Sake is one of the alcoholic beverages that has been loved by the Japanese people since the Yayoi period, about 2,000 years ago. In modern times, sake is gaining recognition worldwide, and in 2024, "traditional sake brewing," including sake, was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Kyoto, which has long supported Japanese sake culture, is a land blessed with high-quality water, home to Fushimi, one of Japan's three major sake-producing regions. The sake brewed with this abundant groundwater, once known as "Fushimizu," has been cherished by locals as a drink that subtly enhances the flavors of Kyoto cuisine.

In January 2025, a new facility offering a fresh way to enjoy sake will open in the heart of Kyoto. It's called "My Sake World Oike Bettei" and is located just a 5-minute walk from HOTEL RESOL TRINITY KYOTO.

Here, you can sample sake from all over Japan and create your own "My Sake" by blending different varieties to suit your preferences. It's a luxurious time to deepen your understanding of sake while carefully appreciating the different tastes, aromas, and textures.

"My Sake World" is a place where you can experience the culture nurtured by sake brewing and the passion of the brewers, not just by "drinking" sake, but also by "making" it. The time spent here will bring new discoveries and lasting impressions to each visitor.

Searching for your own unique flavor in the tranquility

The sake-making experience begins with a thorough lecture in a tranquil setting. You'll learn about the rice and water used as ingredients, the brewing process, and different types such as junmai and ginjo—details that you wouldn't normally notice just by drinking sake. As your knowledge gradually accumulates, you'll begin to appreciate the depth of sake, such as the differences in aroma and taste depending on the ingredients and brewing methods.

Next up is a tasting of sake from all over Japan, including sake from Kyoto. The 12 types of sake poured into small glasses range from classic varieties like ginjo and junmai to fragrant, fruity ones.

As you listen to the different aromas rising from each glass and the subtle variations in flavor that unfold on your tongue, your senses naturally become sharper. You jot down your thoughts and impressions on the "Recipe sheet" in your hand, creating your own original recipe.

And then, finally, it's time to blend. This process is exciting, much like a science experiment. After two rounds of trial and error, the resulting cup, created relying on one's own senses, feels like a work of art that reflects one's own sensibilities.

This experience of creating sake in a quiet space limited to just six people is a special time to carefully explore what you "like" within yourself.

A challenge to connect Japanese sake culture to the future.

While sake has been enjoyed in Japan for centuries, domestic consumption is on the decline. Leaf Publications Co., Ltd., which operates "My Sake World," has begun a challenge to change this situation.

In 1996, the company launched "Leaf," a town magazine showcasing the charms of Kyoto and Shiga prefectures. Through planning a sake event within the magazine, they connected with local sake breweries and embarked on the challenge of blending sake.

Three Kyoto-based sake breweries—Masuda Tokubei Shoten's "Tsuki no Katsura," Kitagawa Honke's "Tomiou," and Matsui Shuzo's "Kagura"—collaborated to develop a new sake called "Assemblage Club." This endeavor brought Sake World producer Kenshi Ueyama the joy of "creating new flavors by working with his hands like an experiment."

The experience of being surprised and delighted by the finished drink led to a strong desire to "make sake more accessible and enjoyable for everyone."

A unique and precious experience in Japan

"We initially anticipated that there would be some criticism regarding the idea of blending sake from different breweries, each with its own unique character," recalls Takuya Iguchi, editor-in-chief of the Sake World division.

With these thoughts in mind, when we reached out to many sake breweries to launch "My Sake World," we were surprised to receive warm words of support such as "That's interesting" and "It will broaden the world of Japanese sake."

In the world of sake, the idea of blending multiple brands is truly an uncharted territory. Nevertheless, most breweries agreed to the idea, driven by the desire to create new flavors and share the appeal of sake with more people.

In Japan today, only those with a brewing license are permitted to produce alcohol. While it is possible to commission a brewery, the reality is that orders are often limited to large quantities.

That's why this blending experience has special value. Each glass you create, using all your senses in front of a small glass, becomes a one-of-a-kind "My Sake."

"It's designed so that even people who don't like alcohol can enjoy it, so please just try it out without worrying about anything complicated," says Iguchi, inviting you to experience that precious moment.

A unique taste that deepens the lingering memories of your trip.

The "My Sake World" experience doesn't end there. The moment you open the box that arrives at your home later, the time you spent in Kyoto will vividly come back to life.

Furthermore, one of the attractions is that you can receive the recipe for your completed "original sake" as digital data. Using the "Blender Certification Card" handed out on the day of the experience, you can purchase it by the bottle at a later date, allowing you to share the flavor you created on special occasions such as birthdays or family gatherings.

The concept of "My Sake World" is "a place to make you love sake even more."

Beyond simply drinking, learning, experimenting, and creating—this experience will undoubtedly transform sake into something more familiar and special than ever before.

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My Sake World 御池別邸 
電話：075-600-9226 
住所：京都府京都市中京区姉小路通富小路東入る福長町123 
アクセス：京都市営地下鉄烏丸線「烏丸御池駅」、東西線「京都市役所前駅」から徒歩8分 
HP：https://sakeworld.jp/special/2411-kyoto-mysakeworld-oike/
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/mysakeworld/ 

*For details on opening hours and closing days, please check the link above.