Kyoto’s rich sake heritage makes it an ideal place to experience Japan’s famous drink. You’ll find something here to suit your taste, from Kyoto sake-tasting sessions paired with food to brewery tours.
I live near Kyoto and have often visited Fushimi — Kyoto’s sake district. I’ve carefully selected the best experiences, which all include sake tasting.
After reading this, you’ll find a Kyoto sake tour most suitable for you. Let’s dive straight in!
Not sure what experience to take? Compare features and prices with my at a glance guide.
Price per person based on two people attending a tour: $ = up to $99; $$ = between $101 & $149; $$$ = $150+. Some tours offer discounted rates for groups of more people.
And discover more food, drink and gourmet market adventures with my recommended Kyoto food tours.
1. Kyoto Sake Insider Brewery Tour & Tasting with Food Pairing
Discover sake through a tasting session with food pairing and a brewery tour in Fushimi, Kyoto’s historic sake district. Deep dive into Japan’s most famous drink with a knowledgeable and friendly Kyoto sake insider guide.
Enjoy a memorable all-one-sake experience on this highly-acclaimed and excellent value Kyoto sake tour.
- Taste 10 different kinds of sake, including dry, sweet, cloudy, freshly squeezed, classic style and new types
- Savour selected Japanese otsumami (snacks paired with alcohol) to enhance the sake-tasting session
- Experience a Kyoto sake brewery tour and museum with an insider guide
- Learn about sake’s rich culture and the Fushimi sake district’s history
- Includes: Sake tasting (10 types) with paired snacks, sake brewery and museum and Fushimi sake district walking tour with an English-speaking guide, plus sake tasting notes and cheat sheet to take home
- Location: Fushimi
- Duration and start time: 3 hours, 10am or 3pm
2. Kyoto Sake Insider Experience: Sake Tasting and Snacks
Explore the world of sake, tasting seven types and snacks with a local Kyoto sake insider. Try different sake like you’ve never tasted before in this tasting session.
Enjoy a fun and educational sake experience in Fushimi, Kyoto — one of Japan’s most famous sake districts.
- Taste 7 varieties of sake, including dry, sweet, rich and fruity
- Discover your favourite style of sake with insider information to take home
- Savour selected otsumami (Japanese drinking snacks) paired with your drink
- Learn how sake is produced with a Kyoto sake connoisseur
- Includes: Tasting 7 different sake and paired snacks with a local sake expert, and tasting notes and cheat sheet to take home
- Location: Fushimi
- Duration and start time: 1.5 hours, 1.30pm
3. Advanced Kyoto Sake Tasting Experience
Savour ten unique sake and explore the latest trends in Japan with a sake master. Try special local Kyoto sake and unique varieties produced throughout Japan.
Enjoy an exclusive sake journey with a knowledgeable, passionate and highly-rated guide.
- Taste 10 exceptional sake brewed from contemporary styles to traditional methods
- Discover sake accompanied by tasting notes you wouldn’t find yourself
- Uncover sake brewing techniques that aren’t well-known outside of Japan
- Suitable for sake lovers and those interested in learning more about Japan’s most famous drink
- Includes: 10 types of sake tasting with a local English-speaking sake expert and tasting notes
- Location: Fushimi
- Duration and start time: 2 hours, 6.30pm
Compare Kyoto Sake Tasting and Brewery Tours: At a Glance Guide
Compare Kyoto sake tour features and price with my at a glance guide. Click each tour for more information or jump straight ahead and book!
| Sake Tasting | Other Tour Features |
Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour 1 | ✔ | Food pairing Sake brewery museum Fushimi walking tour Tasting notes Cheat sheet |
$$ | Book >> |
| Tour 2 | ✔ | Food pairing Tasting notes Cheat sheet |
$ | |
| Tour 3 | ✔ | Advanced sake tasting Tasting notes |
$ | |
| Tour 4 | ✔ | Private & personalised Sake brewery museum Fushimi walking tour |
$$$ | |
| Tour 5 | ✔ | Sake brewery museum Fushimi walking tour |
$$ |
Price per person based on two people attending a tour: $ = up to $74; $$ = between $75 & $99; $$$ = $100+. Some tours offer discounted rates for groups of more people.
4. Private Kyoto Sake Tour: Fushimi District and Sake Tasting
Explore Kyoto’s Fushimi sake district with sake tasting on a private tour. Enjoy a fascinating and well-rounded sake experience with optional customisation.
Discover Kyoto’s sake culture at one of Japan’s most-renowned sake areas.
- Taste 4 different kinds of sake and find your favourite
- Visit a sake brewery museum and an old local inn
- Learn about sake and the Fushimi district’s history on a walking tour
- Private group tour with the option to customise or go with your guide’s recommendations
- Includes: Private and personalised Kyoto sake tour, including 4 types of sake tasting, sake brewery museum and Fushimi walking tour with a local guide
- Location: Fushimi
- Duration and start time: 2.5 hours, flexible start time
5. Kyoto Sake Brewery and Tasting Tour
Enjoy a fun and full sake brewery and tasting adventure in Fushimi, Kyoto. Discover the world of sake in one of Japan’s most famous brewery districts.
Sake lovers will be in their element during this wonderful experience.
- Learn about the sake brewing process at Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum
- Stroll around Fushimi, a laid-back and atmospheric district of Kyoto
- Visit centuries-old sake breweries, a hidden sake bar and a local shrine
- Enjoy tasting 22 types of sake throughout the day
- Includes Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum (and admission fee) and sake breweries, sake tasting session and walking tour around Fushimi
- Location: Fushimi, Kyoto
- Duration and start time: 3 hours, 1.30pm
Sake Tasting and Brewery Tours in Kyoto
Kyoto has a reputation for producing high-quality sake which continues to this day.
The Kyoto district of Fushimi is famous throughout Japan for brewing sake. Visitors to the Fushimi Inari shrine would be wise to take a sake tasting and brewery tour.
Plenty of clean water from its underground springs is the foundation of Fushimi’s sake. Today almost 40 breweries exist. The district has retained its character through the preservation of old brewery buildings.
A sake tasting and brewery tour in Kyoto is a journey itself to the heart of Japanese culture.