The 15 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.Düsseldorf: Sushi, Sake & Japanese Lifestyle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 539 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Walk through Düsseldorf’s Little Tokyo around Immermannstraße with a German-speaking guide such as Patrizia or Julia. Visit Japanese bookshops and bakeries, sample four vegetarian-friendly foods, learn about manga, and get tips on sushi, sake, ramen, soba, and matcha.

“Organisatorisch verlief die Tour planmäßig, und Patrizia war freundlich, doch der Informationsgehalt reichte nicht aus, um einen fundierten Einblick in die japanische Kultur Düsseldorfs zu vermitteln. Viele wichtige Details wurden ausgelassen oder unzutreffend dargestellt, wodurch die Tour leider enttäuschend wirkte. Es gab zudem falsche Aussagen. Ich selbst war bereits im Nagya essen und kann bestätigen, dass die Behauptung, man zahle dort 700 € pro Person, nicht stimmt. Themen wie japanische Friseure, Schneidereien und Wäschereien wurden oder gar nicht behandelt. Beim Matcha Café Wakaba, dem ersten reinen Matcha-Café der Stadt (gegründet ca. 2017/2018), fehlten Hintergrundinformationen. St...”

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7.Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks

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

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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8.Osaka Sake Tasting with Takoyaki Cooking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 156 reviews · 2 hours · from $70

At MOMO to SAKE near Osaka Namba, Momo, a sake sommelier and former brewer, guides you through takoyaki cooking and a tasting of more than 10 Japanese sakes. You will learn how sake is made, try fillings such as wagyu and cheese, and leave with better instincts for ordering sake in Japan.

“Momo was excellent. We were made to feel very welcome from the moment we arrived. The Sake tasting was informative and delicious. We learnt so much from this evening. Our takoyaki was such a fun thing to make and was extremely tasty. We would totally recommend this class to any newcomer to Japan. So enjoyable. Would give it 6 🌟 if possible.”

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9.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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10.Sushi and Ramen Cooking Class with Sake Pairing Set

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · 3 hours · from $129

Spend three hours in Tsukishima learning ramen, chashu pork, and nigiri sushi with English-speaking instructors such as Sato, Haruko, Risa, and Alex. You’ll taste three sakes, hear the stories behind the dishes, cook in a group of up to eight, and leave with recipes and souvenir chopsticks.

“This was a great experience my family and I enjoyed. Small group, private setting. Lots of fun.”

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11.Tsukiji: Unlimited Sake Tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 67 reviews · 1h 30m · from $54

Meet an English-speaking sake sommelier at a private Tsukiji salon and sample a broad selection from breweries around Japan. Hosts such as Mako, Yuki, and Kyoko explain brewing, flavor, and serving temperature while you taste sake with light snacks. Most sessions sample about 20 to 30 bottles.

“Loved the sake tasting! Learnt so much and got to try 20 different sakes and free tasting after of favourites, was great experience highly recommend!”

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12.Kobe: Guided Sake Breweries Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 3h 30m · from $106

Spend 210 minutes walking Kobe’s Nada district with an English-speaking guide such as Hiro or Romi. Visit three to four sake sites, including Hakutsuru and Kiku-Masamune, taste varied brews, learn traditional methods, and stop for fresh tofu. The route covers about 4 kilometers.

“As a wine enthusiast, I was eager to explore Kobe's rich sake culture, and this tour truly exceeded my expectations. Our knowledgeable guide, Romi, shared fascinating insights into the history of sake brewing and the distinctive characteristics of each sake we sampled. The thoughtful pairing with local cuisine added an extra dimension to the experience. While sake differs greatly from wine, I found myself appreciating the delicate nuances and remarkable complexity of each variety. The warm and welcoming atmosphere at each brewery made the experience all the more enjoyable. It was truly a memorable and enriching journey.”

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13.Sake Brewery and Tasting Tour in Fushimi

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 55 reviews · 3 hours · from $96

Walk through Fushimi with an English-speaking guide, visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, see riverside sights and Gokonomiya Shrine, then sample 18 Kyoto-made sakes at a local bar. The nine-person limit keeps the tour friendly and easy to follow.

“Fantastic tour, tour guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly. Recommend this experience”

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14.Sushi Cooking Class with Sake Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 55 reviews · from $112

Meet near Iriya Station and shop for ingredients before cooking sushi, miso soup, eggplant dengaku, and dashimaki tamago in a professional kitchen. Your English-speaking guide, such as Taka, Fuji, or Mihori, serves lunch with four sake tastings. Recipes are included.

“Awesome! We really enjoyed our cooking class! Our instructor Mahori was kind, friendly and knowledgeable! She made the class enjoyable for both adults and my young son! She did not rush the instruction, everyone was included and able to participate! The food turned out very good!”

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15.Takayama: Authentic Sake Tasting at a Historic Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 50 reviews · 30 min · from $51

Meet an English-speaking local guide, often Takumi, at a historic Takayama brewery. In 30 minutes, you’ll learn how sake is made and taste five local varieties, with possible extra samples depending on the visit. Bring your passport and arrive 5 to 10 minutes early.

“Informative guide who made the tour fun. Learnt lots of new things about sake.”

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