Hiroshima Saijo Sake Tasting Guided Tour - 7 Breweries in 2 Hours
Description
There are three areas in Japan known as “sake breweries. Nada in Hyogo Prefecture, Fushimi in Kyoto, and Saijo in Hiroshima. These areas are densely populated with sake breweries, and each brewery offers a variety of sake with different tastes. This tour will visit Saijo, a sake brewery in Hiroshima. Enjoy a variety of sake not only on the palate but also in terms of knowledge. Facing the Sanyo Expressway and blessed with good water, Saijo exploded as a sake brewing town after the railroad was built, exporting sake mainly to western Japan and even overseas. Its flavor is characterized by a clean, gentle sweetness. Its mellow taste is known to go well with a variety of meals. Join our guide for a wonderful sake tasting tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Seven sake breweries line the streets of Saijo. Each of these breweries has a slightly different flavor. Some are dry and some are sweet. Enjoy the different tastes by tasting them with your guide.
Kamotsuru Sake Brewery, founded in 1873 in Higashihiroshima, is famed for producing sake presented to the Japanese Imperial Family. Known for its refined, well-balanced flavor, it blends tradition and innovation, offering visitors a polished tasting experience in Saijo’s sake town.
Fukubijin Sake Brewery in Higashihiroshima is known as a former training hub for master brewers, playing a key role in shaping Saijo’s sake culture. Founded in 1917, it continues to craft smooth, approachable sake using local water and traditional techniques rooted in craftsmanship.
Kamoizumi Sake Brewery, located in Hiroshima, is celebrated for its dedication to traditional brewing methods and premium sake. Visitors can tour the picturesque brewery, learn about the brewing process, and enjoy tastings of their signature smooth, full-bodied sake. The brewery’s charming setting offers an immersive experience into Japan’s sake culture, making it a must-visit for connoisseurs and newcomers alike.
Kirei Sake Brewery, established in 1887 in Hiroshima, is famous for its smooth, rich sake made with local ingredients. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the historic brewery, where they’ll learn about the traditional brewing process. The experience includes tastings of various sake, and guests can also purchase exclusive brews from the brewery shop.
Saijotsuru Sake Brewery, a small but respected brewery in Higashihiroshima, is known for its hands-on approach and dedication to traditional brewing. Using soft water and time-honored methods, it produces sake with a smooth, rich flavor beloved by locals and connoisseurs alike.
Founded in 1675, Hakubotan Sake Brewery offers a glimpse into centuries-old brewing tradition. Visitors can enjoy a calm, nostalgic atmosphere while sampling mellow, easy-to-drink sake in a historic setting that captures the charm of old Saijo.
Sanyotsuru Sake Brewery, a family-owned gem in Saijo, sets itself apart by focusing on small-batch, artisanal production. Unlike larger breweries, they emphasize hands-on brewing techniques passed down through generations, allowing for unique, carefully crafted sake. Visitors can enjoy a personalized experience, learning about traditional methods and sampling the full spectrum of their sake, all while experiencing the warmth of the local, community-oriented atmosphere.
Saijo is a city located in Hiroshima. In addition to Saijo, there are many other places of interest in Hiroshima, such as the Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- By Japanese law, persons under 20 years of age are not allowed to taste alcohol.
- The tour includes visits to 7 sake breweries, but please note that the number of breweries and the duration of each visit may vary depending on the breweries' operating conditions and the tasting experiences available on the day.
Reviews(17)
We had Gordon, absolutely amazing tour guide who went above and beyond sake and Japanese history. Stayed with us for extra time to answer any questions about Japan, such a friendly and knowledgeable person. Highly highly recommend
We had Ron as our guide and it was an absolute treat for me as someone who works in alcohol production. Ron gave me a much deeper dive whilst keeping everything light and fun. We hope more people visit the beautiful Saijo!
We had a fantastic time on our sake tour with Gordon. A real highlight of our time in the Hiroshima area
This was an amazing experience. Our guide, Gordon, brought along a companion and the two of them were absolutely phenomenal. We started out at a local sake brewery to learn the history and methods of making Sake, and then moved on to sampling several different kinds of Sake made from the 7 breweries in Saijo. There happened to be a festival the day of our tour, so we were able to participate in several different tastings than would normally be had. Gordon and his companion were so knowledgeable. My father-in-law and I had the best experience ever. I have done a lot of Viator trips, and I rank this as one if my top 5 easily. I would absolutely do this one again just to hang with Gordon and his companion. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Great experience, our guide and sake sommelier Masa was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot about Sake and the production process. The highlight was of course getting to taste plenty of delicious sake from all 7 breweries. 🍶
What a great time! We very much enjoyed being shown so many sake breweries and our guide Motoko had lots of information on each stop. The two hours flew by, with each drink being unique and tasty. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend to a small group who would like to try sake in a relaxing and interesting setting.
It is a great experience. Gordan is knowledgeable and engaging . He is able to articulate his own personal experience to complement what is presented in the museums and tasting rooms. It brought forth a greater in depth thoughts of the various Sake producing procedural steps
Ami was so knowledgeable, funny, fun, and patient with all our questions. It was fun to be led around by her to 6 different brew houses with lots of samples and advice on purchasing.
We had a very insightful experience learning about sake with Rom. His vast knowledge and passion, coupled with his ability to present the information in relatable terms made this one of the best experiences of our trip to Japan. Even if you already had a sake tasting elsewhere in Japan (as we had), I still strongly recommend you to have a tasting in Hiroshima and with Rom if possible. You won’t be sorry!
Ram was a wonderful guide & very knowledgeable for this saki tour. he gave us history and entered all of our questions, the other father and son in the group from Australia were fun and filled out the tour.. Ram also was very attentive and helpful to me being a senior man 87 years old. I would highly recommend ROM as a guide and this is an excellent tour.
