15 Guided Sake Days in Japan

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

3.3-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

4.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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Kyoto: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

5.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

6.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

7.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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Düsseldorf: Sushi, Sake & Japanese Lifestyle Tour

8.Düsseldorf: Sushi, Sake & Japanese Lifestyle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 539 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Meet at Clayton Hotel Düsseldorf for a two-hour German-language walk through Immermannstraße. Patrizia, Julia, or another guide leads you to Japanese food shops, bakeries, bookshops, manga, and four vegetarian-friendly samples, including sushi and sweets.

“Organisatorisch verlief die Tour planmäßig, und Patrizia war freundlich, doch der Informationsgehalt reichte nicht aus, um einen fundierten Einblick in die japanische Kultur Düsseldorfs zu vermitteln. Viele wichtige Details wurden ausgelassen oder unzutreffend dargestellt, wodurch die Tour leider enttäuschend wirkte. Es gab zudem falsche Aussagen. Ich selbst war bereits im Nagya essen und kann bestätigen, dass die Behauptung, man zahle dort 700 € pro Person, nicht stimmt. Themen wie japanische Friseure, Schneidereien und Wäschereien wurden oder gar nicht behandelt. Beim Matcha Café Wakaba, dem ersten reinen Matcha-Café der Stadt (gegründet ca. 2017/2018), fehlten Hintergrundinformationen. St...”

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Osaka: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

9.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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Tokyo: The Best of Izakaya in Shinjuku Food & Cultural Tour

10.Tokyo: The Best of Izakaya in Shinjuku Food & Cultural Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 221 reviews · 3 hours · from $129

Spend an evening with an English-speaking guide such as Joe, Max, Chizuru, or Ayaka, walking through Shinjuku before eating 14 or more Japanese dishes at local izakayas. Expect sashimi, chicken skewers, croquettes, sake, and enough food for dinner in a group of no more than 10.

“Sabian was a great and hilarious guide! highly recommend tour to anyone interested!”

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Tokyo: Shibuya Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

11.Tokyo: Shibuya Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 218 reviews · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at 8 p.m. near Shibuya Station for a three-hour walk through Shibuya Crossing, Miyashita Park, and Center-gai. Expect local bars, izakaya dishes, sake, and possibly karaoke. Guides such as Kota, Ken, Riku, Sora, and Momoko are often praised for energy and personal help.

“Kota was an incredible guide! He was really energetic and kept the mood of the tour high from minute one. He was definitely the best tour guide we've had in Tokyo. He was also really knowledgeable about everything we did and & gave some awesome travel tips for the area afterward. Definitely book this tour when you're in Tokyo!”

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[1 Group Only] Osaka Street Food Tour for Family

12.Osaka Street Food Tour for Family

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 208 reviews · from $66

Spend three hours with a private guide such as Ben, Bao, Mizuki, or Taro, exploring Shinsekai and Namba by foot. You’ll visit local eateries, try takoyaki and kushikatsu, enjoy one drink, and use your guide’s English translations to order beyond the tourist menu.

“Ben was amazing! We definitely visited places we would never have seen or experienced on our own. One of a kind.”

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Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar Hopping Walking Tour

13.Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar Hopping Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 186 reviews · from $118

Join a local guide such as Haru or Yo for three hours of Shinjuku food and nightlife. Visit izakayas near Omoide Yokocho and Kabukicho, then finish with four sake tastings in Nishishinjuku. Dinner, drinks, and a small group are included.

“We really enjoyed this tour - Haru took us to some great pubs we wouldn’t have otherwise found, in a neighborhood that we found to be confusing to navigate on our own.”

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KOBE Sake Tasting Tour at Breweries (tasting fee included)

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 154 reviews · from $109

Spend about 3.5 hours walking Kobe’s Nada Gogo with an English-speaking guide such as Hiro, Romi, or Aki. Visit working breweries and sake museums, taste several styles worth ¥2,000, stop at a local tofu shop, and enjoy cooling breaks between tastings. The route may change with brewery opening days.

“Hiro met us right on time at the meet up spot. She had frozen water and umbrellas for everyone because it was so hot that day. Hiro took us to 3 sake breweries— each unique in their size, their methods, and their distinctive flavors. Hiro was able to answer all our questions and made us feel right at home in Kobe. The sake was tasty and the tour was fun! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to see Kobe with a local guide.”

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[1 Group Only] Tokyo Shinjuku Food Tour for Family

15.Tokyo Shinjuku Food Tour for Family

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 147 reviews · from $66

Spend three private hours in Shinjuku with a local guide such as Yosuke, Akari, Ken, or Atsu. Make okonomiyaki and monja-yaki, sample yakitori, visit Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai, play arcade games, take Purikura photos, and add sake tasting for adults.