Hiokizakura Special Junmai Seisui Ryokuzan is a premium junmai sake produced by Yamane Shuzō Brewery, which was founded in 1887. The brewery is located in Aoya, Tottori City, an area blessed with beautiful coastlines, scenic mountain valleys, and abundant natural water. Its brewing philosophy places the flavor of rice above all else, allowing the ingredients to express their full character.
One of the brewery’s guiding principles is complete fermentation. The yeast is allowed to consume the sugars produced from the rice as fully as possible, leaving no additional sweetness beyond that derived from the rice itself. This approach brings out the rice’s natural umami and creates sake with depth, clarity, and a strong sense of place.
A key part of Hiokizakura’s identity is Gōriki, a traditional rice variety once used for sake brewing. The rice plants can grow to approximately 150 centimeters tall. Because of their height and the changes in Japanese agriculture after World War II, Gōriki gradually disappeared from cultivation and became known as a rare, almost forgotten variety.
However, Gōriki has characteristics well suited to sake production: its grains are particularly large and hard. These qualities attracted the attention of a sake brewer, leading to its revival as a brewing rice during the 1980s.
Hiokizakura is brewed using this distinctive rice together with the abundant spring water of the Inaba region, which is also known for its traditional Inshu washi paper. Surrounded by Tottori’s rich natural environment, the brewery produces sake with complex layers of flavor balanced by a remarkably clear expression of rice umami. Hiokizakura has earned a following among sake enthusiasts throughout Japan.
Hiokizakura Special Junmai Seisui Ryokuzan is crafted from two varieties of sake rice selected for their compatibility. Although its sake meter value is +16, indicating a very dry style, it does not necessarily taste sharply dry. Instead, it offers rich, expansive rice umami, accompanied by a smooth, rounded texture and an elegant sense of balance.
The sake’s layered flavor and polished character make it an appealing choice for those who appreciate Japanese sake with depth rather than pronounced sweetness. Its distinctive profile reflects both the qualities of the rice and the natural environment in which the sake is produced.
One of Seisui Ryokuzan’s appealing qualities is its versatility across a wide range of serving temperatures. Enjoy it chilled to appreciate its clarity and refined character, or warm it to explore the depth and richness of its rice umami. Trying it at different temperatures offers a rewarding way to discover how the flavors develop.
For travelers exploring the Tottori City area, Hiokizakura Special Junmai Seisui Ryokuzan offers an opportunity to experience the region through its traditional brewing culture. The combination of revived Gōriki rice, natural spring water, and Yamane Shuzō Brewery’s fermentation philosophy creates a sake that conveys the character of its birthplace in every glass.