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Sake Tour and Tasting in Kobe
5.0
19 Ratings
Kobe
Discover Kobe’s sake culture with expert-led tours, premium tastings, and traditional brewing insights. Experience the best of Japan’s sake heritage.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Sakuramasamune Kinenkan Sakuraen - Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Uozaki, one of Nada’s renowned Five Villages, to explore 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 discuss the history and developments of this famous brewing region.
- Kiku-Masamune Shuzo Kinenkan - Established in 1659, Kiku-Masamune is celebrated for its continued use of traditional brewing techniques such as cask-aged sake (taruzake). Here, you will visit the workshop where dedicated craftspeople still handcraft these casks (subject to availability). After the tour, we will sample some of this traditionally made sake.
- Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum - Visit Nada’s largest sake producer to learn about traditional brewing techniques. Your guide, an experienced sake brewer, will show you around their interactive museum and explain the various tools and equipment on display. Free sake tasting is provided.
- 灘五郷酒所 - Enjoy an immersive sake tasting with your host at a former brewery site belonging to Kenbishi, one of Japan’s oldest and most famous sake brands. We will sample three types of Kenbishi along with a complimentary snack. This unique location offers you the chance to enjoy sake in the same place it was once made.
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)
- Explanation of Traditional Sake Brewing Techniques
- Visit three of Japan’s most prestigious sake breweries
- Guided by a professional sake brewer
- Light snack provided with the guided tasting
What's Not Included
- Transportation cost to and from the tour are not included.
Additional Information
Explore the fascinating world of sake during your visit to Japan. Accompanied by an expert sake brewer, you will visit some of the country’s most prestigious sake producers and taste a variety of local sake, including fresh Nama-zake, barrel-aged sake, and the ultra-premium Daiginjo.
Throughout the tour, you will learn about traditional brewing techniques, taste sake from various esteemed producers, and learn about the meticulous craftsmanship of barrel-making. The tour will culminate in a guided sake tasting at one of Japan’s oldest sake makers, where you can compare and contrast different styles of premium sake.
• Taste a wide variety of local sake
• Visit some of Japan’s most prestigious sake makers
• Taste ultra-premium Daiginjo and fresh Nama-zake
• Learn traditional techniques from a professional sake brewer
• Enjoy a guided Sake Flight with your host at a former sake brewery
• Visit the famous Five Villages of Nada
- Only those of legal drinking age in Japan (20yrs or over) can participate.
Location
Uozaki Station
Uozaki Station is on the Hanshin Railway Line, offering convenient access from Osaka, Kyoto and Himeji.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(19 Ratings)
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Bonnie_t
Sep 18, 2024
Great tour with a sake expert - 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.
Review provided by Viator
S5884vsandresd
Sep 14, 2024
A must when visiting the Kansai area! - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Samuelbs1901mx
Sep 12, 2024
A great day and very well prices! - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
413euant
Sep 10, 2024
Excellent. - 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!)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paulo_l
Aug 16, 2024
Best tour we’ve had so far!! - 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
Review provided by Viator
Boardingpass825828
Jul 15, 2024
Wholly Immersive Experience~ - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davidiz5729gt
Jul 13, 2024
I highly recommend this sake tour to anyone visiting Kobe - My experience on the sake tour with Andrew in Kobe was absolutely wonderful. Andrew's deep knowledge and obvious passion for sake made the tour not only informative but incredibly enjoyable. It was clear he genuinely enjoyed sharing his expertise with us.
We went to a couple of breweries where Andrew's dedication ensured we had a memorable experience and answered our questions and further discuss sake varieties. It was evident that he cared about our understanding and enjoyment of the tour.
The tour culminated in a delightful visit to a local bar, where we sampled various sakes and enjoyed delicious food. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, thanks to Andrew's warm demeanor and hospitality.
Overall, I highly recommend this sake tour to anyone visiting Kobe. Andrew's expertise and passion make it an unforgettable experience that gives you a deeper appreciation for sake and Japanese culture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T2295cljamese
Jul 12, 2024
Don’t Do Any Other Sake Tour - What a spectacular find! We did an amazing afternoon with Andrew touring some of the most prestigious and interesting Sake facilities in Nada. We also toured a traditional barrel making factory and saw live, the vanishing art of Sake barrel making. Andrew is a great communicator and made arranging the tour seamless. He has so much knowledge as a Sake brewer and makes the information accessible for the layman. He knows all the people in the breweries so you might get to meet master brewers and visit with them if your lucky. It was really fun, educational and the tastings were ample. Like touring with a friend( a knowledgeable one)!!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Giuliamy4516zi
Jun 20, 2024
A MUST to do experience! - The experience provided by Andrew is unparalleled! He is, first of all, a Sake Brewer himself and this makes the tour unique and special as he makes sake and knows lots about it. You can really tell the true passion Andrew has for Sake, and the way he explains about Sake, its history and the making process is really easy to understand and to the point. I would recommend this experience for sake beginners and people in the industry as well! It's not every day you get to walk around one of the most famous Sake places with a real Kurabito! A MUST
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rachelm1432ny
Jun 16, 2024
Highly Recommend - unique sake experience! - I organized a tour with Andrew for my group. He was easy to coordinate with and provided helpful information leading up to the tour. The tour location was an easy direct 35min train ride for us from Osaka. We had some knowledge of sake beforehand, but Andrew provided a great balance of additional information, history of the Nada region, and personal experience as a brewer! It was a highlight of our trip! I would definitely recommend it to anyone with an interest in sake!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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