Today I went to Sake Night Mukune Buffet, held by Daimon Brewery. I came ready to relax and unwind with some sake (or nihonshu, as it is more commonly referred to in Japan).

If we’re talking about Osaka, I think most people imagine lively city streets and nightlife. However, this time, we’re going to take a step out of the big city and make our way to the quiet area of Katano. The closest station is Kawachi-Iwafune Station, accessible by the JR Gakkentoshi Line (also known as the Katamachi Line). The minute I stepped out of the station, I felt a calm, and serene atmosphere, that made me doubt whether I was still in Osaka. After a short walk, we arrived at our destination.

Daimon Brewery was established in 1826. Using techniques refined over generations, they take high-quality rice, and pristine water that flows down from the nearby mountains and turn them into premium sake. Sake Night Mukune Buffet is a weekly Friday event that allows you to try as much of this sake as you’d like. In addition to the all-you-can-drink offering, you get a meal of delicious Japanese food, buffet style. And depending on the day, there may also live music.

Well then, first of all, let’s talk about how to get there. Plan for it to take about 40-50 minutes from central Osaka. The fastest route would be to go to Kyobashi Station and then transfer to the JR Gakkentoshi Line. Get off at Kawachi-Iwafune Station.

🔻How to get to Kawachi-Iwafune Station.

🔻From the station, it’s about an 8 min walk to Daimon Brewery.

🔻As you head into the middle of a residential area, and continue on the narrow streets, you should eventually see a place like this on your left. It looks like an old Japanese estate.

Sake Night begins at 7 pm, so it was already dark out by the time we arrived. Once we passed through the gate, we found ourselves in the Japanese garden, which gave off a really nice vibe, illuminated by the moonlight.

🔻If you continue into the garden, you’ll come to a fork. Take a right here, and the entrance will be straight ahead.

🔻As soon as we opened the door, we were greeted with an assortment of sake. I can’t wait to give them a try!

Further in, there’s an open space towards the back that serves as the dining area. There are two large wooden tables, with bench-like seating. Meanwhile, on stage the band, Hot Sauce is getting their instruments ready. This is the Sakahan Gallery, where tonight’s event will be held. We arrived a bit early, so the place was a bit empty. (But as more people came in, it soon became a very lively Friday night!)

🔻Hot Sauce preparing for their performance.
(Only 3 members can be seen in the picture, but there are actually 4.)

Once it hit 7 o’clock, the sound of Jazz filled the air, and Sake Night had officially begun. (Give it a listen)

As the music sets the mood, we’re on to the main event, dinner and more importantly, drinks. Let’s get started with the first round.

🔻There are so many different kinds of sake! Can I even try all of them within 2 hours!?

If you have trouble deciding, the staff will explain the features of the different options and can make recommendations to cater to your tastes. For those who don’t know Japanese, Yasutaka Daimon, the sixth-generation and current president of the brewery can speak English. He had spent some time traveling the world in the past, and as result, speaks it fluently.

Here are some general recommendations!

For first-timers, Hanzaemon is a really good choice. Daimon Brewery’s sakes tend to be on the sweeter side, which make them pretty easy to drink. Hanzaemon is particularly so, having a sweet, fruity, lychee-like aroma. It’s very popular.

For those who want something a little sharper, Iwafune is a nice pick. It’s a very traditional sake for the local region that offers a sharp, clear flavor with a smooth finish.

🔻President Daimon explain the difference of Sake directly(Left). You can choose different options of sake(Right).

🔻There’s also a variety of food! It was all freshly made and piping hot. Perfect for a cold winter night and pairs great with the sake.

I ended up choosing Genshu for my first cup. Sake is typically diluted with water at the end of the production process, but Genshu is not, resulting in a richer and more powerful flavor. As for the food, there was a pretty good variety! As I remember, I took the following: rice balls, konnyaku (devil’s tongue), tofu, fish, chicken, and pork stewed in sake to name a few. Actually, there are more different dishes like salad, hotpot, other vegetables, etc. Anyway, with my first plate of food and cup of sake in hand, it was time to dig in!

🔻My first round of food and sake.

We continued to eat and drink, and the first hour had passed before we knew it.

🔻As the band went into intermission, Mr. Daimon took to the stage. He gave a short talk about the history of the brewery and sake in general.

Perhaps it’s because it was the start of the weekend, but no one showed signs of slowing down. Even I was on my third cup, for which I chose Iwafune. This time I decided to have it hot. Sake is already great as it is, but especially during winter, warming it up just raises it to the next level! As the warmth of the alcohol filled my body, I went back for a final plate of food.

🔻Special Container to Heat Sake (Left) Special Premium Hot Sake Iwafune (Right)

As the night was coming to a close, and we’d already eaten our fill, we decided to use our remaining time to take a look around.
With permission from Mr. Daimon’s son, we were able to take a look at Mukune Tei on the second floor. This is the brewery’s restaurant area, where they serve seasonal home-style cooking and of course various sake.

🔻Mukune Tei, located in the second floor of brewery, renovated and relaunched back in January 2018.

Well then, it’s time to return to the Sakahan Gallery. In addition to the buffet, they also hold other events here from time to time.

🔻Sakahan Gallery on the first floor

Before we realized, it was already 9 pm. Time really flies when you’re having fun. Sake Night Mukune Buffet is completely different from other buffets I’ve had before. I think it’s a great way to get a taste of traditional Japanese food culture.

Daimon Brewery is a place that reflects tradition and history; from the main hall and its wooden construction, to the atmosphere created by the aesthetics, to the home-style cooking, and the sake itself, there is a uniquely Japanese experience to be had here.

The sake we had tonight was delicious! The workers at Daimon Brewery make their sake with care and detail to attention at every step of the production process, and it shows in the final product.

It truly was a fun and refreshing experience with Sake Night Mukune Buffet! I definitely recommend it for those interested in sake.