Top 9 Hyogo Prefecture local sake rankings. Sake that can only be bought in Hyogo Prefecture

If you like alcohol, you should definitely check out the "Sake Situation in Japan." This time, we will be looking at the sake situation in Hyogo Prefecture, which is famous for its sake.
We also introduce the characteristics of Nada's men's sake and our recommended lineup.

Hyogo Prefecture is famous for its sake! What is Nada sake, one of the three major sake producing areas?

Nada Gogo in Hyogo Prefecture is one of the three major sake-producing areas

Hyogo Prefecture is known nationwide as one of the leading sake-producing areas. Hyogo is famous for Nada sake, and has been producing a lot of sake for a long time .
Nada Gogo refers to the coastal area including Kobe City and Nishinomiya City, which used to be called Nadame. It is divided into Imazu-go, Nishinomiya-go, Uozaki-go, Mikage-go, and Saigo , and the area it includes has changed little by little over the years.
Nada Gogo , along with Fushimi in Kyoto and Saijo in Hiroshima, is said to be one of the "Three Great Sake-Making Regions of Japan." The region is the number one producer of Yamada Nishiki , known as the king of sake rice, and has an abundant supply of underground water from Mt. Rokko , which is famous for its excellent water quality. In short, the region has an ideal environment for sake brewing.

Traditional sake brewing that has continued since the Muromachi and Edo periods

Sake brewing in the Nadagogo has a very long history. The flavors of the sake, which have developed along with history, are characterized by a sense of nostalgia. Rather than the so-called fruity, refined, high-end sake that is the current trend, the impression may be that of "delicious sake from the good old days."
It is said that sake brewing in Nada began as early as the Muromachi period . Documents show that brewing took place around 1330, and it is said that sake brewing has continued since then and continues to this day. Although it is not as old as Nara, which is said to be the birthplace of sake, Nada is an area where sake brewing took place at an early stage .
Sake brewing in Nada developed rapidly during the Edo period . To meet the demand for sake in Edo, where the population had rapidly increased as the Edo Shogunate flourished, sake production became more prosperous than ever in the coastal Nada region. Incidentally, the coastal areas developed because they were close to the port, making it easy to wholesale sake to Edo at low cost . Nada sake began in earnest when Zadoya Bun'emon, a sake brewer from Itami, moved to Nishinomiya and started sake brewing.

Nada sake is called "Otokozake" (male sake)

Nada sake is characterized by its dry taste, with a strong and rough impression . Nada sake is called "man's sake" and is often compared to the "woman's sake" of Fushimi in Kyoto. While Fushimi sake has a mellow and rounded taste, Nada sake is often strong in acidity and has a rich and sharp flavor.
The reason for the creation of Otokozake was the "Miyamizu" water from Mt. Rokko . Miyamizu is a delicious water that has been selected as one of the 100 famous waters in Japan, and its key point is that it is a medium-hard water that contains a lot of minerals.
When sake is brewed with Miyamizu, which contains minerals, the activity of the koji and yeast increases, and fermentation progresses well. The resulting sake has a strong, refreshing taste with a distinctive character that is not found in other areas.
Another attraction of Nada sake is that you can enjoy different personalities depending on the time of shipment . In the past, when it was shipped to Edo by sea, the key point was that the aroma of the barrel was transferred to the sake during transportation, allowing it to mature. The rough impression of a masculine sake when new is transformed after storage and aging into a contrasting sake with a clean taste and complex aroma and flavor. In particular, "Autumn-aged" sake, whose quality improves after being stored over the summer, is highly regarded as a sake that is typical of Nada.

Top 9 Hyogo Prefecture sakes that are popular for their powerful flavors

1. Ozeki Josen Kinkan One Cup

• Manufacturer: Ozeki Co., Ltd.
• Type of alcohol: Regular sake
• Alcohol content: 15%
• Sake meter value: ±0
• Acidity: 1.4
• Price: 180ml ¥255 (tax included)

Ozeki is a sake brewery in Nishinomiya City with a history of over 300 years. They are known nationwide as the pioneer of cup sake, and their bottled sake that can be drunk by opening the lid is even trademarked as "One Cup."
Ozeki One Cup can be easily purchased at convenience stores, and its appeal is that it can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, such as at room temperature, chilled, or heated in the microwave . With a refreshing taste that you will never tire of, it has continued to be loved as a long-time best-seller.

