15 Sake Tastings and Brewery Tours in Kyoto

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

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

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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2.Kyoto: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

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

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.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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4.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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5.1.5-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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6.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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7.Kyoto: Afternoon Japanese Izakaya Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 241 reviews · 3 hours · from $67

Spend three hours at Cooking Sun in central Kyoto learning home-style izakaya dishes with English-speaking instructors such as Yumi and Yumiko. You cook in two rounds, eat what you make, and take home clear recipes for dishes including okonomiyaki, dashi-based foods, savory plates, and dessert.

“This was so much fun! Our instructors were so nice and helpful, the food was delicious, and very authentic. I would highly recommend to anyone that is interested in a Japanese cooking class!”

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8.Izakaya Style Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · from $71

Spend three hours at Cooking Sun in Kyoto learning dashi, sauces, and seasonal izakaya dishes with an English-speaking instructor. You prepare several home-style recipes, eat the meal together, and take the recipes home. Groups are capped at eight.

“Lots of fun cooking many dishes. Well thought out with plenty of cooking assistance. I have allergies and they accommodated me perfectly.”

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9.Private Tea Ceremony and Sake Tasting in Kyoto Samurai House

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 163 reviews · from $99

Spend about 50 minutes privately inside a 300-year-old samurai house, learning the tea ceremony with high-grade organic Uji matcha. Make your own matcha, choose sake or Japanese whisky if you are over 20, and pose in kimono or samurai dress with a katana.

“this was a great experience! house has remained in the same family for 300 years. staff were friendly and helpful. We especially enjoyed the sake tasting after!”

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10.Kyoto: Sake Brewery and Tasting Tour in Fushimi

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

Spend three hours walking Fushimi with an English-speaking guide, learning how Kyoto sake is made, visiting the Gekkeikan Ōkura Sake Museum, and sampling 18 local sakes at Fushimi Saka Gura Kouji. Guides such as Kumi, Yuki, and Shinya also share helpful tips on Japanese culture and food.

“Walking in full sun in 36 degree heat was not that fun”

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11.Advanced Kyoto Insider Sake Tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · from $74

Meet a certified sake expert in Kyoto’s Fushimi Ward for a two-hour tasting of 10 unusual sakes. You’ll compare ancient brewing methods, experimental fermentation, and local-wood aging, then practice reading real restaurant bottles. The small group is capped at 12 and includes tasting notes, but no food.

“Sake was excellent. Our instructor was great! Would definitley recommend. There’s a lot to understanding sake. I’m glad I took the class!”

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12.Kyoto: Gion Evening Walk with Hidden Gems, Geisha & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 1h 30m · from $32

Walk through lantern-lit Gion with an English-speaking local guide, stopping at Hanamikoji Street, Yasui Kompira-gū, Yasaka Pagoda, Ninenzaka, and Yasaka Shrine. The small group is capped at 10, and local sake, photo help, and plain-English stories about Geiko and Maiko are included.

“he was a great guide and very friendly! we had a great tour and the sake was a nice touch”

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13.Kyoto: Gion Geisha District & Sake-in-Hand Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · from $27

Explore Gion and Higashiyama at night with a guide such as Shumpei or Mune. Walk narrow lanes, visit Yasaka Shrine, Yasaka Pagoda, and historic streets, and taste local sake along the way. The tour lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours and is limited to 10 people.

“Mune was a great tour guide who was very friendly and very informative about the area. The sake was also very good!”

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14.Kyoto: 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 in Kyoto’s Fushimi sake district. Visit the Gekkeikan Ōkura Museum, Kizakura Kappa Museum, and Fushimi Saka Gura Kouji, then taste 18 sakes. Guides such as Yoshi, Akino, Kaito, and Masa add local context and practical recommendations.

“This Sake tour will definitely be one of the highlights from my trip! Hanae was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide and provided so much historical context to the sake itself, and the area in general.”

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15.Private Sake Tasting in Central Kyoto with Sake Sommelier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $85

Join certified international sake sommelier Kenji for a private two-hour tasting in central Kyoto. In a no-seats standing bar, you’ll sample hand-selected sake from across Japan, learn how it is brewed, and pair it with traditional Japanese snacks. Groups are limited to one to four people.

“The experience was great Kenji explain my wife and me all about the production of sake, types, materials, etc. Without let out any detail, and answering the questions we made, that were a few. The tasting also great, he explain how to taste and the types we tried to have a great experience, definitely 100% recommended! Thank you Kenji!”

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