"SUIGEN," a craft beer made with water from Kifune, Kyoto's innermost retreat known as a power spot where the "God of Water" is enshrined, began sales in late June in Kifunecho, Kurama, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City.
Kibune is known as the headquarters of Japan's water gods, with Kifune Shrine, founded 1,600 years ago, and boasts 500 branch shrines across the country. It is a representative spiritual area of Japan, popular in women's magazines as a power spot in Kyoto. The riverside terraces, known as "kawadoko," a summertime tradition, attract many tourists in the summer and have long been known as a source of divine water. From July 1 to August 15, Kifune Shrine's main shrine grounds are illuminated with bamboo decorations.
The newly released "Suigen" is produced by Kifune's ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) Ugenta, which delivers Kifune water to the brewery of Minoh Beer, known as one of the world's leading craft beers, and is brewed unfiltered and unpasteurized in just one tank. It features the flavor of Persian yeast with the aroma of yuzu, which complements sweetfish dishes. Kibune's water itself is slightly alkaline with a pH of 8.1 and is extremely soft with a hardness of 46, resulting in a craft beer with a slightly higher alcohol content of 8.0%. As such, just like wine, it might be a good idea for women to share a bottle and enjoy the pairing with food.

Only 3,000 bottles will be sold and served at Ugenta, Seasonal Cuisine Sagenta, the Kibune Club cafe, and Kibune Gallery until the end of the riverside dining experience at the end of September.