2. Kikumasamune Junmai Tarushu

• Manufacturer: Kikumasamune Sake Brewery
• Type of sake: Junmaishu
• Ingredients: 100% domestic rice
• Alcohol content: 15%
• Sake Meter Value: ±5.0
• Price: 1800ml ¥2,527 (tax included)

Kiku Masamune is a historic sake brewery founded in 1659, and continues to brew sake as a major manufacturer. Although it is a Nada sake, it is popular in the Kanto region and has a reputation for its dry sake. They are particular about brewing their sake using the kimoto method, and this "Junmai Tarusake" is aged in Yoshino cedar sake barrels .
The resulting flavor is a well-balanced combination of the umami of pure rice and the sharpness that is characteristic of Nada. A light, dry sake with a beautiful cedar aroma, this is a great choice for drinking with meals.

3. Shiraka Selection

• Manufacturer: Tatsuuma Honke Brewery
• Type of alcohol: Regular sake
• Alcohol content: 14-15%
• Sake Meter Value: ±1
• Acidity: 1.3
• Price: 1800ml ¥1,860 (tax included)

Hakushika is a brand produced by Tatsuuma Honke Brewery, which boasts over 350 years of history. The key point is that they brew sake with a policy of always being at the forefront while valuing tradition .
This sake is made using Miyamizu water, and has the characteristic Nada sake characteristics of being rich in aroma and easy to drink. Kaisen Hakushika is especially recommended for drinking warm, from room temperature to hot .

4. Kuromatsu Kenbishi Special Selection Honjozo

• Manufacturer: Kenbishi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
• Type of sake: Honjozo sake
• Alcohol content: 16.5%
• Price: 1800ml ¥2,835 (excluding tax)

Kenbishi's sake has a policy of not displaying the rice polishing ratio on the label. It is a sake that focuses on taste rather than title, and maximizes the umami of the rice. When poured into a glass, the sake is not transparent but has a slight yellow color , which shows that the umami is locked in by not filtering too much.
Kuromatsu Kenbishi is a sake with a rich aroma, and you can feel the fullness of the rice. It also has a sour and spicy taste, and a lingering aftertaste.

5. Hakutsuru Special Selection Tenkuu Fukuro Tsuri Junmai Daiginjo Hakutsuru Nishiki

• Manufacturer: Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
• Type of sake: Junmai Daiginjo sake
• Ingredients: Hakutsuru Nishiki from Hyogo Prefecture
• Alcohol content: 16%
• Rice polishing ratio: 38%
• Sake Meter Value: ±1
• Acidity: 1.3
• Price: 720ml ¥13,200 (tax included)

Hakutsuru is a Japanese sake maker known for its "Hakutsuru Maru" sake, which is also featured in TV commercials. It is one of the most prestigious sake breweries and originally comes from the same roots as Kiku Masamune.
Among the Hakutsuru sakes, the top-ranked one is the Junmai Daiginjo "Cho Tokusen Tenku Fukuro Tsuri." Sake collected using the Fukuro Tsuri method without applying pressure has a very fruity, soft fruity aroma.
There are several series of sake made using different rice varieties, and this one uses Hakutsuru Nishiki, a sister rice variety to Yamadanishiki.

6. Shirataka Ise Shrine Imperial Sake Brewery Junmai Sake

• Manufacturer: Shirataka Co., Ltd.
• Type of sake: Special Junmai sake
• Ingredients: 100% Yamadanishiki rice from Hyogo Prefecture
• Alcohol content: 16-17%
• Rice polishing ratio: 70%
• Sake Meter Value: ±3
• Price: 500ml ¥913 (tax included)

Shirataka is a sake brewery located in Nishinomiyago, one of the Nada Gogo districts, and is a "genuine Nada sake." It is the only sake brewery in Japan to offer sake from the Ise Grand Shrine as a sacred offering.
"Ise Jingu Imperial Sake Brewery Junmai Sake" is a special Junmai sake made to commemorate the occasion, and is made using 100% Yamada Nishiki rice from Hyogo Prefecture. Brewed with Miyamizu, a famous water source, the sake has a rich, dry taste and is extremely satisfying to drink .

