Ishikawa Tokyo Sake Yaegiku

Ishikawa Tōkyō Sake Yaegiku (石川酒造 八重菊熟成酒) is made with Koshihikari rice from Akiruno in Tokyo—unpasteurized Junmai with a good balance of taste and aroma.

Akiruno, nestled in western Tokyo, is a historic agricultural region known for its pristine water sources and rich rice-growing heritage. Records indicate that sake brewing in the area dates back to the Edo period. Morita Brewery (森田醸造), a prominent sake producer from that era, shares a strong connection with Ishikawa Sake Brewery, which began operations in the late Edo period by renting Morita Brewery's warehouse.

To preserve the region's rural landscape and promote local rice, Ishikawa Sake Brewery initiated a rice cultivation project in 2019. The following year, they brewed an unpasteurized Junmai that embodies the umami, sweetness, and refreshing aroma of Akiruno's rice. The sake's label faithfully reproduces an original Edo-period design, adding a nostalgic touch. By reviving this historical connection and showcasing the unique qualities of Tokyo-grown rice, the brewery aims to pique curiosity about the region's sake-making traditions and enduring rural charm.

Ishikawa Brewery is located in Fussa, in western Tokyo, near the banks of the Tama River. It was founded in 1863 and moved its production to Kumagawa, Fussa, in 1881. Ishikawa prides itself on the delicate texture and sharpness of its sake. The brewery is a tourist attraction in Fussa, with a museum, two 400-year-old zelkova trees and a white-walled storehouse of historical value. In addition to sake, the brewery also has a brewery restaurant, Fussa Beer Hut, where visitors can enjoy Tama no Megumi microbrewery, which resumed production in early summer 1998 for the first time in 111 years, as well as Zogura Omusubi, where you can taste sake and microbrewery beer.

Ishikawa Brewery offers guided tours in Japanese and English.