Mukai Sake Brewery

In short

Mukai Sake Brewery is a sake brewery located in Hirata, Ine Town, which bills itself as "the brewery closest to the sea." With a history spanning more than 260 years since its founding, a female master brewer (toji) now crafts inventive sake here. All of the sake produced at the brewery is junmai sake (pure rice sake).

• ​Red Sake "Ine Mankai"​​: A red-colored sake made with "Murasaki Komachi," an ancient rice variety revived and cultivated in Ine Town. Sweet, tart, and smooth on the palate, it is also described as having a flavor like rosé wine
• ​Fishermen's Town Sake "Kyo no Haru" and "Horyo"​​: There is the robust, dry junmai nama genshu of "Kyo no Haru," and "Horyo," an ultra-dry junmai sake that revives a brand name used in the Edo period
• ​Funaya Views and Sake Lees Ice Cream​​: Visitors can select local sake at the brewery's direct sales shop. In summer, it is also recommended to enjoy ice cream made with Ine Mankai sake lees while gazing out at the scenery of the Funaya

History and Highlights

​Mukai Sake Brewery​ is a sake brewery located in Hirata, Ine Town, which bills itself as "the brewery closest to the sea." With a history spanning more than 260 years since its founding, a female master brewer (toji) now crafts inventive sake here.

All of the sake produced at the brewery is junmai sake (pure rice sake). Aiming to brew sake that pairs well with local ingredients from the sea and mountains, the brewery continues to craft sake intended to accompany dining, complementing meals carefully prepared by producers and chefs. Its signature brands are "Ine Mankai," a red sake made with "Murasaki Komachi," an ancient rice variety revived and cultivated in Ine Town, and "Kyo no Haru," a sake from a fishing town.

Sights and Experiences

• ​Red Sake "Ine Mankai"​​: This rare red-colored sake is blended with ancient rice. A new type of sake that is sweet, tart, and smooth on the palate, it is also described as having a flavor like rosé wine. In addition to being served chilled, its unique flavor can be enjoyed on the rocks, mixed with soda, or served warm (atsukan).
• ​Fishermen's Town Sake "Kyo no Haru" and "Horyo"​​: The junmai nama genshu (unpasteurized, undiluted pure rice sake) of "Kyo no Haru" is a robust, dry sake that pairs well with fatty fish such as yellowtail. "Horyo" is an ultra-dry junmai sake that revives a brand name used in the Edo period, fitting for a fishing town. "Uranagi," made using the traditional yamahai brewing method, is brewed entirely from Koshihikari rice grown in the mountain villages of Tango without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
• ​Funaya Views and Sake Lees Ice Cream​​: Visitors can stop by the brewery's direct sales shop to select local sake. In summer, it is also recommended to enjoy ice cream made with Ine Mankai sake lees while gazing out at the scenery of the Funaya.

Travel Tips

Because Mukai Sake Brewery has no parking lot, visitors are advised to park their cars at the nearby Ine-ura Park parking lot and visit on foot. The brewery is located just a short walk from the Ine Tourist Information Center, making it an easy stop while strolling through the townscape of the Ine-no-Funaya Boathouses. Drivers should take their sake home to enjoy along with memories of their trip.