The 7 Best Sake Tastings & Brewery Visits

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

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

Spend eight hours in Nagano with an English-speaking guide such as Tom, Kieran, or Nadine, visiting Zenko-ji Temple, tasting local sake, enjoying lunch, and walking the forest trail to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Transport, lunch, tasting, and monkey park entry are included.

“This excursion surpassed our expectations and added cultural experiences to our day. We were leaving Japan the next day so it really enhanced our trip.”

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

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

Meet a certified Sake Sommelier in Fushimi for a museum visit, a private tasting of 10 carefully chosen sakes, and traditional otsumami pairings. Guides such as Kyoko, Miyuki, Momo, and Shojo explain brewing, labels, flavor styles, and how to order with confidence.

“We learned quite a bit about the history of sake, the families and businesses known for making it, and the process of making sake before diving into the delicious tasting! Both leaders of our group were engaging, informative, and witty. My group would have loved to try the advanced tasting option if we were around, we had a blast!”

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3.Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

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

Meet your English-speaking guide in Nagano or join the winter shuttle from Hakuba. Visit Zenkoji Temple, explore a local sake tasting, enjoy a generous regional lunch, then walk 1.6 km through the forest to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Guides such as Tom, Dylan, Brent, and Hiroshi add local stories and practical help.

“It was the highlight of our trip. Our guide Endo was amazing. Each of the stops was engaging and interesting and even the meal turned out to be a delicious multi-course surprise. High marks.”

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4.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 in Fushimi. You’ll learn how sake is brewed, compare 10 or more styles, read Japanese bottle labels, and taste sake with otsumami in a dedicated room. Guides such as Kyoko, Miyuki, Momo, and Chika make the three-hour lesson lively and practical.

“I had a lot of fun, learned so much about sake, how it’s made, how to understand different types of sake and how great it is when paired with food. Our guide was amazing, friendly and knowledgeable”

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5.Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

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

Walk through Fushimi with a certified MagicalTrip guide, visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum and Kappa Gallery, then taste 18 Kyoto sakes at a local restaurant. Guides such as Matt, Rika, Kumi, and Yukari add history, tasting advice, and local tips.

“Had a great time with Kumi. She was very knowledgeable about the history and methods of providing sake and of the differences. She also answered a lot of questions about Japanese culture and areas of Kyoto. There was an hour wait for Read more”

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6.Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks

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

Spend 90 minutes in a dedicated Kyoto tasting room with an English-speaking sake expert such as Mayo, Kotaro, Kiyomi, or Greg. Compare seven generous pours, learn how brewing and rice polishing affect flavor, pair sake with otsumami, and leave with a practical cheat sheet.

“Kiyomi was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable! We learned so much about the intricacies of sake and how the differences in brewing can be tasted. Highly recommend”

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7.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 guides such as Hiro, Romi, Aya, and Aki. Visit breweries, a tofu shop, and sake museums, tasting unfiltered, seasonal, and traditional styles along the way. The small group, cooling breaks, and English commentary make this a friendly introduction to sake.

“Outstanding tour! Hiro is an amazing tour guide. She has so much information about the sake making process and its history. Definitely wear good walking shoes and bring some water to make walking from brewery to brewery simple. Would highly recommend!”

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