The 15 Best Temple and Sake Tours in Japan

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 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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2.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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3.Private Nagano 1-Day Tour:Snow Monkeys,Zenko-ji,Obuse,Sake,Onsen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $337

Start at 8:45 am for a private Nagano day with an English-speaking guide. Walk to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, visit Zenko-ji, explore Obuse and the Hokusai Museum, then choose sake tasting or Shibu Onsen. Private-car and public-transport options are available.

“Our tour guide, Emi was absolutely wonderful! So kind and full of knowledge. The visit to see the snow monkeys was an unforgettable experience-felt like you were in a National Geographic magazine! I highly recommend booking this activity.”

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4.Takayama: Authentic Sake Tasting at a Historic Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $50

Spend about 30 minutes at Hirase Shuzo Brewery in central Takayama. An English-speaking guide explains sake production, shows the brewery facilities and kura, then leads a tasting for visitors aged 20 and above. Groups are capped at 15, though smaller groups are common.

“Sehr kompetente und interessante Tour über die Sale Herstellung (gute Schautafeln), fachkundig erklärt. Verkostung von verschiedenen Sake und aromatisierten Getränken (z.B. Plaumwein auf Sake Basis). Leider nur eine Brauerei (Hirase).”

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5.Takayama: Authentic Sake Tasting at a Historic Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 50 reviews · 30 min · from $51

Meet near the Tours & Activities sign, then join an English-speaking host such as Takumi at a historic Takayama brewery. Learn how cold winters and mountain water shape local sake, then taste five selections. The visit takes about 30 minutes and suits beginners.

“Informative guide who made the tour fun. Learnt lots of new things about sake.”

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6.Snow Monkey, Zenko Ji Temple, Sake in Nagano Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 42 reviews

This private 8 to 10-hour Nagano tour links Zenko-ji Temple, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, a local lunch stop, and Obuse. An English-speaking guide or driver-guide such as Bhatti, Ahmed, or Waheed handles transport for up to six people. Expect walking, extra entry fees, and a flexible day.

“Visiting the snow monkeys was amazing and highly recommend. However be warned that this is in no way a wheelchair accessible, stroller accessible or if you’re unfit in any way physically to go, as it requires you to walk 1.25 miles each way in muddy/wet terrain and colRead more”

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7.Historic Kanda Sake Tasting at Tokyo’s Oldest Shop (1596)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 33 reviews · 2 hours · from $38

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kanda Station for a short walk through the Kanda West Exit shopping street, then visit Toshimaya Rita-Shop, founded in 1596. Taste about seven seasonal sakes, learn how they differ, and browse bottles to take home. Small groups are limited to 10 adults.

“excellente visite ! j'ai terminé mon voyage avec la dégustation de saké, des explications claires un anglais excellent un beau moment partagé”

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8.1-Day Winter Tour From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $150

Travel from Nozawa Onsen with an English-speaking local guide to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, and Nishinomon-Yoshinoya Brewery. The day includes park admission, lunch, temple guiding, sake tasting, and transport, with guides such as Jens and Yama leading past tours.

“We had a great day out with Yama! We loved that there were only two large groups. The monkeys were great fun to watch and the walk through snow laden pines to see them was lovely! Lunch was a welcome surprise and we really enjoRead more”

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9.From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys and Zenko-ji Day Trip & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 13 reviews · 10 hours · from $135

Spend 10 hours with an English-speaking guide such as Endo, Lin, Kieron, or Yama, visiting the Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji, and a local sake stop. You’ll get transport, lunch, park entry, and tasting for $135, but expect a snowy forest walk and several hours on the bus.

“This trip and guide exceeded all expectations! Yama was a friendly local beekeeper guide, who was informative and very attentive to the group. It was amazing to be so close to the monkeys in such a beautiful location. I recommend trackers for your shoes for this tour. The monkeys wandered in between us and the little ones ran around playing and bathing! We did the snow monkey tour with a fantastic local cuisine lunch in a 200 year old farm house, visit to Nagano (beautiful town - be sure to walk the dark monk trail in the temple) and sake sampling. Highly recommend this tour for a taste of the…”

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10.World Heritage Himeji Castle & Sake Breweries Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $101

Spend three hours with a bilingual guide at Himeji Castle, then visit Nadagiku Sake Brewery for a private tasting. The tour includes Otemon Gate, castle history, virtual reality elements, local transport, and time for questions. Guides named in guest feedback include Haruna and Nancy.

“The Himenji Castle and Sake Tour was an amazing experience. We took the Shinkasen Train from Kyoto to Himenji and then a short walk from the Himenji Station to meet our guide. The Himenji Castle and grounds was immersive, large, inforRead more”

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11.Nagano: Snow Monkey and Zenkoji Temple Free Sake Taste Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews

You travel by private air-conditioned vehicle from Tokyo to northern Nagano for Zenkoji Temple, Obuse, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, and Matsumoto Castle. The tour is designed for up to five people, with a driver or driver-guide, a woodland walk to the monkeys, and a sake tasting stop. Expect a very long day.

“We had an incredible experience on this tour! Our guide was very well-versed in English and shared fascinating insights about Japanese culture, history, and traditions throughout the day. He was friendly, approachable, and made the experience both informative and enjoyabRead more”

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12.Tokyo Izakaya crawl (A tour of 2 izakayas, 1 bar, and a shrine)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $32

Join pilot-guide Tomoki for about three and a half hours through Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, Golden Gai, and Hanazono Shrine. You visit two izakayas and one bar, pay for food and drinks in yen, and receive edited photos and video afterward. The tour is private to your group.

“Excellent tour and so friendly, such a great host. Best way to see nightlife in japan and experience food.”

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13.Explore Matsumoto: Castle, Sake & Taste of Local Life

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 6 reviews · from $112

Meet your English-speaking guide, often Masa, at Matsumoto Station for a fast-paced walk to the 16th-century castle, a local sake brewery, Nawate Street, and Nakamachi. Castle entry, sake, snacks, local food tips, and post-tour photos are included.

“Great guide, and interesting areas. Saki tasting in 400 year with old Saki company was exceptional.”

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14.Private Matsumoto Castle & Sake – Taste of Local Life

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $226

Spend three personal hours in Matsumoto with an English-speaking guide such as Matsu or Masa. Visit the 16th-century national treasure Matsumoto Castle, stroll Nawate and Nakamachi streets, then stop at a local sake brewery. Castle admission is included, while drinks and snacks cost extra.

“We had a wonderful relaxing afternoon spent with our guide Matsu. He was very courteous and provided us with lots of information about the area and the sites we were seeing. He also saved us over an hour waiting in line time by purchasinRead more”

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15.Sake Heritage Nagoya Brewer’s Insights and Tastings tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $208

Meet your English-speaking guide at Shin-Moriyama Station for a short taxi ride to Tōshun Shuzō, a 160-year-old family brewery. Tour its Edo-period kura, learn brewing methods from the tōji, taste three sakes, and take home a bottle of the signature label.

“A very informative tour, that will lead you through history of sake making, up until the modern process at the local brewery. Every step is interestingly explained and you are able to even try and taste the different stages of sake.”

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