Sake Tasting

Japan · SAKE TASTING

The 15 Best Sake Tastings in Japan

Sake makes sudden sense the first time someone pours a junmai and a daiginjo side by side and lets you taste the difference. Below are the tastings that do exactly that, in Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond, with what each flight costs and which suits a first try versus a deep dive.

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

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1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano - Nishimon Yoshinoya sake tasting: a crash course you can use later

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $151Our pick

Zenko-ji, guided sake tasting, and Jigokudani Snow Monkeys in Nagano, with lunch and transport for a full 8-hour day.

“Our guide Tom was a great guide! He was fun to listen to and super knowledgeable about the locations we visited. He made learning about the history really fun. Zenkoji temple was beautiful and the snack recommendations were on point. Bring ice cleats for trekking up to see the monkeys, the combination of slope, ice and trampled snow makes it very slippery. They do sell cleats onsite but if you bring your own then you dont have to buy more. Tom even took us on a quick walk thru of the nagano station food area and recommended some snacks that were satisfactory purchases 👍🏻 especially after knowing some of the…”

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3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings

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3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings - Stop two at Kyoto Insider Sake Experience: 10 tastings with an expert guide

2.3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $84

3 hours in Kyoto’s Fushimi with a Sake Sommelier: museum context, 10 tastings, and otsumami pairings plus a cheat sheet to order confidently.

“Very interesting and informative. I was able to learn the basics of sake, learn my preference and pairings so I can go home and confidently drink sake. Kyoko was so knowledgable, and enthusiastic which rubbed off on use as well. Would definitely do agian.”

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Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

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Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip - Jigokudani Monkey Park: Snow Monkeys in Hot Springs

3.Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

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

A full-day Nagano trip mixing Zenko-ji Temple, a short food stop, lunch, sake tasting, and Jigokudani Snow Monkeys in winter.

“An incredible experience! Our guides Jake and Hiroshi were fantastic - highly knowledgeable and friendly. They added so much to our experience. Obviously the snow monkeys and Zenkoji temple were amazing. Same tasting was a great break. Lunch was extremely delicious, I feel like they should advertise how good it is more! Overall, an unforgettable day, well worth the price of admission!”

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Kyoto: Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing

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Kyoto: Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing - Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum: how brewing choices shape your glass

Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

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Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour - Teradaya Pass-By: Edo-Era Drama in the Middle of Beer District Walking

5.Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $98

Fushimi Kyoto sake walking tour: Gekkeikan Okura Museum and 18 tastings with a small group, plus photo stops.

“Really enjoyed the Sake museum and learning about how it’s made before sampling. Realized that the sake distillery that the museum is attached to is actually the same sake brand we buy in the states. Our tour guide, Matt, was very knowledgeable and helpful. Loved the 18 samples at the local sake bar and the ability to purchase food from the vendors inside.”

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1.5-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings & Pairings

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1.5-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings & Pairings - Your 1.5-hour plan: what happens from start to finish

6.1.5-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings & Pairings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $68

Kyoto’s Fushimi sake workshop with 7 tastings, otsumami pairings, and a sommelier cheat sheet in a 1.5-hour session.

“Mayo was a wonderful guide to all things sake. The food pairings were a fun way to expand your pallet and give life to the sake. It's a great way to learn more about the art of making sake. The goal was to understand your taste preferences and how to buy sake was achieved. Mayo made this a personal experience that kept the guests engaged and at ease as guests from different groups mixed.”

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Ramen and Sushi Cooking Class with Sake Pairing Set in Tokyo

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Ramen and Sushi Cooking Class with Sake Pairing Set in Tokyo - What Happens During the 3-Hour Class (And Why Each Part Matters)

7.Ramen and Sushi Cooking Class with Sake Pairing Set in Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $79

Hands-on sushi and ramen class in Tokyo with sake pairing. Small group up to 8, English guide, 3 hours, eat what you make.

