Private Tour
Sake Brewery and Japanese Life Experience Tour in Kobe
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Sake breweries are scattered in the Nada area, where the area is known as one of the best sake breweries in Japan.
Several breweries are open to the public, and they are popular with tourists because they offer tours of the production process and free tastings.
Sake brewing in Nada has been active since the Edo period and now accounts for about 30% of Japan's total sake production.
The location, climatic environment, quality of rice, and water are just perfect to brew sake in Nada. Those are essential for sake brewing, and the craftsmanship has been handed down from generation to generation with its techniques.
This tour will not only introduce a sake brewery and tasting but will also introduce you to the food culture using sake, strolling through local shopping streets.
By learning about the efforts of the people involved in sake brewing, as well as feeling the daily lives in the area, you will be able to understand the appeal of sake.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All transportation costs, entrance fees, food and drink costs, etc. incurred at the visited spots, will be borne by the customer.
Under the age of 20 are not allowed to drink in Japan.
Tour finishing spot is different from starting spot. Please let your tour guide know if you would like to change the finishing spot.
Please understand that tour spots might be changed to alternative spots in case of temporary closure.
This tour does not include a dining spot.
If the weather is bad on the day, there is a possibility that the means of transportation, destinations, and routes may be changed.
Please wear comfortable clothing as you will be walking a lot.
Some of the spots we will visit on the day do not accept credit cards. Please remember to bring cash.
If you are unable to make it to the meeting point by the start time, there is a possibility that we might not be able to provide the full experience this tour has to offer, due to the time taken to get to the meeting point via public transport. Please ensure that you have ample time to get to the meeting point on time.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum: This is a museum that was built in the early Taisho era. The museum displays the traditional sake brewing process and operations, and visitors can learn about the brewing process as well as see the historical architecture. You can also enjoy sake tasting.
Kobe Shushinkan Brewery
Kobe Shushinkan: This is also a sake brewery that has been in business for 250 years, since the Edo period. The brewery produces Fukuju, which is drunk at Nobel Prize -dinners and is highly regarded both in Japan and abroad. Find your favorite flavor at the tasting corner and make it your souvenir.
What‘s Included
Private Tour
Tour Guide
The necessary expenses for the guide during the tour
Estimated Costs of the Tour: 530 JPY per Person
Breakdown: Transportation: 530 JPY, Admission Fees: 0 JPY, Meal costs: 0 JPY per Person
Optional Experience Costs: 0 JPY per Person
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
Options
Sake Brewery and Japanese Life Experience Tour in Kobe
Reviews
39 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Soaking up the sake knowledge
Simon W,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday strolling around Kobe. We had to pivot early due to an unexpected closure, but that was just a small bump in what was otherwise a most enjoyable journey through the sake houses around Kobe. To top it off we also had a wonderful lunch. A wonderful experience and great way to spend a few hours expanding my knowledge of sake and trying the many varieties we don’t have in Australia. Was easy and cheap to get there on the train from Osaka, just jump on a suburban train and in 35mins you are in the thick of the Nada sake area.
Tasty and Informative
charlesjT9465XD,,Aug 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Norio is a very knowledgeable guide. He was able to explain the Sake making process in great detail. He could also answer my technical questions about Fermentation. 10/10
Our Guide was great & flexible with this tour. We really enjoyed ourselves while learning about Sake brewing.
Leticia L,,Aug 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was great! We enjoyed this tour which showed traditional and modern Sake brewing techniques. I would definitely recommend.
A must do when you are in Kobe!
Eva R,,Aug 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had such a good time touring with our very knowledgable guide Norio. We visited 2 breweries (and one excellent museum) and he took us through all the different steps of making sake and explained us why/how Kobe still today produces very high quality sakes. Norio also showed us a very local market with fresh produce, meat, fish and lots of snacks. No tourists around ! Be prepared for a long walk ;-) Spring and autumn are probably a better time than summer.
Excellent Experience!
Emilee F,,Aug 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was fabulous! I absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in the history and creation of Sake. Take this tour with Norio, he was amazing!!
Excellent Tour!
95emileef,,Aug 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Norio’s tour was fabulous! Incredibly insightful and an overall fantastic experience! Everyone should try out this tasting tour!
Tomoko is a gem!
Busy Mum04,,Jun 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tomoko was super punctual in meeting us at the station. It ended up as a private tour. Tomoko is super helpful to the extent of helping us snag 2 seats for lunch at a restaurant after the tour ended. She speaks excellent English and is full of nougats of information on both sake and normal Japanese life. Thank you Tomoko - we had a good time.
Sake and sights.
603ClareS,,May 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Yuki san was a very considerate and knowledgeable guide. He changed up the tour on the fly to show me more of Kobe. It was a great experience.
A great day in Kobe
189debrac,,May 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide contacted us the day before the tour to arrange a meeting point. He was prompt and courteous. We visited a sake museum, had a sake tasting, and dined at a delicious restaurant for lunch featuring Kobe beef. Overall a great day!
How sake was made in the old days
dad414,,Apr 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We watched a short 10 minute video and then self toured the museum. LOTS of vats and tools from the old days. Very Interesting. Free sake tasting, sake and plum wine. Large gift shop.
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