Our History

Nestled in the lush mountains of Nara, the birthplace of modern sake, our brewery was founded in 1868 amongst dense forests of cherry trees and hydrangeas. Welcome to Kitaoka Honten.

Our region, with a rich history of mountain worship and refuge, also offers countless temples and shrines. In 2004, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We are blessed to call Nara home, but times haven’t always been so serene. At the end of the Taisho period (1912-1926), a large fire destroyed our wooden brewery and most of the warehouse. A new structure rose soon after and was registered as a tangible cultural property by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2023. Within these walls, we continue to brew sake, carrying on our passion for flawless craftsmanship for more than 150 years. Our spirit of resilience and innovation has always been rooted in the town of Yoshino, yet it reaches far beyond.

With SHEZEN, we bring a unique beverage to you. Working directly with farmers, we source fresh fruit with minor cosmetic defects that may not otherwise make it to the local market. But we don’t stop there. We meticulously prepare our fruit all by hand, from washing to cutting, dicing and seeding — taking great care to produce a prime sake.

We’re excited for you to enjoy SHEZEN and know that you will be delighted as you discover many exceptional and unforgettable ways to experience her. Kanpai!