Sake is an essential part of Japanese food culture. Sake breweries across the country are working hard every day to create new forms of sake, while at the same time preserving tradition. This tour will visit Nara, which is closely related to the roots of sake. Visitors will learn about the evolution of sake brewing from ancient times to the present, and enjoy the rich individuality of sake and the local food culture while engaging in dialogue with the brewers.

Japanese sake culture tour ~Sake tasting tour of breweries, shrines and temples related to sake~

Nara

Experience details

LocationNara
Days availableMondays~Fridays (excluding holidays)
Time【Day trip】08:30~18:30
【Overnight stay】2 days 1 night
Duration【Day trip】Approx. 10 hours
【Overnight stay】2 days 1 night
Participants2〜6 people
GuideIncluded
LanguagesEnglish, Japanese
Starting pointJR Nara Station, in front of the ticket gate
Finishing pointDay trip: JR Gojo Station (Nara Prefecture, Gojo city)
Overnight stay: Yanaseya (Nara Prefecture, Gojo city)
Product numberX-010
  • Special tasting experience with more than 10 different types of sake and sake-based liqueurs
  • Exchange time with sake brewers to hear their thoughts on sake brewing
  • A special lunch with sake pairings
  • A visit to the oldest existing sake brewery facility, passed down for more than 1,000 years
  • A commentary on the historical background of sake by a priest at the temple from which sake originated

The Japanese sake culture tour takes you on a journey through the historical Nara region, mapping the roots and evolution of Japanese rice wine

From countless tangible historical and cultural assets of ancient Nara to legally protected buddhist structures, Nara has no shortage of historical objects and World Heritage sites. Nara Prefecture is also deeply related to Japanese sake, an indispensable part of the cuisine, with a shrine that has been manufacturing sake for over 1000 years, or a temple that is believed to be where sake originates from.

The trip begins at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, which enshrines the gods that protect the ancient capital of Heijo-kyo. The shrine priest will explain the history of the shrine and its relationship to sake in ancient times. At Shoryakuji Temple, you will be taken on a journey through the rich natural surroundings to discover the history behind the creation of today's sake brewing methods.
What’s next in store for you is a privately rented VIP room at Ume no Yado, where you will get no enjoy tasting sake and liqueurs made from sake brewed in a state-of-the-art facility, followed by an incredible course meal professionally paired with sake.
Last but not least, you will get to visit a sake brewery, Yamamoto Honke in Gojo city, frequented by samurai warriors over 300 years ago. Here you will have an opportunity to learn about the old techniques as viewed from the current brewmaster.

<Tour contents>
・Special sake tasting experience with more than 10 varieties of sake and sake liqueurs
・Enjoy a course meal specially designed for this tour, paired with sake
・Meet and mingle with the brewers who continue the tradition of sake brewing at a sake brewery that has been in business for more than 300 years.
・A commentary on ancient sake by a priest at the oldest brewery building in Japan
・Tour the otherwise inaccessible brewery at the temple where sake originated.

Plan overview

【Day trip】 Japanese sake culture tour

・Special sake tasting experience with more than 10 varieties of sake and sake liqueurs
・Hear about the impressions of sake making directly from the brewers
・Enjoy a special lunch including sake pairing
・Visit the oldest brewery with over 1000 years of history
・Learn about the historical background of sake from the monks of the temple from where sake is said to originate

1 person
526.50USD~

【Overnight stay】Japanese sake culture tour

・Special sake tasting experience with more than 10 varieties of sake and sake liqueurs
・Hear about the impressions of sake making directly from the brewers
・Special meal with sake pairing
・Overnight stay at a traditional house in a preserved historical district
・Learn about the sake making process from history to its present day form

  • With dinner / without breakfast
  • 17:30
1 person
810.00USD~

Meeting Place

Get Directions from Google Maps

Address

Nara, Sanjo Honmachi 1-1

Access

JR Nara Station, in front of the ticket gate

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