The 15 Best Sake Tastings & Brewery Visits in Japan

1.Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,762 reviews · from $163Our pick

Spend about 3.5 hours walking through Gion and Pontocho with a local guide such as Jimmy, Kumi, Emma, or Rika. Stop at small restaurants and bars for nine-plus Kyoto dishes, local drinks, and sake tastings. The group is capped at seven, making it easier to ask questions and enter places you may not find alone.

“Rika was a great guide. Very personable and knowledgeable about both the area and the food and drink.she was good company and entertaining as well. We would highly recommend her and this tour. The tour went to 3 very nice places that we likely would never have found on our own. All of the food and drinks were great.”

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2.1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,020 reviews · from $151

Spend eight hours with an English-speaking guide at Zenko-ji Temple, a local sake tasting, a Japanese lunch, and Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Guides such as Tom, Kieran, Nadine, and Dylan have led recent departures. Expect a forest walk, possible winter ice, and free time at each major stop.

“We had an amazing day on this tour! The itinerary was well balanced which included a good amount of time to experience the snow monkeys. In addition, the sake tasting and the visit to the temple was also very good. The lunch was amazing and comforting. Thank you to our guide Dylan who did a great job!”

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3.3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 917 reviews · from $84

Spend three hours in Fushimi with a certified sake sommelier. Visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, taste 10 carefully selected sakes, compare food pairings, and learn how to read labels and choose bottles you will actually enjoy. Guides such as Kyoko, Miyuki, Mai, and Shogo are praised for clear, friendly teaching.

“I don't really drink much. But I do a lot of cooking and am interested in knowing more about the Japanese alcohol making process. Our guides (Mayuki-san and Mae-san) were very informative and were very interactive. They had very good timing too. No time was wasted, but enough time to enjoy and understand the sake making process and how to identify which kinds of sake best suit us. They were both very friendly, professional, and very eager to answer any questions. Also the area is a place I have not been to in Kyoto. It is very beautiful with very rustic old buildings. A real treat for a true Kyoto…”

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4.Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Monkeys, or Secret Sake Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 886 reviews · 5 hours - 330 minutes · from $87

Spend five hours walking through Arashiyama with a bilingual guide such as Karim, Tom, Toru, or Francis. Visit the bamboo grove, Nonomiya Shrine, Okochi Sanso Garden, Tenryuji Temple, Kimono Forest, Togetsukyo Bridge, and Iwatayama Monkey Park. Choose street food and river views, or a local lunch and sake tasting.

“Our guide, Karim, has been perfect. Informative, friendly and fun! He kept a good pace during the tour and we never felt rushed, he gave us free time for pictures/eating/facilities. The tour covered some very famous sites but Karim has been also able to bring us “off the beaten path” letting us visit gardens and spots that we would have missed otherwise. The group was of just 5 people so we have been extremely lucky, usually it’s max 12 people but maybe off season helped! We highly recommend the tour and thank you again Karim!”

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5.Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 833 reviews · 8 - 12 hours · from $135

Spend a full day with an English-speaking guide exploring Zenko-ji Temple, tasting local sake, eating a Nagano-style lunch, and walking to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Guides such as Dylan, Brent, Tom, Hiroshi, and Kevin have helped make the day informative and easy to manage. Winter pickups from Hakuba are available.

“We liked everything, Luka was very friendly and helpful. The meal was one of the best we had in Japan. At the monkeys forrest was very cold, but it was a fairytale place to walk.”

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6.Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 704 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Meet an English-speaking sake expert at Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum and spend three hours learning how Nihonshu is made, how rice polishing changes flavor, and how to read a bottle label. You’ll compare 10 or more sake styles in a private tasting room, first on their own and then with otsumami. Guides may include Kyoko, Miyuki, Momo, or another certified expert.

“What an amazing experience! We loved her approach including the presentation in large format so we all could see it as well as the little business card sized cheat sheet. The museum was educational and the separate tasting was also special. I appreciated the tasting starting on its own and then again wi the food - what a difference! Thank you, again. Truly amazing experience!!”

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7.Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 623 reviews · from $98

Walk through Fushimi’s sake district, visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, pass historic Teradaya, and stop at Kappa Gallery before tasting 18 Kyoto sakes at a local restaurant. Guides such as Matt, Rika, Kumi, and Yukari explain brewing, styles, and local history. Food costs extra, and the tour involves several hours of walking.

“We had an excellent time touring the Gekkeikan brewery and learning about the history from our tour guide, Matt! He was very knowledgeable and took time to explain everything we were seeing thoroughly and answering our questions. Read more”

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8.1.5-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings & Pairings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 297 reviews · from $68

In Kyoto’s Fushimi district, a certified sake sommelier leads a 90-minute tasting of seven sakes with traditional otsumami snacks. Guides such as Mayo, Kiyomi, Miyuki, Greg, and Yui explain brewing, sake styles, food pairing, and menu labels in a friendly, easy-to-follow way. You finish with tasting notes and a practical sake cheat sheet.

