Sake in Japan: The 15 Best Brewery Days and Tastings

Best of Shinjuku: Izakaya Food Tour (4 Stops, 14+ Tastings) - Kabukicho adds street life and another local stop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,863 reviews · from $92Our pick

Join a local guide such as Taiga, Yusuke, Nobu, or Chi for 3.5 hours of food and walking through Shinjuku. You’ll visit four izakaya stops, try 14 or more tastings, enjoy three drinks, and pass through Kabukicho, Golden Gai, and Omoide Yokocho.

“Tiaga was a great host. Great mix of food and a walk around Shinjuku. Food was really tasty and met a nice group of people. Was recommended to us by friends.”

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Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar and Izakaya Guided Walking Tour

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

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

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

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

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

Travel from Nagano to Zenko-ji Temple, a local sake tasting, and Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with an English-speaking guide. Expect a traditional lunch, forest walking, free time at each stop, and a real chance to see macaques near the hot spring. Winter guests from Hakuba can use the shuttle service.

“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”

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

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 917 reviews · from $84

Spend three hours in Kyoto’s Fushimi district with a certified sake sommelier. Visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, then taste 10 sake styles in a private room with otsumami pairings. Guides including Kyoko, Miyuki, Mai, and Shogo explain brewing, labels, flavor, and food matches in clear English.

“We are now Sake fans! Everything about this tour was great! We learned so much. Who would of thought the sake making process to be so fascinating. We really enjoyed the sake samples and food pairing. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We totally recommend this tour.”

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Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

5.Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 890 reviews · from $39

Join an English-speaking guide such as Rika, Nao, Ken, or Yoshi for a three-hour walk through Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai. You will visit small izakaya and bars, order with local help, meet other visitors, and may finish with sake tasting or karaoke. Food and drinks cost extra.

“It was very difficult to find the starting point and the guide. He had no sign. The group was too large to hear what he was telling us. We lost some of the group because too large. Also we didn’t realize we would be sitting down at each spot. We expected a quick stock try a local drink then move on.”

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Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

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

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

Follow an English-speaking guide through Zenkoji Temple, a local sake tasting and a generous Nagano lunch before walking 1.6 km to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Guides such as Dylan, Brent, Tom and Hiroshi add local stories, practical help and humor. Winter pickup from Hakuba is available.

“What a wonderful day! The guides were great and very informative. The transportation was perfect. The meal was amazing. So fun and wonderful.”

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Kyoto: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

7.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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Kyoto: Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing

8.Kyoto: Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 704 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Meet an English-speaking sake expert at Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum in Fushimi. Explore the brewing process, then taste 10 or more sake styles in a dedicated room with otsumami pairings. Guides such as Kyoko, Miyuki, Momo, and Chika explain labels, serving temperatures, flavor, and food matches.

“Kyoko was an excellent tour guide. Not only was she extremely knowledgeable about all things sake, she was a very kind and funny tour guide. Learned so much about sake, its history, and what kind exactly that I would like. Definitely would recommend this tour if you’re interested in sake and its history.”

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Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

9.Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 623 reviews · from $98

Spend three hours in Fushimi, Kyoto’s sake district, learning how sake is made at the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum before tasting up to 18 local varieties at a sake restaurant. Guides such as Matt, Rika, Kumi, and Yukari add history, tasting tips, and personal recommendations.

“Mat was very knowledgeable and super friendly. We appreciated how he explained the history and gave us recommendations of his favorites!”

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Osaka: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

10.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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Shibuya: Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl

11.Shibuya: Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 354 reviews · 3 hours · from $29

Meet your English-speaking guide at Mizuho Bank in Shibuya, then walk to three local bars and izakayas. Expect Japanese food, sake tasting, conversation, and often karaoke. Guides such as Tomomi, Kento, Shota, Miyabi, and Yuna shape the evening around the group.

“booked this tour super last minute due to a change in plans. So glad I did! Shogo was an amazing guide and spoke perfect English. We started off with food and drink in one izakaya and then moved onto a sake bar before ending at karaoke. Our group gelled so well and we had so much fun together that a few of us even went to a club together after! Hghly highly recommend this tour - ask for Shogo you won't regret it”

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

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 297 reviews · from $68

In Kyoto’s Fushimi district, a certified sommelier guides you through seven sake tastings and traditional otsumami pairings in a private room. Guides such as Mayo, Kiyomi, Miyuki, and Greg explain brewing, sake grades, flavors, and food matches in clear English. You leave with tasting notes and a useful ordering guide.

“Just the right amount of time for a little sake education, tasting, and food pairing. Our sake sommelier, Kiyomi, kept us engaged and had a great sense of humor. I would definitely recommend this. It’s not hard to find at all, using Google Maps.”

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Ramen and Sushi Cooking Class with Sake Pairing Set in Tokyo

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · from $79

At Sushi Making Tokyo in Tsukishima, Sato, Alex, Kaori, Taka, or another class leader guides you through sushi, ramen broth, and sake pairing. The three-hour class includes ingredients, drinks, and your meal, with a maximum of eight people and a river-facing setting.

“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)

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 271 reviews · from $72

Meet a sake sommelier in Shinjuku for a two-hour tasting of at least six varieties, often closer to nine or ten, with snacks and food-pairing tips. Guides such as Max, Joe, Tadashi, Andrea, and Megan explain brewing, labels, and ordering in a group capped at eight.

“This is a very fun way to learn about sake and make new friends. The host told us all you could ever want to know about sake . Very highly recommended!!”

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Kyoto: Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks

15.Kyoto: Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 266 reviews · 1h 30m · from $66

Meet an English-speaking sake expert in a dedicated Kyoto tasting room for seven guided pours, Japanese otsumami, brewing basics, and hands-on bottle reading. Guides such as Mayo, Kiyomi, Kotaro, Greg, and Shogo explain hot versus cold sake, food pairing, and how to order with confidence.

“Kiyomi was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable! We learned so much about the intricacies of sake and how the differences in brewing can be tasted. Highly recommend”

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