15 Guided Sake Tours in Japan Worth Booking

1.Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar and Izakaya Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,794 reviews · 3 hours · from $34Our pick

Join an English-speaking local guide such as Nao, Naoya, or Toshi for three hours through Shinjuku’s drinking districts. Visit Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai, pay venue fees upfront, then buy your own food and drinks with cash. Karaoke closes the evening.

“Had a blast! great fun for my 1at night in Tokyo and. As a solo traveller I felt welcomed and included. The group size was not too big so I could really get to know everyone. Our guide was fun and informative.”

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2.Kyoto: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 815 reviews · 3 hours · from $25

Spend three hours walking Kyoto’s Kawaramachi and Kiyamachi districts with an English-speaking local guide such as Moto, Taiga, Mia, or Lyou. Expect several izakaya and bar stops, sake tasting, local food, cultural tips, and an international small-group atmosphere. Food and drinks cost extra.

“Moto was an amazing tour guide! Took us to a really good izakaya and sake tasting bar. Ending the night in a karaoke. 100% would recommend”

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3.Osaka: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 385 reviews · 3 hours · from $19Best value

Spend three hours walking from Dotonbori to Uranamba with an English-speaking local guide such as Taiga, Seina, Kosuke, or Naoko. Visit small izakayas and bars, try sake and local drinks, meet a group of about 5 to 10 people, and learn how Osaka’s nightlife works. Food and drinks cost extra.

“Had a wonderfull time touring the local Izakayas sampling some metcha oishi food and sake. Seina our guide for the tour was kind, informative and made the night a truely fun time. Thanks for the impromptu karaoke session to finish off the night! Okini!”

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4.Sake Omakase in Tokyo: Guided Tasting by Certified Sommeliers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 239 reviews · from $79Top rated

At Sake Studio in central Tokyo, certified sommeliers such as Eric, Aaron, Frank, and Phillip guide you through seven Japan-exclusive sakes across four themed courses. Compare rice styles, temperatures, infusions, and glassware while enjoying pickles, cheese, cured meats, and dessert in a group of six.

“Wonderful - highly recommended. I wanted to understand more about saki and objective definitely achieved!”

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5.Kobe: Guided Sake Breweries Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 3h 30m · from $106

Spend 210 minutes with an English-speaking guide such as Hiro or Romi exploring Kobe’s Nada sake district. Visit three or four breweries, taste several sake styles, see traditional brewing tools, and stop for fresh tofu. Expect about 4 km of walking and a small group of up to 10 people.

“I am currently traveling the world by ship CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM, and this tour has become one of the most memorable pages of my journey. Even though I gained a deep understanding of the sake brewing process and sake knowledge, the experience was never boring. Our guide, Hiro, with her warmth and great sense of humor, made the tour truly enjoyable. It was clear that she and her team are loved by the brewery staff — they even prepared a private tasting space just for our group! We also had the rare opportunity to speak directly with a master brewer, which made the experience even more special. A heartfelt thank you…”

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6.In Fukuoka! Guide to an izakaya only 100% locals know/Bar Hopping

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · from $264

Join a local guide such as Yu for a three-hour evening in Tenjin, visiting two izakaya for fish, yakitori, and Fukuoka drinks. Your guide handles ordering and explains local customs, making this a useful first-night choice if Japanese menus and bar etiquette feel intimidating. Food and drink fees are extra.

“I had a lovely time joining Yu’s tour. She managed to show me the area with lots of bars and brought me to two izakaya which are very different. She’s a fun and social guide, made this tour experience wonderful.”

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7.Tokyo Ginza Authentic Food Tour (Izakaya Hopping by local guide)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $175

Join local guide Ryo at 5 p.m. for a three to four-hour food walk through Yurakucho and Ginza. You’ll visit three izakayas, taste 8 to 10 Japanese dishes, sample four drinks, and finish near Ginza Station. The group is limited to six people.

“After doing 4 food tours in Japan and counties around the world, I can say that this experience with Ryo was one of my favorite. Especially comparing to the ones that I did in Osaka and Kyoto - the quality of food shared during this tour throuRead more”

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8.Hiroshima: Saijo Sake Tasting at 7 Breweries Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 29 reviews · 2 hours · from $90

Meet your English-speaking guide at Saijo Station and walk through Hiroshima’s famous sake district. Taste several styles at up to seven breweries, learn how local water and rail links shaped the town, and ask guides such as Gordon, Ami, or Kiyoshi for help choosing bottles to take home.

