Best Sake Tastings Around the World — Our Top 6

1.Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,762 reviews · from $163Our pick

Spend about three and a half hours eating your way through Gion and Pontocho with a local guide. Expect Kyoto vegetables, regional dishes, small bars, Japanese sake, and plenty of neighborhood history. Groups are limited to seven. Guides such as Jimmy, Kumi, Rika, Yuki, and Emma are praised for making the evening friendly and easy to follow.

“Ok experience. The guide was knowledgeable about the area. Too much politics were discussed for my taste,”

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2.Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 623 reviews · from $98

Spend about three hours in Fushimi learning how sake is made, visiting the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, passing historic Teradaya, and tasting 18 Kyoto-made sakes at a local restaurant. Guides such as Matt, Rika, Ayu, and Yukari add history, tasting tips, and personal recommendations.

“We had the best experience with our guide (Eri), she was so sweet and interactive! Highly recommend this tour to anyone who loves Sake or wants to gain more knowledge and taste a wide variety of local sakes”

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3.Tokyo: Sushi and Ramen Cooking Class with Sake Pairing Set

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · 3 hours · from $129

In a small Tokyo class near Tsukishima Station, you’ll make ramen, chashu pork, and nigiri sushi with English-speaking instructors such as Sato, Haruko, and Risa. You’ll also taste three selected sakes, learn food traditions and ingredient tips, then take home recipes and souvenir chopsticks.

“What a fantastic experience!! This sushi making and ramen cooking class taught me how to create authentic sushi and ramen while learning about Japan’s food traditions. A fun cooking class for beginners and pros alike! Thank you so much!!!!!!”

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4.Kobe: Guided Sake Breweries Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 3h 30m · from $106

Spend 3.5 hours walking Kobe’s Nada district with an English-speaking guide such as Hiro, Romi, or Aya. Visit three to four breweries, taste several styles of sake, see traditional brewing tools, and sample fresh tofu. The route covers about 4 kilometers, ending near Uozaki Station.

“It was fantastic, we learned so much. The guide was really skilled and full of useful knowledge.”

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5.Kyoto: Sake Brewery and Tasting Tour in Fushimi

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 55 reviews · 3 hours · from $96Best value

Spend three hours in Fushimi with an English-speaking guide such as Matt, Kumi, Rika, or Yuki. Visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, see riverside sights and a local shrine, then sample 18 Kyoto-made sakes at Fushimi Saka Gura Kouji. This is an adults-only tour with a maximum of nine people.

“It was fantastic, learnt heaps and Marie is a truly amazing guide”

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6.Kyoto: Foodie Night Tour in Gion with 9 dishes + 6 Sake

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 26 reviews · 3h 30m · from $361

Meet at Gion Shijo Station and follow an English-speaking guide through Gion and Pontocho for nine Kyoto dishes, six sake tastings, two drinks, and dessert. Expect obanzai, oden, yuba, local sweets, traditional buildings, and small venues. Rika is one guide praised for making conversation easy. Dietary requests must be made in advance.

“Rika was an excellent tour guide, who facilitated great conversations between us all. The food spots also felt local and authentic.”

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