Kurabito
SINCE 1872
01
The Sake
Fifth Generation · Kyoto · Est. 1872
蔵人 — 清酒の芸術

KURABITO

Fifth Generation · Kyoto · Since 1872

"The Soul of the Rice, the Spirit of the Toji."

Begin Your Journey Explore the Sake
The Art of Classification

The Sake of Kurabito

Each bottle carries the memory of the season, the character of the water, and the vision of the toji.

01
Junmai
純米
Pure rice sake. No added alcohol, no shortcuts. Full-bodied, rich, and deeply savory — the honest expression of the earth.
Rice polished to 70% or less
02
Ginjo
吟醸
Slow-fermented at low temperatures. Delicate floral aromas, a silken texture that dissolves on the palate like morning mist.
Rice polished to 60% or less
03
Daiginjo
大吟醸
The pinnacle of the brewer's art. Extraordinary aromatic complexity, transcendent clarity. Reserved for the most discerning of palates.
Rice polished to 50% or less
04
Nigori
濁り酒
Cloudy and unfiltered. Lush, creamy, with the raw vitality of the fermentation tank. A taste of sake before it is tamed.
Coarsely filtered, unrefined
Traditional sake brewery interior
The Kura
1872

Five Generations of Craft

In the Fushimi district of Kyoto, where the water runs pure and ancient, the Nakamura family has brewed sake since the Meiji era. The kura — the brewery — is not a factory. It is a living organism, a temple to patience and precision, where the toji reads the seasons and the rice speaks first.

Today, Takeshi Nakamura — fifth-generation toji — continues the tradition, blending ancestral techniques with a contemporary understanding of fermentation science. His sake does not merely taste; it transports.

154
Years Brewing
5th
Generation Toji
23
Awards Won
Experiences

Tasting Experiences

Each tasting is curated by our toji and guided by Kurabito-certified sommeliers in the heart of our century-old kura.

Sake tasting flight
Introduction
The Sake Flight

Four curated pours — Junmai through Daiginjo — with tasting notes, food pairings, and an introduction to the language of sake.

¥8,500 90 minutes
Private kura tour
Private
Kura Immersion

A private tour of the brewery followed by a tasting directly from the cedar tanks. Reserved for groups of four or fewer.

¥24,000 3 hours
Seasonal sake ceremony
Seasonal
Hatsuzake Ceremony

A once-yearly ceremony celebrating the first sake of the winter brewing season. Traditional ritual, new-press sake, and a kaiseki dinner.

¥48,000 Full day
Certification

Sake Sommelier Courses

From curious newcomer to certified sake sommelier — our curriculum is endorsed by the Japan Sake Sommelier Association.

Foundation
Sake Passport
酒パスポート

A weekend deep-dive into the world of sake. Perfect for enthusiasts beginning their journey into nihonshu.

  • Sake history & culture
  • 12 guided tastings
  • Food pairing fundamentals
  • Certificate of completion
¥38,000
2-day weekend course
View curriculum
Sommelier
Sake Expert
日本酒エキスパート

A rigorous five-day program for professionals seeking sommelier certification in nihonshu service and assessment.

  • Advanced sensory evaluation
  • Sake service & ceremony
  • 40+ structured tastings
  • JSSA-endorsed certificate
¥128,000
5-day intensive course
View curriculum
Master
Toji Fellowship
杜氏フェローシップ

A ten-day immersion with Toji Nakamura himself. Participants brew sake under his guidance, learning from the source.

  • Live brewing participation
  • Private toji mentorship
  • Blend your own sake
  • Kurabito Master certificate
¥380,000
10-day residential program
Apply for fellowship
Begin

Begin Your Journey into the Kura

The seat at our tasting table is limited. The experience of a lifetime is not. Reserve yours now.

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