Sake Tour and Tasting in Kobe with a Sake Brewer
468209P1
468209P1
468209P1
468209P1
468209P1
468209P1
468209P1
468209P1
468209P1
468209P1
Overview
> Exclusive Tastings: Sample rare Nama (unpasteurized), barrel-aged, and ultra-premium Daiginjo sake.
> Behind-the-Scenes Access: Visit a workshop where skilled craftsmen still hand-build traditional wooden sake barrels.
> Expert Insights: Learn centuries-old brewing secrets and local culture from an experienced sake brewer.
> Sake Knowledge: Learn about different styles of sake and how to pair them with food directly from an industry insider.
Tour at a glance
What's included
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Taste various types of local sake
- Guided Sake Tasting with your host (comparative tasting of different grades of sake)
- Guided by a local sake brewer, not a tour guide
- Explanation of Traditional Sake Brewing Techniques
- Light snack provided with the final tasting
Not included
- Transportation cost to and from the tour are not included.
Itinerary
-
1
Join your host along the Sumiyoshi River for a quick welcome drink served in traditional ceramic sake vessels. This river is the lifeline of the local region and has been essential to sake brewing.
10 min Admission free -
2
Sakuramasamune Kinenkan Sakuraen
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Uozaki, one of Nada's famous Five-Villages, to see the main sake brewing district. Along the way, we will pass the towering brewery of Sakura- Masamune and see Kenbishi, one of Japan's oldest breweries. Your guide will talk about the history and developments of this famous brewing region.
Pass by (no stop) Admission free -
3
Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum
Our first stop is Kiku-Masamune, founded in 1659. Today they are famous for their continued use of traditional brewing techniques such as cask-aged sake (taruzake) and the natural kimoto method. Here you will visit the workshop where dedicated craftspeople still make these casks by hand (subject to availability) and try the sake aged in them based on a traditional Edo-period (1603-1868) recipe.
1h Admission free -
4
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
Visit Nada's largest sake producer to learn about traditional brewing techniques. Your guide is an experienced sake brewer who will be on hand to show you around their interactive museum and explain the various tools and equipment on display. Free sake tasting is provided.
1h Admission free -
5
Enjoy an immersive sake tasting with your host at the former brewery of Kenbishi, one of Japan's oldest and most famous sake brands. We will sample three types of local sake paired with a light snack. This is a unique location offering you the chance to enjoy sake in the same place it was once made.
1h Admission included
Meeting & pickup
Everyone meets at the start point.
Schedule
Good to know
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Only those of legal drinking age in Japan (20yrs or over) can participate.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveller reviews
What a privilege to be given a tour by Andrew, who is not only an expert on the history of sake, but also actually makes it using traditional methods for one of the most prominent manufacturers. Andrew was easy going but passionate, and was able to mould his information to the aspects we were interested in. This tour is both great for the tasting experience but also those who really want to know more about the context of sake.
Origin Sake Tour was Top Notch. I would highly recommend this tour and look no further. If you really want a detailed and precise view on the history and evolution of Sake making right down to the details of each producers specific nuances, Andrew and Origin Sake Tours is the one to book. You will really enjoy It.
Andrew was a great tour guide. He provided a lot of information about the local breweries and villages, as well as his personal experience working at the brewery. It was a fun tour of the different aspects of sake tasting and local culture. Highly recommend the tour.
Andrew is extremely knowledgable since he is a sake brewer himself, it was a very nice tour walking around Nada and getting to see the breweries and at the end going to a very nice bar with a very interesting concept. 100% recommended!
Great time. Andy was very knowledgable and tailored the talks and exploration so well. I know abit about sake already so was great to learn from someone who actually makes sake! I’ll be back to do the other talk!
I'd done some studying about sake by myself but nothing compares to being shown around the most famous brewing area of Japan by someone who has first hand experience working in the area. Andy was professional, knowledgable, and friendly. Whether you're already a sake pro or a complete beginner, this tour is for you. The sake tasting at the old brewery building was the icing on the cake. 100% would recommend. (I am also interested in doing the Nishinomiya tour if I'm back in Kobe!)
Together me and my dad have been all around Japan over 8 times, and we both agreed that this was by far the best tour we’ve had. Andy has a deep well of knowledge about sake production that stems from his own experience working at a brewery, and throughout the tour one can thorougly feel the care and expertise he has about this topic. Together with his expertise of sake he also provides a unique perspective on Japanese history, and it's development since the edo period. All in all a great experience, with a charismatic tour guide that actually has the background to support the information he gives. Would recommend to anyone visiting Kobe and interested in learning about the rich culture and history of sake. 10/10
Andrew was a pro from start to finish. Whether it was from his academic background as an Asian studies major or his own personal/professional experiences as an expat living and working in the sake industry in Japan, he brought an unparalleled level of expertise to the sake tour. He was able to easily converse about the technicalities of making sake as he was able to discuss its wider historical, social, cultural significance. I would recommend this tour 100% to anyone wishing for a deeper and more insightful peek into a venerable industry/profession as well as Japan.
Reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor from verified travellers.
Frequently asked questions
How long does this experience last?
It lasts 4h.
Is hotel pickup included?
Everyone meets at the start point.
Can I cancel for free?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.
Which languages is the guide available in?
Guide languages: EN
On which days does it run?
It runs Fri, Sat, Sun. Starts 13:00
How fast is the booking confirmed?
Instantly. Your e-ticket arrives by e-mail right after booking.
Is this a private tour?
No, this is a shared group experience.
Where do I complete the booking?
On viator.com, a Tripadvisor company, with live availability and secure payment. TourViaGo is a Global Partner of Viator.
Product code 468209P1
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