Your guide will meet you at infront of Starbucks Nagano station
Description
Come to Nagano for a deeper sake experience — compare around 10 local sakes (seasonal selection may vary), taste 3 kinds of amazake(non alcohol), enjoy warm Nagano miso soup, and visit a historic old sake factory area. The brewery has over 300 years of history, and you’ll learn the differences between premium styles like unfiltered, unpasteurized, and seasonal sake.
First, enjoy a relaxed walk through the streets of Nagano and the Zenkoji Temple area, then head to the tasting experience before returning toward Nagano Station.
-Taste 3 different amazake (a traditional non-alcoholic sweet drink)
-Enjoy a warm bowl of Nagano miso soup
-Admission included to visit a historic old sake factory area
-Explore Nagano’s laid-back streets around Zenkoji Temple and stop by local shops
-Learn simple, authentic Japanese tasting etiquette and local food culture
-Connect with local business owners and hear stories about Nagano’s history and everyday life
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM
Next available
Sat, Oct 10
Adult (ages 13+)
$54
Child (ages 3–12)
$16
Infant (ages 0–2)
Free
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $81.
In demand: 34 of the next 120 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 8.
Tour Options
Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour
Itinerary
Pass by
Meet your guide in front of Starbucks at MIDORI Nagano Station. We’ll start with a short walk(20 min by walking) toward Zenkoji’s quieter streets and local shops before heading to the sake tasting.
Zenko-ji Temple
30 min
Arrive at Zenkoji Temple area.
Your guide will share the story behind Zenkoji and take you through laid-back backstreets and small local shops — not only the main tourist route.
30 min
Arrive at the sake tasting experience.
Taste around 10 local sakes (seasonal selection may vary), including styles such as unfiltered and unpasteurized sake, plus Nagano plum wine.
Enjoy small nibbles (soy sauce beans, Japanese pickles), try 3 kinds of amazake (non-alcoholic sweet drink), and warm up with Nagano miso soup.
Admission included10 min
Visit the historic old sake factory area.
See a traditional brewing space and learn how Nagano’s sake culture developed over hundreds of years. (This is a preserved historic site and is not used for production today.)
Pass by
After Sake tasting, we will go back to Nagano station(20 min by walking). The duration of this tour is about 2 hours. The tour concludes at the Nagano station but If you would like to explore different places like restaurants after this tour, you can say good bye to your guide at around Zenkoji temple area, where is easy to get back to Nagano station by yourself
What's included
Included
English-speaking guide
Nibbles like soy source beans
Amazake(sweet no alcoholic drink)
Miso soup
Sake tasting
Not included
Extra drinks and food (available to purchase)
Transportation fee to meeting point
There are no mandatory in-destination costs.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
37 reviews
5
34
4
1
3
2
2
0
1
0
How it compares in Nagano
No. 16 by number of reviews among 171 tours in Nagano
Starting price $54 is 35% below the typical $83 for tours of similar length in Nagano
Excurgo comparison of 171 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Walking shoes are recommended
Minimum alcahol drinking age is 20 years. So we offer another drink for under 20
In case of late arrival, the tour cannot be extended.
o8Experience is a locally based tour company offering private and small-group experiences across Nagano and surrounding regions. From food and culture to nature and history, we create meaningful journeys tailored to curious travelers. Visit o8Experience to discover more.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour take?
Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 5 stops.
How much does Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $54 per person for this Nagano experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $81. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.
How much does Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour cost for children?
Children aged 3–12 pay from $16, adults from $54. Infants go free.
Does Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour sell out?
It can: 34 of the next 120 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Your guide will meet you at infront of Starbucks Nagano station. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(37)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
C
christina_N
August 30, 2026 · via Viator
Great guide!-But not lived up to description
Our guide was very nice, fun, & personable!
The sake tasting was great. We learned a lot about sake and got to try quite a few. The disappointing part is that the tour description says it included miso tasting & little nibbles. We were not offered that
Operator response
Thank you for your kind comments about our guide and the sake tasting. We’re glad you enjoyed learning about sake and trying the different varieties. The miso tasting and nibbles are included in the tour, and we’re sorry they were not offered during your experience. While the flow may occasionally change depending on timing and guests’ preferences, the opportunity to try them should still have been clearly offered. We’ll review this with our team and make sure it is communicated more clearly in the future.
K
Kimberly_K
February 20, 2026 · via Viator
Great time!
The tour was awesome and the guide was great. Super relaxed and fun. And we learned a lot of really cool facts. Overall just a really fun afternoon. Def loved the guide, nice guy and good humor.
Operator response
Thank you very much for your kind review and for joining us.
We’re truly happy to hear you had such a fun, relaxed afternoon and that you enjoyed the guide’s humor and style. It also means a lot to know you felt you learned many interesting local facts along the way.
Thank you again for choosing o8Experience, and we hope to welcome you back to Nagano in the future.
Warm regards,
o8Experience
P
Paigan_A
February 19, 2026 · via Viator
Book this tour when you are in Nagano!
Me and my partner had a wonderful tour with Masa-san this morning around Nagano. We saw some lovely sights around town, with in depth questions and answers from Masa-san. We also had a chance to stop off in a traditional oyaki shop, before exploring the stunning Zenjōji temple. The sake tasting after the fact was simply a huge bonus! Learning about the different types of Sake and then tasting them was an insightful experience. Overall it was a great time, with an excellent tour guide, who even dropped us off at his favourite soba restaurant per our request! Thank you Masa-san!
