Visit The shop
Come visit our retro-style store at the entrance of the brewery. We offer a wide range of Genshu made in the brewery as well as cakes with a touch of sake.
The Katayama Sake brewery souvenir shop offers is located just inside the brewery. It offers a wind range of sake-related products including sake lees, sake cake, and delicious sake only sold at the brewery. Many of the items are a perfect buy for yourself or for souvenirs to take home.
Sake & Shochu
From limited-edition All Blacks official sake (NZ rugby team’s official sake) to affordable everyday sake and shochu, you can find a wide variety of hand-crafted sake including our flagship Genshu sold in our shop. Most of our sake can only be purchased on-site and is not sold via retailers.
For most popular sake, please also see the recommended sake & tasting notes below.
*prices are shown as an indication only
Sake Cake
Did you know there is cake made from sake? This non-alcoholic cake is also popular with people who can’t drink alcohol. Prices start from 1,150 yen.
*prices are shown as an indication only.
sake drinking vessels
One of the fun things about drinking sake is the different drinking vessels. Katayama Sake Brewery sells some original drinking vessels perfect for souvenirs or personal collections.
Sake Lees (Sake Kasu)
As Katayama Sake Brewery uses a ‘Saseshiki’ pressing machine their sake lees (sake kasu) are richer than other breweries, making it one of the popular items in the shop.
Sake lees have high nutritious value and have many health benefits. It is also a popular ingredient for Japanese dishes such as fish, vegetables, and meat, enhancing the umami flavor of the dish. A bag of Sake lees starts from 800 yen.
*prices are shown as an indication only.
RECOMMENDED SAKE & TASTING NOTES
Junmai Daiginjo Shodai Kyutarou
(Alc16%)
Characteristics
–
Flavor
Med-sweet, med-body, complex
Aroma
Pronounced: orange peel, peppermint, freshly-cut grass, rose, lemongrass, strawberry, cherry, anise, apple, brioche, forest
Food Matches
Duck L’orange, french fries, grilled meat, scallops, squid, salty dishes, pesto
What we think
Bursting with vibrant flavors that starts off with herbal notes, and is then followed by more fruit-forward flavors. This sake delivers rebellious complexity in a very tight package. The texture is layered and velvety. A bright acidity ensures any sweetness does not detract from this sake’s elegant demeanor. The sake slides across the tongue and down the throat delighting as it goes and just like the sweetness of that first kiss, this sake knows you will be back for more. A “take me home” sake that is sure to please a variety of palates.
HARALD DE ROPP
Christopher Hughes
Brian Hutto
Daiginjo Sugao
(Alc17%)
Characteristics
–
Flavor
Med-dry, Med-body, long finish
Aroma
Medium: fresh chestnut, rind cheese, malt, burnt toast, white pepper, mint, water melon, mint, aniseed, yogurt
Food Matches
Clam chowder, ginkgo nuts, tomato-based sauces, pungent cheese, tomato ramen
What we think
Notes of cocoa butter, spices, chocolate milkshake and sweet cream, and brioche on the long finish. This is a daiginjo that doesn’t want to be a daiginjo. Dainty with gentle acidity but packing a punch. The velvet hammer of the sake world. Slides across the tongue and down the throat like a pleasant hug. Proof that easy-drinking sake doesn’t have to be boring.
HARALD DE ROPP
Christopher Hughes
Brian Hutto
Junmai Ginjo Sugao
(Alc17%)
Characteristics
–
Flavor
Med-dry, full body, rich
Aroma
Pronounced: lemongrass, grapefruit, freshly-popped popcorn, white pear, anise, melted butter
Food Matches
Spicy food, mac & cheese, carbonara, beer and chicken, blue cheese, risotto
What we think
Shimmering against a luscious silhouette of fresh acidity and well integrated alcohol, this sake is beautifully-executed and voluptuous throughout. Robust and consistent from the first sniff to the last sip. The finish is quite dry with notes of glazed honey. A super food-friendly sake to cuddle up to after the winter as the spring sunshine peers through the clouds.
HARALD DE ROPP
Christopher Hughes
Brian Hutto
Genshu Kashiwasakari Sugao
(Alc 19%)
Characteristics
–
Flavor
Med-dry, med body, med finish
Aroma
Medium: white flowers, malt, ripe banana, chestnut, hay, grapefruit, steamed rice
Food Matches
Yakitori, soba, chinese food, spicy shrimp
What we think
–
HARALD DE ROPP
Christopher Hughes
Brian Hutto
Genshu Kashiwazakari
(Alc 19%)
Characteristics
–
Flavor
Med-dry, med body, long finish
Aroma
Pronounced: ripe banana, banana bread, dark cherry, red apple, dried sultanas
Food Matches
Tuna, nodogoro, nabe, Indian food
What we think
–
HARALD DE ROPP
Christopher Hughes
Brian Hutto
Special thanks to the Sake Specialists
Harald de Ropp
Harald works at a global consulting firm in Tokyo and is a sake lover and promoter. He is a certified Advanced Sake Professional, has achieved the WSET (Wine & Spirit Trust) Level 3 Award in Sake and has taken a sake brewing course at Gakko Gura on Sado Island in Niigata.
Christopher Hughes
Sake Educator, Christopher, teaches for WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) in Tokyo. He is also the co-host of the “Sake on Air” podcast supported by Japan Sake & Shochu Maker’s Association. He worked for Tatenokawa Shuzo for 1 year in sales, and is currently working at KURAND Sake Market.
Brian Hutto
Owner of the sake import/export business, Hutto Trading LLC, as well as Craft Sake Shoten, a sake bar and tasting room in Yokohama. Brian offers sake tasting and education experiences for foreigners visiting Japan.
