Famous shinto shrines with Sake

I visited several shrines and temples in Kyoto and Nara for New Year’s visits. Among them, I will introduce some shrines related

Matsunoo Taisha Shrine is known as the god of sake brewing nationwide. The statue of Heishi (sake bottle for dedicating to God) next to the torii gate indicates the place of the god of sake.

We can learn about sake brewing at the sake museum in the precinct. The modern Japanese garden created by Mirei Shigemori, one of the leading gardeners of the Showa era, is also a must-see.

Umemiya Taisha, which is close to Matsuo Taisha, is also famous as the god of sake. Many barrels of sake are piled up at the main gate, indicating that the shrine is also the god of sake brewing.

Omiwa Shrine in Nara, which is said to be the oldest shrine in Japan and whose deity is Mt. Miwa, is also known as the god of sake brewing.

Every November a sake festival is held where owners of brewer and maestro of sake brewer from all over the country gather. All the brewers visit Ikihi Shrine, one of the shrines, to pray for the brewing of delicious new sake.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine has Japan’s oldest sake brewery house in its precinct, right next to the main shrine, which is crowded with visitors on New Year’s visits, and the sacred sake offered to the gods is still brewed today.