Discovered the oldest sake brewery in the world

A 600-year-old sake brewery in the middle of the courtyard of an ancient temple in Kyoto was discovered by accident during a construction project.

Traces of a 15th-century winery in Kyoto.(Photo: Asahi).

Kokusai Bunkazai excavation company found a sake brewery dating back to the 15th century at the Saga archaeological site , located in the courtyard of Tenryuji Temple formerly in Kyoto's Ukyo ward. The most noticeable in the discovery was the unrefined wine press room and about 180 holes for the burial of the wine container, each 60 cm wide and 20 cm deep.

Archaeologists believe this plant was used during the Onin War (1467-1477). The oldest known winery in Itami, Hyogo prefecture, is estimated to be built during the Edo period (1603 - 1867)."The Kyoto facility has the same structure as the Edo-era winery, showing that the Middle Ages used the same method of making sake," said Masaharu Obase, director of the Itami museum.

Archaeologists know that sake was produced at Tenryuji temple during Muromachi period, 1336-1573), which helped bring about great profits. However, this is the first time that archaeological findings corroborate that, according to Kokusai Bunkazai.

Kokusai Bunkazai Company surveyed an area of ​​700m ² near the current area of ​​Tenryuji Temple before the apartment construction project from May to August 2018. They excavated a portion of the liquor press room. The researchers said the producer put sake in a cloth bag and squeezed it so that the wine poured into the container, using a stick and stone as leverage.

A pillar is 1m long and 45cm wide with two beams 1.8m long, 15cm wide on each side, with 20 stones left. The researchers also found a 1.8m-wide and 1-meter-deep hollow pit to house the container of droppers of saka juice. Another smaller pillar located 2m to the east reveals the factory was once rebuilt.

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