The story of Gotemba Ishikawa Brewing Company is highly unusual because it begins not with a traditional brewing family, but with a local restaurant chain: Tsuboguchi Food Service. When we spoke with them, they shared the unique spark that started their journey.

They recognized a clear issue: despite being blessed with the pristine water of Mount Fuji, there was no local sake they could proudly present to the world. Wanting to create a true local sake that would pair perfectly with their own cuisine, they chose the rare path of stepping up to brew the sake themselves, despite being a restaurant business. They were already growing ingredients like Gotemba Koshihikari rice at their own Tsuboguchi Farm. By taking over a historic license, they moved operations to Gotemba and created a completely new, community-driven brewery

The land of Gotemba has a profound history. In ancient times, it was called Mikuriya, meaning Kitchen of the Gods, as it supplied food to important shrines. It is also deeply connected to the goddess of Mount Fuji, who is legendary for inspiring the first sake brewing.

Fast forward to today, and the brewery’s approach is entirely modern. Their facility is essentially a giant, state-of-the-art refrigerator. Constructed with cooling panels, the environment allows for absolute temperature control using precise sensors, ensuring zero quality fluctuation. This contrast between an ancient, sacred land and a high-tech brewing environment gives their sake at once a sense of timelessness and cutting-edge precision.

When building their brewing team, they made an inspired choice: They entrusted the top role of brewmaster, or “toji,” to an artisan in his 40s who had 20 years of solid brewing experience, giving him his first opportunity to lead a brewery. They specifically wanted someone with a fresh perspective, untainted by rigid habits, who could craft a completely unique flavor profile. Their logo — an endless woven loop shaped like Mount Fuji — symbolizes “en,” the Japanese concept of relationships connecting people, which is evident in how local creators and restaurant staff naturally united to help launch the brand.

The brewers’ passion translates directly into the glass. When our tasting team drank their sake, it was met with unanimous praise. Their brews are characterized by a remarkably fresh, juicy profile and a solid core of rice umami. What makes their lineup truly special is how beautifully the sake transforms across a range of temperatures, proving just as delightful chilled in a wine glass as they are served as a comforting, warm pour. We are incredibly proud to share this vibrant, Mount Fuji sake with you.