Hanshin train lines. Only a ten minute walk from Uozaki station on the Hanshin line, you will soon arrive in front a great historical building. Entering the building, I was immediately greeted by a nice lady at the entrance. She guided me to the back of the museum, where you are able to watch a movie about Kikumasamune. It shows it’s history, their way of brewing and thankfully available in English.
Like many exhibits in sake museums, the Kikumasamune Sake Brewery museum also focusses on the way sake used to be made. Most exhibits show equipment, tools, bowls and much more of days past. Kikumasamune solely makes sake using the Kimoto method, so learning about Kimoto makes the exhibits stand out a bit more.
Of course, the best part of this museum is its shop and tasting area. The museum offers some free sake to try, but the more interesting sake are available at the vending machine. For a small fee you are able to try a couple of premium sake. When I was there, I was able to try the sake as shown below.
Two sake I want to focus on. The first one being the Atarayo. The details of this sake weren’t disclosed, only that it’s made with Yamada-Nishiki rice. Very fruity, with flavors of strawberries, pear and plum, I tried this one multiple times. The other sake that really stayed with me was the Secession. Not available at the vending machine but at the counter, I remembered it being really sweet, but still very tasty. Since it’s been a couple of months since I was there, I can’t guarantee these sake are still available to try. As a dessert, you can even try there own Kikumasamune ice cream.
While trying sake, a fellow visitor of the museum approached me and asked why I was here at Kikumasamune. As luck would have it, she was a fellow WSET student as well. We tried all the different sake together, discussed sake and best of all, I made a new friend as well.
If you are ever in the Nada district, be sure to stop at the museum. It’s free, easy to reach and Kikumasamune is great sake overall. Try some at the tasting area, and even if you don’t like them, you can still get some nice ice cream!
Kikumasamune Sake Brewery Museum
〒658-0026
1 Chome-9-1 Uozaki Nishimachi, Higashinada Ward, Kobe
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