“We enjoyed the knowledge of our guide Ron whom had answers to all our sake related questions. Although we had a timing issue, Rom managed to make the most of the time we had with the opening hours of the breweries.”

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9.3.5h Osaka Night guided Local Bar Hopping, Sake & Karaoke

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · 3h 30m · from $40

Join Ryoko or another BITE ME OSAKA guide for 3.5 hours around Namba. You will share izakaya dishes, sample several sakes, learn temple customs at Hozenji, and finish at a local karaoke snack bar with all-you-can-drink beverages. Expect a small group of up to 10.

“Our last night in Osaka with guide was amazing! Thank you so much! I liked your lovely gift too.”

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10.Exploring Nada Sake Breweries Kobe Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $154

Spend about six hours exploring Kobe’s Nada sake district with a licensed English-speaking guide such as Norio Oki, Andy, or Yama-san. Choose three or four stops from eight breweries and museums, learn old and modern brewing methods, and add lunch or tastings at your own cost.

“Great walking tour of the Kobe area to several breweries. Got a solid history behind the process of making sake, and also some great views of downtown Kobe. Andy was a great host and super accommodating to the many last minute changes that I had made to the original booking. Highly recommend!”

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11.Takayama Local Cuisine, Food & Sake Cultural Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $154

Spend about six hours walking Takayama with a government-licensed English-speaking guide such as Mitsu or Yoko. Choose three or four sights and focus on food, sake, crafts, or local history, with morning markets, Sanmachi Suji, miso, and brewery visits available.

“We had a good time with Yoko. She met us promptly at 9AM at our hotel and tailored an itinerary according to our interests which is in a mix of food, culture, and arts and crafts. As a native Japanese, her english was quite good and we Read more”

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12.Tokyo Sake Tour with a Local Guide, Private & Tailored to Your Taste

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 12 reviews · from $128

Spend three hours exploring Shinjuku’s sake bars with a private local host. You’ll taste six sake samples, share small dishes, compare styles from different regions, and may visit Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai, or a sake shop. The exact route depends on your interests and opening hours.

“Hiroto did a great job showing me around Shibuya and lined up two unique spots to taste local beers and plenty of sake.”

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13.Sake “Omakase” in Osaka : Guided Tasting by a Active Sake brewer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $71

At Sake Pairing Bar Potan in Fukushima, active brewer and owner Yuki guides you through seven sakes, three styles, rice varieties, and temperature changes. You’ll learn brewing basics, taste three seasonal Japanese dishes, and finish with a personal sake preference diagnosis in a small group of up to 10.

“Yuki, the host, isn’t just a sake bar owner, he’s also an active sake brewer with real brewery experience. His explanations were super clear and easy to follow, even for someone like me who’s not very familiar about sake. The tasting taught me Read more”

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14.Hiroshima Saijo Sake Tasting Guided Tour – 7 Breweries in 2 Hours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $73

Walk Saijosakagura-dori with a guide such as Ram, Emoke, or Masa, tasting sake at seven Saijo breweries in about two hours. Learn how local water, rice, and brewing traditions shape each pour. The route is compact, the group is capped at six, and extra tastings may be available for an added fee.

“We had a wonderful time. Our guide Emoke, was very helpful and amiable. We learned a lot about sake and enjoyed seeing how the process works. My only recommendation would be to start the tour at the brewery where we ended as it Read more”

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15.Cruise Shore Excursion: Kobe Sake Tasting with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 6 hours · from $141

Spend six hours with an English-speaking guide such as Alyssa, traveling from Kobe’s cruise terminals to Nada’s sake district, Chinatown, historic shopping streets, shrines and Meriken Park. Sake tasting, admissions and public transport are included, while lunch and other food are your choice.

“Allysa was an excellent guide. Great pre-trip communication. She met us at the port as we debarked our cruise and we visited the Sake Museum, Japanese Garden, temples and she picked a fabulous place to stop for lunch - and even chose a lovely street vendor for us to have some Kōbe steak. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to you if you want a local tour with a guide with brilliant English.”

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