Fushimi no Gokosui (Fushimi's Gokosui spring water)

Fushimi no Gokosui is a type of groundwater in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, and refers in particular to the water that wells up within the grounds of Gokonomiya Shrine (御香宮神社). Sake brewing has flourished in this district since the Edo period, and because Fushimi's groundwater is soft water, it is well suited to sake brewing. Fushimi water gives sake a gentle sweetness, so Fushimi sake is commonly called "Fushimi no onna-zake" (Fushimi's feminine sake), in contrast to "Nada no otoko-zake" (Nada's masculine sake). There are said to be six wells at the Gokosui spring site, and the water from each is described as bringing a distinctive flavor to sake. In this way, Fushimi no Gokosui plays a very important role in sake brewing.