Fushimi district with Sake tasting
Overview
Fushimi is located to the south of Kyoto city. This district had flourished as a port town of the capital in its past and has also prospered as a place of traditional sake brewing. Since Kyoto is blessed with clean and soft underground water, this contributes to bring the smooth and mellow sake of Fushimi. Now Fushimi district is one of the leading sake brewers in the country. You will visit one of the most famous and popular shrines in Kyoto with thousands of red torii gates and a sake museum with sake tasting.
Tour Information
Duration: 4 hours approx. 9:00-13:00
Meeting Point: Kyoto Station Central Gate
Transportation: JR train, taxi
Itinerary: Meet at Kyoto Station - (JR train) - Fushimi Inari Shrine - (Keihan train) - Geikkeikan Okura Museum - (on foot) - Gokonomiya Shrine - (Kintetsu train) - Kyoto Station
What's included: Guide fee and sake tasting
What's not included: Transportation fee, Meal
Detailed Itinerary
The tour starts at Kyoto Station and takes JR train to Fushimi Inari Shrine. This shrine is one of Japan's best known shrine. It's especially famous for thousands of vermilion torii gates donated by worshipers. These torii gates became famous because they were used in a scene of the Hollywood movie called "Memoirs of a geisha". The shrine worships deities of agriculture and business. You will find many statues of foxes in the premises of the shrine. The fox is considered as a divine messenger. Visitors try to hike the mountain trails behind the main shrine buildings. Since it takes more than 2 hours to get to the summit and return, you can walk up as far as you want and turn back. On the approach to the shrine, you will find many small vendors selling local specialties. Afterwards, you will take a train to get to the next stop Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Gekkeikan is a leading sake brewery in Japan, established in the early 17th century in Fushimi district. In the museum, you will see the tools of sake production and learn how sake is produced. At the end of the museum tour, you can try sake tasting. You also have a chance to buy bottles of sake in the museum shop. On the way to the last stop, you will be walking through a local shopping arcade. There you can enjoy seeing a variety of shops selling groceries, Japanese sweets and daily stuffs, etc. The final stop is Gokonomiya Shrine, which is known for its pure spring water that is said to have pleasant aroma and powers to heal illness. You will be able to take the water with you if you have a bottle. Another charm of the shrine is a wonderful dry garden located behind the shrine's office. The small cozy garden will offer you a very relaxing time before you head back to Kyoto.
