In Takayama, a town that flourished as a merchant town, Hirase Sake Brewery, founded in 1623, has walked hand in hand with the town's history. They are committed to brewing sake using the mellow groundwater of the Northern Alps and sake rice cultivated in Hida. The name of their flagship brand, "Kusudama," comes from the "Kusudama," a decorative ball used at auspicious occasions. Brewed in the harsh winter cold unique to Takayama, "Kusudama" is enjoyed in a wide range of varieties, including "Kusudama Honjozo Josen," which is popular for everyday drinking, "Kusudama Junmai Daiginjo," made with "Hidahomare" rice polished to 40%, and "Kusudama Junmai Ginjo," brewed with flower yeast, and is enjoyed in a variety of situations.