7. Nihonzakari Junmai Daiginjo Unpasteurized Sake

• Manufacturer: Nihonsei Co., Ltd.
• Type of sake: Junmai Daiginjo sake
• Alcohol content: 15-16%
• Sake meter value: -6.0
• Acidity: 1.7
• Price: 720ml ¥1,275 (tax included)

Nihonsei is also a sake brewery in Nishinomiya City, and is one of the sake breweries that play an important role in the Nada Gogo region, along with Ozeki and Hakushika. In recent years, in addition to sake brewing, the company has also been involved in cosmetics and health foods that use rice bran and yeast extracts .
Nihonzakari's Junmai Daiginjo Namazake is fruity, rich, and sweet, even among the dry sakes produced in Nada. It is a fresh sake, but can be stored at room temperature for up to eight months, making it easy to enjoy.

8. Sensuke Junmai Daiginjo

• Manufacturer: Izumi Shuzo Co., Ltd.
• Type of sake: Junmai Daiginjo sake
• Ingredients: 100% Yamadanishiki rice from Hyogo Prefecture
• Alcohol content: 15%
• Rice polishing ratio: 48%
• Price: 1800ml ¥4,125 (tax included)

Izumi Sake Brewery, which makes Sensuke, is a long-established sake brewery, but it has a history of losing its brewery to fire in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. After overcoming various hardships, they started selling the sake again in 2007. The brand is also taking on new initiatives while inheriting the good qualities of the long-established brewery, and is characterized by the extremely high quality of its sake.
Sensuke's Junmai Daiginjo sake is made from 100% Yamadanishiki rice and is known for its soft taste that allows you to enjoy the umami of the rice. It is a sake that goes down smoothly and is one that you will never tire of drinking.

9. Fukuju Junmaishu Eco Zero

• Manufacturer: Kobe Shushinkan
• Type of sake: Junmaishu
• Ingredients: Hyogo Prefecture rice
• Alcohol content: 15%
• Rice polishing ratio: 80%
• Price: 700ml ¥1,650 (tax included)

Fukuju is a brand of Kobe Shushinkan, whose brewery is located at the foot of Mt. Rokko. It is a world-renowned sake, with its Junmai Ginjo sake being served at the Nobel Prize banquet. In recent years, the company has been working on sustainable sake brewing , and in October 2022, it released the world's first carbon-free sake .
Sake that has achieved zero carbon emissions during the brewing process has an extremely natural taste. Efforts are also made to reduce the environmental impact by deliberately increasing the rice polishing ratio and shortening the brewing period.
It is a drink that will pave the way for the next generation of culture.

Check out the alcohol that can only be bought in Hyogo Prefecture

As we have introduced so far, Hyogo Prefecture's sake is all famous brands that are well-known nationwide. However, there are also rare sakes that can only be purchased within Hyogo Prefecture or at authorized stores.
If you visit Hyogo and want to enjoy some alcohol, you might want to try some of the local sake that is only available in Hyogo.

Miyamizu no Sato Special Junmaishu

• Manufacturer: Shirataka Co., Ltd.
• Type of sake: Special Junmai sake
• Ingredients: 100% Yamadanishiki rice from Hyogo Prefecture
• Alcohol content: 16-17%
• Rice polishing ratio: 70%
• Sake Meter Value: ±3
• Price: 720ml ¥1,530 (tax included)

Miyamizu no Sato is one of the sakes produced by Shirataka Co., Ltd. While Shirataka is a famous sake that can be purchased nationwide, this is a regional sake that can only be purchased at a limited number of stores in the Nishinomiya area .
Sake brewed using Miyamizu has the rich flavor that is unique to Nada and is a genuine Nada sake . It is rarer than Shirataka, so it is also recommended as a souvenir from Hyogo Prefecture.

