KYOTO
Kyoto’s most-loved days out.
The 15 most popular sake tasting & brewery tours in Kyoto. What each one involves, how long it runs, what it costs, and who you book with.
Kyoto’s Gion and Pontocho night food walk with 9+ dishes and 6 sake tastings, a small group, and a guide-led evening meal route.
Most Popular“Wonderful food tour with Rika. Small group, delicious food, sake, history & walking in areas away from tourists. Lots of fun & highly recommend.”
A 3-hour Kyoto sake experience at Gekkeikan Okura with 10 tastings, otsumami pairings, and label tips from certified sommeliers.
“We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at the Sake Insider Tasting Experience. The educators provided great knowledge on many varieties of sake and provided such a relaxing, informative and enjoyable experience all round.”
Walk Kyoto’s Arashiyama highlights: bamboo grove, Okochi Sanso garden, Tenryuji Temple, monkey park views, plus shopping or sake tasting.
“Kevin was my guide and he was absolutely fantastic! Really friendly and took the time to chat to everyone - he was also happy to suggest other things to do in Kyoto and how to avoid the crowds. This is really a full morning with lots of things to see but also opportunities to sit…”
A 3-hour Kyoto tour in Fushimi where you learn sake brewing, taste 10+ styles, and pair it with otsumami so you can order confidently.
“Excellent sake tasting tour. Super knowledgeable and lots of sake to taste”
Walk Fushimi’s breweries with a small group, tour Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, and taste 18+ Kyoto sakes on a 3-hour guided route.
“It was very fun. Matt, our tour guide, was great. Perfect person to have a Sake with as he truly enjoys a good Sake. His historical knowledge of the area and of the process behind the brewing was impressive. Be prepared to enjoy a good amount of Sake!”
A 90-minute Fushimi sake tasting with 7 pours and otsumami pairings. Learn what to order with a sommelier-led cheat sheet.
“Difficult to find this location but once inside, it was a nice venue. Our taxi driver had some challenges finding the place”
Kyoto insider sake tasting with 7 pours and snacks. Learn brewing, compare styles, pair with otsumami, and order with confidence.
“Mayo was our saki sommelier and she was engaging and very knowledgeable. Her selection of tastings was excellent providing different saki with a variety of polishing and how it affects the flavor. A great learning experience where you could determine what you personally like. First you did the tasting without food and then you tasted…”
Private tea ceremony in a 300-year-old Kyoto samurai house, plus matcha and sake or whisky tasting, with kimono and katana photos.
“The tea ceremony was beautiful and meditative. Such an incredible cultural experience that was definitely the highlight of our trip. The sake tasting afterwards was really great as well. We did the kimonos as well which I highly recommend! We loved that it was a private experience where you could relax, enjoy, and ask any…”
Kyoto advanced sake tasting compares 10 rare pours with an expert. Learn via bottle-label practice and notes in about 2 hours.
“Sake was excellent. Our instructor was great! Would definitley recommend. There’s a lot to understanding sake. I’m glad I took the class!”
Stroll Kyoto’s Gion at night with a small group, sake in hand, photo help, and stops at Yasaka Pagoda and Yasaka Shrine.
“I was fortunate enough to have a tour that was just myself, as everybody else had gone for the earlier slot. as a result I feel I had a particularly unique experience, but either way the tour was informative and fun and the guide was very good. Would absolutely recommend.”
Walk Kyoto’s Gion after dark with a small guide, learn geisha culture, and hold a sake cup while hitting Yasaka Shrine and more.
“Fun touring all the backstreets of Gion. Guide was very knowledgeable. And great to enjoy local sake along the way. Excellent trip great value.”
Kyoto’s Fushimi sake loop: visit Gekkeikan and Kizakura, then taste 18 sakes in Fushimi Sake Brewery Alley in 150 minutes.
“This Sake tour will definitely be one of the highlights from my trip! Hanae was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide and provided so much historical context to the sake itself, and the area in general.”
Private 2-hour sake tasting in central Kyoto with sommelier Kenji, plus snacks at a standing bar. Learn to taste and order.
“What a great experience. We learned so much from Kenji and enjoyed ourselves immensely. If you're interested in learning about Japanese sake & nihonshu, then this is the tour for you!”
Make a custom pewter sake cup in Kyoto with artisan Kanako, hammering patterns, adding initials, then taking home a usable souvenir.
“This was so much fun. Hands on fun; great host; removed from the business of downtown Kyoto. Would definitely recommend”
Kyoto’s advanced sake tasting in a private room: 10 rare pours, ancient methods, microorganisms, and local wood, with certified sommeliers.
“Great time learnt loads”
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