Sake has been produced in Japan for over 2,000 years. Deeply intertwined with Japanese culture, rituals, and festivals, the drink is considered a cultural symbol of the country and is Japan’s national alcoholic beverage!
If you’re looking for sake tours, Japan has plenty of options that provide excellent and immersive experiences to let you explore the historical and cultural significance of this drink. Whether you’re looking for sake tastings or an immersive brewery tour to get a glimpse of how sake is made, here are four sake tours that we highly recommend!
Also read: The Sake Spectrum: A Guide to Japan’s Diverse Brews on Your Next Drinking Tour
1. Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, Kyoto
The Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum in Fushimi, Kyoto, is a renovated sake storehouse from 1909. The museum leads visitors on a journey through the sake brewery, providing an immersive experience on how traditional sake was made in the Fushimi area. Handle traditional tools that were historically used to make sake, learn about the ingredients that go into the drink and give it its unique flavors, and how that sake is made today, using modern-day technology. The last part of the tour includes a tasting of all the sakes that Gekkeikan produces, and their in-house shop carries exclusive products that are made on-site. Try out buns, pickles, and other snacks and food items that are made from the by-products of sake production.
This tour also features a convenient museum guide that you can access on your own device. This allows you to explore the exhibits at your own pace without waiting for other visitors. Alternatively, you can take your time and enjoy the sections of the exhibition that truly resonate with you! Reservations for this tour can be made up to two weeks in advance online (website in Japanese). Admission to the museum costs 600 yen for adults aged 20 and over, 100 yen for those aged 13 to 19, and is free for children aged 12 and under. We recommend using public transportation as parking is not available onsite.
Address: 247 Minamihama-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8660, Japan
Open from 9:30 – 16:30. Closed on Sundays.
2. Miyasaka Brewery, Nagano
Founded in 1662, the Miyasaka Brewery is a historic sake producer based in Nagano and is one of five famed sake breweries in the area. This brewery is most famous for its Masumi brand of sake, and Yeast No. 7, a specific kind of yeast used in sake production that was discovered at the brewery in 1946. This strain of yeast is widely used all over Japan for sake brewing, making Masumi a fundamental part of sake production.
While the brewery no longer provides tours, they do still offer tasting sessions, which cost 500 yen per person, allowing visitors to sample up to four types of sake at their store, Cella Masumi. The store also offers a wide range of food items made with the by-products from sake production, such as soy milk amazake milkshakes, amazake ice cream, and koji drinks. There’s even a restaurant that lets you try some of these products as part of your meal.
Address: Miyasaka Brewery, 1-16 Motomachi, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture
Open from 10:00–17:00. Closed on Wednesdays.
3. Ponshukan Sake Museum, Niigata
While not a brewery itself, the Ponshukan Sake Museum is a sake tasting bar that has unique coin-operated dispensers. Conveniently located right by Niigata Station, a tasting session lets you try more than 100 varieties of sake from the prefecture’s 90 breweries—practically a sake tour of the Prefecture itself, but all in one convenient location. Simply pay 500 yen at the counter, and you will be given a cup and five coins to enjoy five different sakes of your choosing. The store also has a bar that serves local cuisine and a variety of rice balls, so you can enjoy a meal while you shop.
Souvenirs in the store range include delicious food items, such as Western-style sweets and desserts that are made with sake. Their signature bestseller, the Sake Soufflé Tokeru, is a cheese soufflé made with this magical brew, and has a delightful texture that melts in your mouth. Useful and functional items that make wonderful additions to your home are also available as souvenirs here such as sake vessels and cups, cooking utensils, tableware, and even Japanese kitchen knives are available for purchase.
Address: CoCoLo Yuzawa Gangidori, 2427–3 Yuzawa, Minamiuonuma District, Niigata 949-6101
Open daily from 9:30–19:00.
4. Best Experience Japan Sake Tour, Tokyo
Travelling to Tokyo? Don’t let the bustling city fool you into thinking that there are no sake tours in Japan’s capital city! Best Experience Japan offers an exclusive sake tour that lets you try all the different varieties of sake that Tokyo has to offer. This immersive tour is led by a knowledgeable sake sommelier, who will take you to a local bar in Shinjuku for this experience. Sample sparkling sakes, textured cloudy brews, traditional Yamahai sake, and even unpasteurized versions of the country’s finest drink, all while learning about sake’s significance in Japanese culture, history, and cuisine.
This tour is also offered in English, which provides an excellent opportunity for curious minds to ask questions about all thing’s sake, from how to pair the beverage with food, to what the difference is between hot and cold sake. Whether you’re just beginning your sake journey, or you’re a connoisseur looking to broaden your horizons, this tour is perfect for finding out which types of sake you enjoy!
Also read: 5 Sake Bars You Should Visit on a Night Out in Tokyo
Sake is more than just a drink in Japan; it is a symbol of long-standing traditions, a drink with a quiet elegance, and something that brings pride to so many regions throughout the country. Whether enjoyed in a bustling city izakaya or a serene countryside brewery, it invites you to experience Japan’s rich heritage firsthand. Every bottle tells a different story, so let your next sake sample be a tasteful experience of Japan’s best culture. With so many options to choose from, we hope you find and enjoy one of the many sake tours Japan has to offer!