“Excellent! I learned so much about sake and they were generous with the tastings. Excellent instructor. You will leave with a solid base of knowledge about sake and what to order/buy. Highly recommend.”

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9.Ramen and Sushi Cooking Class with Sake Pairing Set in Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · from $79

Meet in Tsukishima for a three-hour cooking class led by Japanese food specialists such as Sato and Ryushi. You will shape sushi, prepare ramen broth, enjoy pork belly ramen, and taste sake selected for the dishes. The class is capped at eight, with English instruction and all ingredients and drinks included.

“An excellent experience. We’ve never done anything like this before but our hosts made us feel immediately at ease. Informative and laid back - they took us from being sous-chefs to sushi masters within a couple of hours. The ramen was less hands on though more customisable - both tasted great. Some good sake choices too.”

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10.Sake Tasting Masterclass in Shinjuku (8+ Varieties with a Pro)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 271 reviews · from $72

Meet a sake specialist at Ushinobi Shinjuku for a two-hour tasting in a group of no more than eight. You’ll sample at least six types, often nine or ten, learn how brewing and labels shape flavor, pair sake with snacks, and leave ready to order with confidence. Guides may include Max, Joe, Tadashi, Megan, Cassy, Andrea, or Hawaii Joe.

“Our Sake tasting with Max was an exceptional experience. We learnt a lot about all aspects of sake from its history to how it’s made and the different types of sake. Most of all it was a fun experience and some great sake. Max made the experience fun and informative.”

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11.Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 266 reviews · 1h 30m · from $66Best value

In a cozy Kyoto tasting room, an English-speaking sake expert such as Mayo, Kotaro, Kiyomi, or Greg guides you through seven generous pours, brewing basics, bottle reading, and Japanese snack pairings. You compare dry, fruity, hot, and cold styles, then use a tasting card and cheat sheet to choose sake with more confidence.

“We loved learning about the process of making sake and the differences! A good selection to show the variety of tastes. We feel a little more confident going to a store now and purchasing a bottle we know we will like!”

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12.Sake Omakase in Tokyo: Guided Tasting by Certified Sommeliers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 239 reviews · from $79

At Sake Studio in central Tokyo, Eric, Aaron, Frank, or Phillip guide a six-person tasting through seven Japan-exclusive sakes. Over about two hours, you compare rice styles, temperatures, infusions, and drinking vessels, with small bites served across four courses. Expect clear English instruction, a stylish Showa-era wood table, and free-flowing pours.

“Really enjoyed this sake knowledge experience, in a very nice setting with very passionate and friendly hosts. Thank you so much for everything!”

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13.KOBE Sake Tasting Tour at Breweries (tasting fee included)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 154 reviews · from $109

Spend about three and a half hours walking Kobe’s Nada Gogo with an English-speaking guide such as Hiro, Romi, Aki, or Aya. Visit historic breweries and sake museums, sample up to ¥2,000 worth of sake, stop at a local tofu shop, and learn how water, rice, and brewing methods shape each glass. The route may vary by brewery hours.

“This was one of the best tours we have done. Our guides were so careful in picking spots and passing on information and knowledge. They truly made the tour and I am so happy to have a better appreciation and knowledge of sake making and the process. It was a perfect day.”

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14.Wagyu & Sake Pairing in Shinjuku – Steak, Shabu-Shabu & More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 112 reviews · from $148

Meet at Ushinobi Shinjuku at 6 pm for a three-hour wagyu and sake dinner hosted by guides such as Joe, Chi, Andrea, Tadashi, or Miyuki. You’ll sample several wagyu cuts, learn about grading and brewing, prepare some dishes, and match each course with sake, cocktails, or warm pours.

“The Wagyu and Sake were all amazing. Each prepared dish and drink was phenomenal. Andrea was a great host!! Sharing the meal with others was very unique as well.”

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15.Private Nagano 1-Day Tour:Snow Monkeys,Zenko-ji,Obuse,Sake,Onsen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $337

Spend about eight hours exploring Nagano with a private English-speaking guide and transport. Visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, Obuse, and possibly the Hokusai Museum, with time for local food, sake, or an onsen. Guides such as Hori, Mutsumi, and Fumiko have helped tailor the day to families, older visitors, and special interests.

“WeiWei was wonderful and very knowledgeable about the local towns, foods, culture and monkeys :) She was very patient as we stayed with the monkeys for over an hour taking photos and observing them. We had a great time with her, and highly suggest booking a private tour, so you can go at your own pace with the monkeys, saki tasting, and a bit more of a local's experience.”

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