Banshu Ikken Daiginjo

• Manufacturer: Sanyohai Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
• Type of sake: Daiginjo sake
• Ingredients: Yamada Nishiki
• Alcohol content: 16%
• Rice polishing ratio: 40%
• Price: 1800ml ¥5,500 (tax included)

Banshu Ikken Daiginjo is a highly skilled sake that has won gold medals at the National New Sake Tasting Competition multiple times. It is made using Yamada Nishiki rice from Banshu Yoshikawa, a special A region, which is of particularly high quality.
It has an elegant softness and the gorgeousness of a Daiginjo sake, and while it has a rich flavor, it is also dry and well-balanced. Thanks to the gentle aging process, it has a mellow taste and is easy to drink, making it a taste that will appeal to everyone. This is a "locally distributed" sake, and is one of the sakes you should definitely try in Hyogo.

How to enjoy Hyogo's sake! We also recommend sake brewery tours and sake events.

Change the way you drink Hyogo sake to suit the quality and occasion

Many sakes from Hyogo Prefecture have a direct, crisp, dry taste. Junmai sake can be enjoyed at a variety of temperatures, so try changing the way you drink it to suit the occasion. If you want a crisp taste, drink it well chilled, and if you want a full-bodied taste, drink it warm, such as hot sake .
On the other hand, if sake such as daiginjo sake or junmai ginjo sake is heated too much, its unique aroma may be lost. It is best to drink these types of sake chilled and enjoy the aroma. We also recommend drinking unpasteurized namazake chilled to enjoy its freshness.

Enjoy pairing it with food

Many of Nada's otokozakes can be enjoyed with meals. Because it has a direct umami flavor, it can be enjoyed deliciously with strong-flavored dishes such as shigureni without being overpowered . It is also recommended to try it with grilled meat or boiled sea bream.
Nada sake was originally made for the Edo period (1603-1868), and as such, it is made to suit the strong flavors of Edo, rather than the light flavors of Kyoto and other Kansai areas .

If you like alcohol, check out the sake brewery tours and alcohol events

Tour of Nada sake brewery. Tasting Daiginjo. It was the first time I had sake since the TV location shoot with Katsuya-san last December, but it was delicious!! pic.twitter.com/yzFVFbuXEr

— Hanabusa Kannon (@hanabusakannon) May 22, 2017

Nada, which is thriving as a sake-producing region, has many sake breweries that you can tour. If you are visiting Hyogo Prefecture for sake, be sure to take part in a tour of the Nada sake breweries. Depending on the brewery, you can enjoy tastings and even purchase limited edition sakes.

I tried Kenbishi hot sake at the Nada sake corner of the winter event "Meyameya" being held at Kobe Meriken Park 🍶 Apparently you can make it as hot as you like and drink it 😆 The wooden sake box was set up and the atmosphere was great 😊 I also tried lees soup and amazake ♪ #Sake #NadaSakepic.twitter.com /OlJnaC3XBp

— Stubborn (@0NI1cGKcoo0gDc9) December 30, 2022

Hyogo Prefecture also frequently holds events where you can enjoy sake. There is also an event in Kobe where you can enjoy Nada sake, so be sure to check the schedule.

Leave your liquor purchases in Hyogo Prefecture to Linkus

Hyogo sake is famous for many things, especially Nada's otokozake. Sake with a high reputation is in demand all over the country and is also popular in the sake buying scene.
If you want to sell alcohol in Hyogo Prefecture, please try using the alcohol buying and selling specialty store Linkus. Linkus handles a wide range of alcohol genres, and is strong in buying not only famous Western liquors such as whiskey, cognac, and wine, but also Japanese sake.
We can assess even a single bottle of sake, and we offer on-site purchase , mail-order purchase , and in-store purchase . If you would like to have your sake assessed, please contact us as soon as possible before it passes its drinking age.
Linkus Hyogo liquor purchase here

summary

Hyogo Prefecture is one of the leading sake producing regions in Japan. If you look at the back label of a sake that you may have heard of, you will likely see that it was produced in Hyogo Prefecture. Another point is that there are many major and long-established sake makers, and they sell a wide range of sake.
Hyogo sake is easy to pair with food and is familiar to many. If you are a sake lover, please check it out.