The "Hidden Gems of Kyoto" is a project to bring you new sightseeing information on hidden attractions in the local areas slightly removed from the central city area.

Fushimi is known worldwide for the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, which always ranks among the top tourist attractions in Japan. Fushimi is also one of the three major sake brewing areas in Japan as its groundwater quality is ideal for sake. There is a museum featuring sake and a store where visitors can enjoy tasting and comparing various sake. The Kyoto Racecourse, one of the largest in western Japan, hosting prestigious classic races is also located in Fushimi.

More on Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

Fushimi’s underground water containing just the right amount of minerals achieves the sake’s smooth taste. The Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum offers tours and tastings. In the Otesuji Shopping Street, there are sake stores where visitors can purchase their favorite sake after tasting for a fee, as well as brewery-operated restaurants which offer tasty sake and delicious food. Around November, 17 breweries in Fushimi come together to organize the Sake Festival.



Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum Official Website

Otensuji Shopping Street Official Website (in Japanese only)

Fushimi once flourished as the gateway of Kyoto's water transportation. The “Jukkoku-bune,” which is a replica of a wooden boat used about 200 years ago, operates on the canal. Visitors can enjoy the view of traditional sake brewery buildings and rows of willow trees from the boat (the boat runs about every hour from 10:00 to 16:00. Advance reservations via the website are recommended. Payment is cash only on the day of the cruise).

Kyoto Racecourse is one of Japan's four major racetracks with a 98-year history. It has just completed a renovation in October, transforming itself into a modern and state-of-the-art racetrack. In spring, it hosts the Emperor's Cup, while in October - the Kikka-sho, one of the five most prestigious classic races in Japan. Every year in November, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the race to determine the "queen" of the year is held. It is conveniently connected to the Keihan Yodo train station.

Kyoto is known not only for its Japanese cuisine, but also as one of Japan's leading ramen areas, offering a variety of distinctive ramen. In the past few years, the number of ramen restaurants has increased in Fushimi which has made the area into Kyoto's second most famous ramen area after the Ichijoji area in Sakyo Ward. In addition to all of Kyoto's mainstream ramen, there is also an unusual type of ramen such as "Sake Lee Ramen," which is a specialty of the sake brewing area.