Sake, Japan’s famed rice wine, takes center stage as you immerse yourself in informative and tasty tours around the city. From visiting breweries where you’ll learn about the making process to hanging out with locals at bars, there are many opportunities to try the famous drink.
I have personally handpicked the best sake brewery tours in the city to ensure you have a memorable time and get your money’s worth. You’ll stroll through historic neighborhoods, and savor flavorful dishes on your pursuit of the perfect pour.
An Introduction to Sake
Sake is a traditional alcoholic beverage made through the brewing and fermentation of water, yeast, and steamed rice.
While we know this particular drink as sake, in Japan sake actually refers to all alcohols. The Japanese word for it is nihonshu, and it has been poured all over the country for more than 2,500 years.
Unlike what most people believe, there’s not one single type of sake but almost countless, and the proper temperature at which the drink should be served varies greatly by its type. Some sake is best served cold, while others are slightly warmed in an earthenware bottle before being enjoyed.
Sake is served in a small porcelain cup, known as sakazuki, and has a much higher alcohol percentage than beer or wine, ranging between 15% and 20%.
I generally use Viator and Get Your Guide to book tours around the world. I especially recommend them for their great cancellation policy. You can cancel most activities up to 24 hours in advance and get a full refund.
Would you like the short version? These are the top tours:
| THE BEST TOUR | 3 Hours Kyoto Insider Sake Experience |
| PRIVATE TOUR | Japanese Sake Breweries Tour in Fushimi Kyoto |
| NIGHT TOUR | Kyoto Bar Hopping Night Tour |
OUR PICK: The BEST Kyoto Sake Tasting Experience
Dive into the world of sake in Kyoto’s Fushimi Sake District with this 3 Hours Kyoto Insider Sake Experience. This tour takes you to the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, one of the biggest sake breweries in this area, where you’ll uncover the process of brewing this traditional drink.
Then, enjoy a tasting session of a minimum of 10 sake drinks, as your guide (a certified sake sommelier) enlightens you on the diverse flavors and varieties, from dry to sweet, rich, and fruity. You’ll be provided with a tasting note and cheat sheet, so you can note down your favorites.
Plus, you’ll enjoy traditional Japanese Otsumami snacks, selected to complement each type of drink. It’s a delightful 3-hour journey of taste and tradition, with admission tickets included.
➤ Why is this the best tour? It allows you to sample a great variety of sake types during an insightful guided tasting session with a certified sake sommelier. You’ll learn to identify the flavors of sake, take all the information with you on the cheat sheet, and dive into the history and cultural significance of the drink.
Read what the reviews say:
“This experience was incredible. We learned so much about Sake through the core tour and tasting, but also through the questions I was able to ask throughout. This tour was perfect. Our guide was very knowledgeable and charismatic, he provided helpful tips that we can take forward in buying and experiencing sake back in the states. Highly recommend this tour.’’
Tyler_L – Read more reviews
This tour includes: A local guide, sake tasting, snacks, and a guided tour. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Other Great Similar Options
▶️ Ready to unravel the mystery of sake? Join a Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour with Lunch and step foot in the place where the magic (or science) happens.
This 3-hour tour takes place in Kyoto’s Fushimi district, where you’ll get a taste of history at the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. The place has been making sake since 1637!
Here, discover the secrets of making Japan’s famous rice wine. See how the techniques have evolved throughout the centuries, and learn how the drink is made today.
The tour also takes you to a smaller local brewery, so you can compare the different scales of production. You’ll enjoy samples of the drink, and then relish a traditional lunch paired with even more sake.
Along the way, you’ll pass by historic sites like Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine and Daigo-ji Temple. It’s as much a cultural trip as it’s a sake experience!
This tour includes: A guide, brewery visits, sake tastings, and lunch. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ Check out this Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour. It operates with small groups, and begins with a visit to the famous Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. There, you’ll discover the art of sake brewing, as professionals explain the process and the history of the drink.
Stroll through Fushimi’s brewery district, and gain a different perspective on sake crafting at Kappa Gallery. Cap off the experience in a cozy local bar, savoring up to 20 different flavors of sake paired with snacks. It’s a journey of taste and tradition, all wrapped in a 30-minute adventure!
This tour includes: A guide, brewery visits, entrance fees, and all tastings. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Advanced Sake Tasting in Kyoto for Experts
Get ready to sip on history with the Advanced Sake Tasting Experience. This isn’t your average sake sampling – it’s a journey through ancient brewing secrets and innovative twists.
You will taste sake brewed with old-school techniques, and learn how the making methods have changed. Plus, get a kick from varieties that use unique microorganisms and local wood.
You’ll dive deep into sake’s rich flavors with at least 10 samples, so remember to fuel up with lunch beforehand!
This tour includes: A guide, and all tastings. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Private Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour
Join this Japanese Sake Breweries Tour in Fushimi Kyoto and adventure into the vibrant district with a local.
Get a taste of history at the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, housed in a 200-year-old brewery, and sip on the smooth Fushimizu water, used in the making of sake.
The visit will also be very informational, introducing you to the process behind the drink production. Then, you’ll sample three sake varieties before continuing the trip.
Cruise aboard the Fushimi Jukkokubune boat, and explore Fushimi Sake Village, a sake theme park with about 100 local varieties.
This will be followed by a trip to Kizakura’s Kappa Gallery for sake and beer tasting. Unwind at Fushimi Yume Hyakushu Café with exclusive sake ice cream.
This tour includes: Entrance fees, a guide, a beer, sake tastings, snacks, and a souvenir sake cup. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Bar Hopping Night Tours with Sake
▶️ Plunge into the city’s nightlife with a Kyoto Bar Hopping Night Tour, that will take you to the bustling Pontocho district. This 3-hour tour, led by a local guide, whisks you away to 3 hidden izakayas and bars known only to those from the area.
You’ll immerse yourself in the local scene as you sip on Kyoto-made sake and other drinks, and munch on yakitori or sashimi.
The tour includes various drink and food tastings, ensuring a palate-pleasing journey. So, ready to clink glasses where the locals do?
This tour includes: A guide, 4 drinks, 3-4 dishes, and photos of the trip. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ Step into the city’s night scene with your group on this 3 Hour Private Bar Hopping Experience at Kyoto City. This adventure takes you to elusive bars and izakayas, where you’ll mingle with the locals.
It’s a night of discovery, as you’ll have the opportunity to connect with the authentic side of Kyoto. Visit hole-in-the-wall establishments and bars tourists would never find on their own.
With a group limit of eight people, this experience is customizable to your tastes, though it does not include food and drinks. You’ll have the expertise of a local foodie, and the chance to hang out with Kyoto natives.
Whether it’s a sake-filled izakaya crawl, a ramen feast, or a blend of both with some bar hopping, Kyoto’s night awaits with surprises at every turn!
This tour includes: A guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
