Doesn’t the phrase “local sake” sound delicious?
Local sake is sake “made in a region and rooted in that region.”
In other words, it is sake you can only taste in that particular place.
That’s why enjoying local sake in a place you’ve visited for sightseeing or business is one of the pleasures of being a sake lover.
Okayama Prefecture is actually a hidden sake-producing region.
That means it has plenty of local sake!
“What kinds of local sake are there?” “Which local sake will suit me?”
If you’re going to do it, you’ll want to compare a variety of local sake.
It can be fun to look for one that suits your tastes.
A shop we recommend for that is “Jizakeya,” in central Kurashiki.
At Jizakeya, you can drink as much as you like of local sake selected by the staff within a 30-minute time limit, and buy any sake you like on the spot.
Of course, you can also request specific brands.
Another highlight is hearing the staff talk about the characteristics of each brand and brewery, rather than simply drinking.
The local sake is also stored with great care to maintain its condition.
That’s why you can enjoy delicious local sake.
Here’s an introduction to Jizakeya, a shop recommended for sake lovers.
The information provided was current when this article was published in August 2020. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Jizakeya stocks a wide selection of local sake from Okayama Prefecture
As its name suggests, Jizakeya sells sake from breweries in Okayama Prefecture.
Like “Toraiya Honpo” and “Toraiya Honpo Annex,” it is operated by TRY Co., Ltd.
Jizakeya is located in Achi, Kurashiki City, in the nagayamon gatehouse of Ohashi House.
According to the Okayama Prefecture Sake Brewers Association website, there were 44 sake breweries in the prefecture in 2020.
Jizakeya carries sake from more than 30 of them.
Inside the shop, you’ll find a wide selection of carefully chosen local sake.
Most of the sake for sale comes in 720 ml bottles.
The reason most bottles are 720 ml is that the shop prioritizes maintaining the sake’s condition.
That way, you can enjoy local sake at its best.
Jizakeya’s interior has a charming atmosphere that makes the most of its location in the nagayamon gatehouse of Ohashi House.
You generally enjoy your drinks standing.
A tasting course where you can compare local sake of your choice within the time limit
Jizakeya doesn’t just sell local sake.
It also offers a sake-tasting course called “A Tasting Course to Enjoy with All Five Senses,” where you can compare local sake on the spot!
You can drink as much as you like of the shop’s recommended local sake within the 30-minute time limit.
You can also request local sake that catches your interest.
The price is 2,000 yen (before tax).
It includes a plate of daily snacks.
It’s hard to appreciate sake without experiencing its taste and aroma.
That’s why it’s such a welcome service to be able to try the sake and find one you like.
However, some local sake is not available for tasting.
The tasting starts when the sand begins to fall in the hourglass, which measures 30 minutes.
The tasting ends when all the sand in the hourglass has fallen.
You can start a second tasting by paying an additional 2,000 yen.
If you’re thinking, “I haven’t had enough!” or “I want to try more varieties and find the local sake I like,” consider paying for another round.
▼ “Kokage no Sakana” by Kamikokoro, from Yorishima
Its sweet-and-sour flavor is just like white wine, and hard to believe it’s sake.
▼ I liked “Daiten Shiragiku Okayama Asahi Rice 55” from Shiragiku Shuzo in Nariwa-cho, Takahashi City, so I bought a bottle to take home.
Jizakeya also serves individual servings of local sake.
Prices start at 500 yen per glass (before tax).
You can also enjoy craft beer made in Okayama Prefecture, as well as drinks other than local sake.
If you “can’t drink that much” or “want to savor one variety,” ordering an individual serving is recommended.
You can also enjoy local sake in a different atmosphere by changing the drinking vessel.
Prices start at 1,200 yen (before tax) for three 40-milliliter servings in different vessels.
You may not know what kind of local sake to choose, or may not know much about sake.
But don’t worry—even then, you’ll be fine.
The staff will select recommended local sake and clearly explain what makes each one worth trying.
Information current as of July 2020. Prices exclude consumption tax.
Snacks to go with sake, too!
Even if you can taste sake, you’ll want something to snack on.
Of course, Jizakeya also offers recommended snacks that go perfectly with local sake.
Among the snacks you can enjoy at Jizakeya, these two are especially worth trying:
- Chiyagyu Beef roast beef
- Shuho Akahira
▼ The “Chiyagyu Beef roast beef” is homemade.
The affiliated Toraiya Honpo serves Chiyagyu Beef, while Toraiya Honpo Annex specializes in Chiyagyu Beef dishes.
It’s a luxurious snack from a restaurant that knows Chiyagyu Beef inside and out.
Another recommendation is “Shuho Akahira.”
This delicacy is made by marinating mullet roe in sake lees and drying it.
It has a distinctive, tender texture that flakes apart, and a deep flavor that is both sweet and salty, with a hint of bitterness.
It is truly an excellent accompaniment to sake.
There is also a set menu featuring a single serving of local sake and a daily special appetizer.
Jizakeya is a shop that sake lovers find irresistible.
We interviewed Kusudo Tomio, president and CEO of TRY Co., Ltd., which operates a local sake shop.
Jizakeya details
| Name | Jizakeya |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-21-32 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-441-7877 |
| Parking | None |
| Business hours | 2:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Monday, Sunday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Website | Jizakeya |
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