The 7 Best Sake Tasting

1.1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,020 reviews · from $151Our pick

Travel from Nagano to Zenko-ji Temple, a local sake tasting, and Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. English-speaking guides such as Tom, Kieran, Nadine, and Endo help explain each stop. Lunch is included, but plan for a steep, icy forest walk to the monkeys, especially in winter.

“We were lucky to have Tom as our guide. He is extremely knowledgeable not only about Japanese history but also gave an excellent summary of sake production and the different types as well as the snow monkeys and Nagano attractions. Tom was also very generous with recommendations for other areas in Japan. The tour was an excellent combination of the temple tour and snow monkey forest. Fantastic lunch included. Plenty of time to see the Zenkoji temple as well as the monkeys. Thanks Tom”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Monkeys, or Secret Sake Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 886 reviews · 5 hours - 330 minutes · from $87

Spend five hours walking through Arashiyama with a bilingual guide such as Karim, Tom, Francis, or Toru. Visit the bamboo grove, Nonomiya Shrine, Okochi Sanso Garden, Tenryuji Temple, and Iwatayama Monkey Park, with an alternate sake brewery and lunch option available on some departures.

“Kevin was my guide and he was absolutely fantastic! Really friendly and took the time to chat to everyone - he was also happy to suggest other things to do in Kyoto and how to avoid the crowds. This is really a full morning with lots of things to see but also opportunities to sit and relax. Would really recommend!! Thanks Kevin”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 833 reviews · 8 - 12 hours · from $135

Join an English-speaking guide such as Dylan, Brent, Tom, or Hiroshi for a full day of Nagano highlights. Visit Zenkoji Temple, taste local sake, enjoy a generous Japanese lunch, and walk the forest trail to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park.

“The trip was incredible! Totally worth the trek out to Nagano from Tokyo. Guides were very informative and accommodating. Would absolutely recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Sake Brewery and Tasting Tour in Fushimi

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 55 reviews · 3 hours · from $96

Walk through Fushimi with a small group of up to nine, visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, see shrines and old sake landmarks, then taste 18 Kyoto-made sakes at a local bar. Guides such as Kumi, Yuki, Nami, and Shinya add useful insight into brewing and Japanese culture.

“what a fantastic tour! i went with my partner and we had a wonderful time. we learnt about sake making, the different types of sake and we got to try a range of sake. Fuji our tour guide was fantastic. very knowledgeable about sake and also willing to answer all of our questions about Japan and its culture. she is a true ode to how fantastic of a country Japan is. go on this tour i can’t recommend it enough.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Fushimi Sake Brewery Tour – 18 Tastings in 2.5 Hours

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 36 reviews · 2h 30m · from $93

Spend 150 minutes with an English or Japanese guide at two historic breweries and Fushimi Sake Brewery Alley. See Gekkeikan’s museum, meet Kizakura’s kappa mascot, and taste 18 sakes. Guides such as Yoshi, Akino, Kaito, and Masa add history, practical advice, and help choosing bottles to take home.

“Our guide Yoshi showed us an amazing time and made our time in Kyoto sake district so amazing. The tour was personalized and He was knowledgeable and made the experience so lively and fun. We tasted at 3 different locations and ended at a restaurant where we tasted and could order small plates. We truly enjoyed our experience and think Yoshi was an amazing guide!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Japanese Sake Breweries Tour in Kyoto Fushimi

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 13 reviews · 3 hours · from $80

Walk Kyoto’s Fushimi sake district with a guide such as Musaki, also called Bob. Visit Gekkeikan, Kizakura, Fushimi Saka Gura Kouji, and local tasting spots, with sake, Kyoto beer, and sake ice cream included. Expect history, production notes, and up to 17 drinks to compare.

“despite rain, spent a great afternoon sampling sake in se eral breweries in Fushimi. enjoyed our guide who previously worked brewing Sake and even went to Kaiser High school in east Oahu close to our home in Hawaii”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Fushimi Sake District Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 10 reviews · 3h 30m · from $54Best value

Spend 210 minutes in Fushimi with an English-speaking guide, visiting a quiet temple, cruising historic canals by Jikkoku-bune boat, tasting sake at Gekkeikan, and resting over coffee in a restored Meiji-era building. Guide Katsuhiko has been praised for explaining both sake and Kyoto’s wider story.

“Very good guide , who was very good at giving an overall history of Kyoto not just the sake industry.”

Check availability →Read our full review