Crafting the products

The northern part of Kyoto prefecture is the gateway from the Asian continent to ancient Kyoto, and served as an important route for the movement of goods — as well as culture — between China and Japan. Rice cultivation, it’s believed, was first introduced in Kyoto’s Tango region. Japanese sake was sent to Ise Jingu shrine as omiki sake, an offering to the gods. Yukimachi Yoshiki (pictured top), master brewer at Takeno Sake Brewery in Kyotango, works with local rice farmers to craft truly heavenly sake. Iio Jozo vinegar brewery (pictured left), was founded in 1893 and is unique in Japan. It’s the only vinegar brewery that performs every step of the crafting process itself, from growing the rice, to brewing the sake, to creating the vinegar.