Japan Exclusive Sakagura Tours
Kyoto | Osaka | Nara | Shiga
Dive deep into the world of Sake making.
Are you a Sake lover?
We will take you to some of the finest Sake breweries in Japan to discover the secret of Sake making.
SAKE DISCOVERY offers an authentic local Sake brewery tour in a fashion you have never experienced.
Get ready to dive deeper into the world of this sacred wine that is taking over the world!
What is a “Sakagura”?
SAKAGURA is a Japanese term to refer to a sake brewery or sake production facility.
It is where the process of making sake, a traditional Japanese rice wine, takes place.
What is a “Sakagura tour”?
A sake brewery transcends its role as a mere sake production facility. During a brewery visit, one discerns it not solely as a place for sake production but also as a pivotal entity within local and regional food culture, and potentially, a focal point of regional identity. Consequently, a visit to a sake brewery affords an immersive experience into the everyday culture of the Japanese people.
At Sake Discovery, our aspiration is for a global audience to comprehend and appreciate the diverse, authentic Japanese culture that has endured beyond its extensive history. The mission of Sake Discovery is to safeguard and rejuvenate Japanese breweries, disseminate Japanese culture globally, and forge a connection to the future.
We encourage everyone to seize the opportunity and truly immerse themselves in the richness of Japanese culture.
Special Sake Brewery Tours
Sake Discovery Exclusive
1. Why Choose SAKE DISCOVERY?
SAKE DISCOVERY offers an unique opportunity with its exclusive Sakagura tours, affording participants an authentic glimpse into the intricate Sake production process. Conventionally speaking, sake breweries have rarely allowed the general public into this behind-the-scene manufacturing and factory areas for tours.
Sake production demands meticulous hygiene standards. This is why conventional sake brewery tours rarely grant insight into the details of actual sake-making process. Furthermore, sake has long held a sacred significance as an offering to the divine. SAKE DISCOVERY’s brewery tours offer a rare and invaluable opportunity to glimpse this mystical process that can’t be found elsewhere.
＊Most breweries (except for a few) do not brew sake during the summer. However, SAKE DISCOVERY exclusively grant access to the production line, which is not generally open to public, so that visitors can learn how sake is produced even during off-season.
Excellent Selection
2. Looking for more authentic Sake experience?
You can choose a Sakagura in either Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara or Shiga based on your itinerary. Our list includes some of the finest Sakaguras in Japan.
Premium Tasting
3. Interested in top tier Sake?
In addition to the customary selection of Sake available for tasting, our tour offers a refined assortment of premium Sake, elevating your experience to new heights.
100% Private Tour
4. Is privacy important to you?
All of our tours are completely private, meaning that you will not have to share the precious sakagura experience with other strangers.
NO LANGUAGE BARRIER
5. Your designated interpreter can help you understand more about the sakagura!
Our tours are accompanied by English – Japanese interpreters who have extensive expertise in the world of Sake or Sakagura staff ensuring that you have the best possible experience as you delve into the sacred art of Sake production.
※In the event of specific language requirements, we can also provide AI translation devices.
Tour Overview
Discover the Secrets Behind Japan’s Legendary Sake Brewing
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1. Movie Introduction
Before beginning the behind-the-scenes brewery tour, you will watch an informative introductory movie that explains the general process of sake production. This will give you a better understanding of what you’re about to discover!
2. History Explained
On this tour, you will learn directly from the passionate brewers themselves how unique brewing methods, local water, geography, and climate shape the distinct flavors of sake. Gain insight into the brewery’s rich history and culture!
3. Facility Tour
You will gain an insider’s view of the sake brewing process, from the meticulous preparation of rice to the artful fermentation stages. Explore the traditional tools and modern techniques that bring sake to life in our exclusive tours!
4. A Close Look
The quality and flavor can vary greatly based on the type of rice, water, yeast, and the skill of the brewers. Variations in ingredients and brewing techniques result in a diverse range of sake, from dry and crisp to sweet and full-bodied.
