Sake Tour and Tasting in Kobe with a Sake Brewer
At a glance
Sake Tour and Tasting in Kobe with a Sake Brewer is a 4h small-group experience in Kobe, Japan, operated by Origin Sake Tours. Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 21 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor. Prices start from $145.42 per person, and free cancellation is available. 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).
Highlights
- Small group of up to 8 people for a more personal experience
- Free cancellation for flexible planning
- 5 stops in one well-planned itinerary
Quick facts
- Duration
- 4h
- Group
- Small group, up to 8 travellers
- Languages
- English
- Pickup
- Meet at the start point
- Confirmation
- Instant confirmation
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation (see policy)
Overview
Join an expert brewer for an exclusive journey through Japan’s most famous sake region. Go beyond the free tasting areas to explore traditional techniques, visit a master cooperage where barrels are still handcrafted, and enjoy a guided tasting and food pairing at a local standing bar.
> 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.
What's included
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
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Stop 1 · 10m
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.
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Stop 2
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.
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Stop 3 · 1h
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.
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Stop 4 · 1h
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.
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Stop 5 · 1h
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.
Meeting point
Uozaki Station is on the Hanshin Railway Line, offering convenient access from Osaka, Kyoto and Himeji.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Sake Tour and Tasting in Kobe with a Sake Brewer take?
The experience lasts about 4h.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from $145.42 per person. The final price depends on the date, time and number of travellers, and is confirmed on Viator before you pay.
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.
Where does it start?
Uozaki Station is on the Hanshin Railway Line, offering convenient access from Osaka, Kyoto and Himeji.
Can I cancel?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Which languages is it offered in?
It is guided in English.
Is it worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 21 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor, which places it among the top-rated experiences in Kobe.
