Concept
Koedo Kurazato is a facility created by renovating the buildings of the former Kagamiyama Sake Brewery, which was founded here in 1875 (Meiji 8), while preserving their original character. Opened in October 2010, it serves as a new landmark where visitors can enjoy Kawagoe’s local products, while also fostering interaction between residents and tourists and revitalizing the local community.The facility consists of three renovated sake warehouses built during the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods—designated as National Registered Tangible Cultural Properties—including the Souvenir Shop (Meiji Warehouse), the Staff Dining Hall (Taisho Warehouse), and the Sake Tasting Room (Showa Warehouse), as well as the Gathering Place (Exhibition Warehouse).
The name “Koedo Kurazato” was selected from a public contest and embodies the meanings of “Koedo” (Little Edo), which preserves the Edo-period atmosphere of Kawagoe; “Kura” (Warehouse), representing the town’s traditional warehouse-style architecture; and “Sato” (Village), signifying a spiritual home where people can casually stop by and relax.
The "oni-gawara" (demon-faced roof tiles), which also serve as the symbol of "Koedo Kurari," are decorative tiles attached to the ends of roof ridges that also serve a practical function in protecting against rain. Oni-gawara developed around the Nara period and became widespread primarily in temple architecture. From the Muromachi period onward, fierce facial features came to be seen as a manifestation of great power; as a result, the horns gradually grew larger, and the nose and mouth widened and opened to the sides, making the expressions increasingly fierce.From the Edo period onward, as oni-gawara began to be adopted in residential architecture, various designs were incorporated. These included not only demonic faces but also family crests, the character for “water” as a charm against fire, and the “fukutsuchi” (a symbol of good fortune), among others.
The Float of Shintomi-cho 1-chome: Tokugawa Iemitsu
The Kawagoe Festival, held every October, features numerous magnificent Edo-style Kawagoe floats crafted by artisans from Edo and Kawagoe. Float depots are scattered throughout the city, and at the depot located within this facility, you can view the float from Shintomicho 1-chome.It features a revolving stage with a double-spire float, a four-wheeled float, and a music platform topped with a Chinese-style gable. The figure depicted is Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Tokugawa clan and a figure closely associated with Kawagoe. He is portrayed standing in formal court attire against a black background, with the three-leaf hollyhock crest prominently displayed.
History
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The History of Kagamiyama Brewery
Around 1843 (Tenpō 14), the company began operations under the trade name "Kyūboshi. " In 1875 (Meiji 8), it built a brewery at its current location and established the present-day Kagamiyama Shuzo. For the following 100 years, until it ceased operations in September 2000 (Heisei 12), it remained a leading sake brewery in Kawagoe City, beloved by many fans.
The "Kyūboshi" logo still remains at the Meiji Brewery today.
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The Origin of Mt. Kagami
The name is derived from a mountain located on the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. One of the finest poems by the poet Fujiwara no Teika reads : “The moon at dawn, so bright it freezes even the sky, reflected in the waves of Mount Kagami.” It is this beautiful, poetic landscape that lies at the heart of Mount Kagami’s origins.
Origin of the Name: “Mount Kagami” (Ryūō Town, Shiga Prefecture)
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Sake Brewing at Each Brewery
The sake-making process at each brewery begins in the Showa Brewery, where koji and steamed rice are used to prepare the starter culture and mash. The sake is then pressed at the Meiji Brewery, where blending, racking, and filtration take place, followed by aging and bottling at the Taisho Brewery. The most important room—the koji room—was originally located within the Meiji Brewery, the oldest of the three and formerly known as the Main Brewery.
A scene of steamed rice preparation in the early Showa period
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Fine Wine, Fine Mind
Since its founding, the former Kagamiyama Brewery has adhered to the management philosophy of “Fine Sake Comes from the Heart,” striving to craft delicious sake through painstaking effort and time. Guided by the belief that “sake gains its unique character when local people brew it using local ingredients and water,” the brewery has continued to produce “Kagamiyama”“Koedo,” “Kawagoe Taro,” and “Kasuga-no-Tsukasa”—all bearing names associated with Kawagoe. The groundwater used in the brewing process is subterranean water from the Chichibu Mountain Range, which has nurtured countless fine sakes. Even today, it is pumped up and flows through the waterways within the facility.
Chimney and Tanks
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The Chimney on Mt. Kagami
When the company was first established, this area was covered in mulberry fields, and the chimney could be seen from afar. Although the chimney was demolished during the renovation, the circular foundation of the chimney still remains in the plaza. Incidentally, the square cover to the left of the chimney foundation marks the site of a well. The well was 60 meters deep, and the groundwater drawn from it was used as brewing water.