5. Premium Tasting
If the timing is right, you will have the exclusive opportunity to enjoy special tastings of premium sake not available on the market, award-winning sake from prestigious competitions both in Japan and abroad, or freshly pressed new sake.
6. Get Your Favorite Sake
After the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to explore a variety of sake and other products. Based on your tasting experience, you can select your new favorite sake to take home for yourself or to share with friends and family!
How to Book a
Sakagura Tour
Choose a Sakagura
Click on the Sakagura you would like to visit.
Fill out the booking form
See the details of the Sakagura of your choosing and fill out the booking form to plan your visit!
Confirm the booking
SAKE DISCOVERY will contact you within 2 business days of the Sakagura of your choice to confirm the booking date and time, and arrange the payment.
Payment
Please make payment by credit card via the URL provided in the email within 24 hours after receiving the booking confirmation email from SAKE DISCOVERY.
《Caution》
If credit card payment is not confirmed within 24 hours, the reservation may be canceled.
Finalizing the booking
Once we confirm payment by your credit card, the booking will be finalized. We will notify you of the payment confirmation details of the confirmed booking, meeting place, interpreter’s name for the day, and phone number.
Sakagura
Shotoku Shuzou
¥30,000〜 / person
Founded in 1645, and relocating to Fushimi in the mid-Taisho period in search of better water, this historic sake brewery has preserved the traditional culture and spirit of sake making for nearly a century.
Sakagura
Hakurei Shuzou
¥28,000〜 / person
Sakagura Hakurei Shozou has continued to inherit brewing methods passed down through generations since its establishment about 200 years ago, prioritizing harmony among rice, water, and people in sake brewing.
Sakagura
Yamano Shuzou
¥30,000 / person
Located in the town of Katano, on the border of Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara, this long-established sake brewery has been producing sake for approximately 160 years since the late Edo period.
Sakagura
Kiyotsuru Shuzou
¥30,000〜 / person
In the early days of the Edo period, sake brewing thrived in the Takatsuki-Tonda area, boasting as many as 24 sake breweries at its peak. Kiyotsuru Shuzo is one of the two remaining breweries from that era.
Sakagura
Kitashoji Shuzou
¥30,000〜 / person
At Sakagura Kitashoji Shuzou, our motto has been ‘pure and beautiful-tasting sake’ since our founding nearly 100 years ago, aiming for an ideal sake that remains unchanged.
Sakagura
Imanishi Seibei Shoten Shuzou
¥30,000 / person
Visit a renowned sake brewery in Nara named after the famous Nara specialty, the “deer.” Nara, Japan’s first international city, is said to be the birthplace of sake.
Sakagura
Nara Toyosawa Shuzou
¥30,000 / person
The history of the sakagura, Nara Toyosawa Shuzo, began with the dawn of the Meiji era. At sakagura Nara Toyosawa Shuzo, we minimize mass production through mechanization, preserving the tradition of handcrafted sake production by skilled artisans, while dedicating ourselves to enhancing quality.
Sakagura
Okamura Honke
¥28,000〜 / person
This is a long-established sake brewery located in an area relatively close to Japan’s largest lake, Lake Biwa, and the national treasure, Hikone Castle, with a history dating back 160 years.
Sakagura
Nami No Oto Shuzou
¥30,000〜 / person
This is a sake brewery located by the beautiful shores of Lake Biwa, nurtured by nature. Founded in the second year of the Bunka era (1805), it boasts a history of over 200 years.
Testimonials
Brian & Wooja
We recently joined a brewery tour at Yamano Shuzou, located between Osaka and Kyoto. It was a wonderful sensory and eye-opening experience.
How is Sake produced?
Let’s learn about Sake before the tour!
Ever wonder how Sake is made? How many steps do you think there are to make Sake?
SAKE DISCOVERY CONCIERGE
You are interested in our tours, but you don’t know where to start?
We can help you!
Schedule conflict!
“My travel schedule is not compatible with the tour schedules. Is there a way to arrange a tour outside the regular schedule?”
Which tour should I go for?
“I would like to know which tour best fits my itinerary. ”
How do we get there?
“Based on our hotel location, can you guide us step by step on how to reach the brewery? ”