Walking Through Fushimi to the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum

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A Sake Tour of Kyoto

Walking Through Historic, Atmospheric Fushimi

In the afternoon, I set out on a sake tour of Kyoto. First, I headed to Fushimi and got off at Momoyama Goryomae Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line.

I walked through a lively shopping street, then stepped off onto a side road to look at the impressive main gate of Genku-ji Temple from outside. (Reservations are required to see the inside.)

Apparently, it was made by relocating and remodeling a structure that once stood within Fushimi Castle.

"This gate was created by moving part of a building from within Fushimi Castle when the castle was dismantled, and remodeling it into a temple-style two-story gate." No. 15 Genku-ji Temple – Sacred Sites Guide | Honen Shonin 25 Sacred Sites

I kept walking through Fushimi, and I really liked the streets lined with wooden storehouses.

Then I arrived at this jet-black storehouse, my first destination.

Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum

This is the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, a facility run by the famous sake maker Gekkeikan.

When I visited, part of the museum was under renovation, so some exhibits were unavailable and admission was free.

The exhibits covered Gekkeikan’s company history as well as the traditional methods of making sake.

There were things here you do not often get to see. You could really feel the history.

A courtyard lined with barrels—it even looked like a nice place for a picnic.

The visit ended with a tasting of 2 kinds of sake. I might come back once the full tour route reopens!

The famous Fushimi canal looked completely different from what I had imagined—maybe because of the season. There was hardly any water at all! Right!? Haha.