“An excellent experience. We’ve never done anything like this before but our hosts made us feel immediately at ease. Informative and laid back - they took us from being sous-chefs to sushi masters within a couple of hours. The ramen was less hands on though more customisable - both tasted great. Some good sake choices too.”

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Sake Tasting Masterclass in Shinjuku (8+ Varieties with a Pro)

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Sake Tasting Masterclass in Shinjuku (8+ Varieties with a Pro) - Nishishinjuku meetup: finding it without stress

Kyoto: Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks

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Kyoto: Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks - The 90-Minute Flow: What Happens From Start to Finish

Sake Omakase in Tokyo: Guided Tasting by Certified Sommeliers

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Sake Omakase in Tokyo: Guided Tasting by Certified Sommeliers - Certified sommeliers and the multilingual Q&A that actually helps

Private Tea Ceremony and Sake Tasting in Kyoto Samurai House

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Private Tea Ceremony and Sake Tasting in Kyoto Samurai House - Matcha whisking in Uji style: how the ritual teaches you

Osaka Sake Tasting with Takoyaki Cooking

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Osaka Sake Tasting with Takoyaki Cooking - Your Takoyaki DIY Moment: Your Pan, Your Mix-Ins

12.Osaka Sake Tasting with Takoyaki Cooking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 hours · from $70

Cook Osaka takoyaki from scratch and taste multiple sakes with Momo, a former brewer and sake sommelier, near Namba for $70.

“We had a great time and learnt a lot about sake - how it’s made, the way it’s graded and by tasting different ones finding out what we like. The Takoyaki cooking was brilliant too and was really delicious! Would recommend this experience 😄”

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KOBE Sake Tasting Tour at Breweries (tasting fee included)

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KOBE Sake Tasting Tour at Breweries (tasting fee included) - Stop 1 at Kobe Shushinkan: Fukuju craft since 1751

13.KOBE Sake Tasting Tour at Breweries (tasting fee included)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $109

Kobe Nada sake walking tour with tastings at historic breweries, a tofu stop, and museum visits. Small group, 3.5 hours, guide included.

“Without a doubt this is the tour you are looking for. Welcoming, engaging, and most importantly delicious, this tour gives you a full experience for Japanese sake and how it’s made. Our guide, Romi, was beyond fabulous. For outside reasons Read more”

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Tasting All Types of Sake with Sommelier

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Tasting All Types of Sake with Sommelier - The Sake Bar Stop by Louis Vuitton Shinjuku: Where the Pouring Starts

Osaka Sake Tasting & Takoyaki Cooking Experience

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Osaka Sake Tasting & Takoyaki Cooking Experience - Takoyaki DIY: making Osaka’s grilled octopus balls (and getting help)

New in Sake Tasting

★ 5.0Experience Tasting Fukui’s Local Sake in Lacquered GlassesFrom $19
★ 5.0Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in TokyoFrom $123
★ 4.5Sapporo: Buddha Hill, TV Tower, and Sake Stand Bar TourFrom $1708h 30m
★ 5.0Osaka Home Feast Cooking and Sake ExperienceFrom $91
★ 4.2Nagano: Togakushi Shrine, Sake & Zenkoji Private TourFrom $1908 hours
★ 5.0Tokyo: Private Tsukiji Street Food & Sake with Local GuideFrom $992 hours
★ 5.0Beauty Vegan Dessert Cooking Class + Sake Kasu Hand Mask Trial!From $64
★ 5.0Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day TripFrom $525
★ 5.0Bouldering, Sake and Food, Local Gem Hiroshima Evening TourFrom $143
★ 5.0Sake Tasting in TokyoFrom $87
★ 5.0Snow Monkeys, Hokusai & Sake: A Perfect Day in NaganoFrom $1607 hours
★ 5.0Cultural Sake Brewery Private Tour & Unlimited Tasting Near TokyoFrom $105
★ 5.0Kyoto Luxury Sake, Whisky and Cocktail TourFrom $290
★ 5.0Experience of pairing sake tasting with snacks in KyotoFrom $45
★ 5.0Cherry blossom & Japanese Sake Tasting in ShinjukuFrom $39

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