Operator response
Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for joining us this morning in Nagano.
We’re truly delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring the city with Masashi, especially the stop at the traditional oyaki shop and your visit to Zenkoji Temple. It’s also great to know the sake tasting felt like a “huge bonus” and that learning about different styles of sake made the experience even more memorable.
We also appreciate your kind words about the in-depth Q&A during the tour, and we’re glad we could help with your request to be dropped off at a soba restaurant to finish the day in a local way.
Thank you again for choosing o8Experience, and we hope to welcome you back to Nagano in the future.
Warm regards,
o8Experience
P
Pierpaol0G
September 29, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing sake experience
The guide was amazing. He was born in Nagano but travels a lot and speaks very good English. He told us many things about Nagano and about sake. A 5/5 experience!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you had such a great experience with our guide. He truly loves sharing both his hometown of Nagano and his travel insights, and we’re glad his knowledge of sake and local culture made the tour memorable for you. We really appreciate the 5/5 review and hope to welcome you again on your next visit!
S
Sarah H
June 28, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Nagano walking tour & sake tasting
Enjoyable walking tour with a knowledgeable, friendly guide. Learnt lots about the Zenkoji temple. Fun sake tasting and learning about the different types of sake depending on the how much rice had been polished. Only reason for not 5 stars is the tour should have included photos, which it did not!
Operator response
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback.
To address your comment upfront — due to the exceptionally heavy rain on the day of your tour, we were unfortunately unable to provide photo support. We always aim to take pictures for our guests whenever conditions allow, but in this instance, the weather made it unfeasible. We sincerely regret any disappointment this may have caused.
As the conditions were particularly challenging that day, we also arranged a vehicle to make the experience more comfortable — even though it wasn’t part of the standard setup and not something we mentioned at the time.
Still, we’re very happy to hear you enjoyed the sake tasting and the stories behind the brewing process. We’d love to welcome you again on a sunnier day — with photos next time.
Warmest regards,
S
Shawn_F
April 12, 2025 · via Viator
We had a fantastic time....
We had a fantastic time. Our tour guide Kazumi was great. She was very knowledgable about sake. During the walking tour we also visited a pepper shop and a temple.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had a fantastic time. Kazumi will be so happy to know that you enjoyed the tour and found her sake knowledge helpful. It sounds like the pepper shop and temple added an extra special touch to the experience as well! We hope to welcome you again on another tour with o8Experience soon.
H
HAS212
April 5, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great layover in Nagano
My husband and I went on the sake tour in April. It was the perfect tour for a brief stop in Nagano. We toured a sake facility, tasted delicious sake, and learned a lot about the local city. Highly recommend.
Operator response
Thanks so much for joining our sake tour in April! We're really happy to hear it was a perfect stop during your time in Nagano. It was a pleasure sharing some of our local flavors and culture with you both. Cheers—and you're always welcome back for another round! 🍶✨
M
Mathis C
March 21, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Visit Nagano and tasting, to do on arrival in the city!
It was great, very interesting to travel the city with a local. Made us pass through small alleys and discover nuggets.
Operator response
Merci beaucoup pour votre retour chaleureux !
Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez apprécié la découverte de la ville à travers les yeux d’un local. C’est toujours un plaisir de partager les petites ruelles cachées et les trésors méconnus avec des voyageurs curieux comme vous. À une prochaine fois peut-être !
E
Edward_M
February 19, 2025 · via Viator
My wife and daughter...
My wife and daughter booked The Sake tasting tour in Nagano thru Viator and enjoyed every part of the tour.
We met Masa, our guide, at the Nagano station and begin walking toward the Zenkoji temple (which is part of the tour).
Masa, who is a native person from Nagano but spent several years living in UK (which is why his English was perfect), explain to us the in and out of the Zenkoji temple which only local knows.
We spent about 1 hour at the temple before we headed out to the Sake Brewery (Yoshinoya Brewery).
At the brewery, we tasted all kinds of Sake and the ingredients that affect the taste. How the rice is polish, the yeast, etc.
We tried at least 10 small cup of sake ranging from the most basic up to the top shelf, even a non-alcoholic Sake which is very interesting (taste exactly like the real thing).
During this time, Masa explain to us all the procedure and highlight. We bought 3 amazing Sakes to take home.
All and all we are very happy with the Sake Walking Tour and top it is Masa's easy going and knowledgable insight of the subject.
Very highly recommeded and if possible ask for Masa to be the guide
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that your wife and daughter had such an enjoyable experience on our Nagano Sake Tasting & Walking Tour.
It’s great to know that Masa’s insights into Zenkoji Temple’s hidden details and the art of sake brewing at Yoshinoya Brewery made the tour both educational and memorable. We’re especially happy to hear that you enjoyed the wide variety of sake tastings, including the unique non-alcoholic option!
Your kind words about Masa’s guiding style and expertise mean a lot to us. We strive to create authentic and immersive experiences, and we’re delighted that this tour lived up to your expectations.
Thank you for recommending us! We’d love to welcome you or your family again for another o8Experience tour in Nagano. Cheers! 🍶✨
B
BorderlessTraveler
February 19, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Highly recommend tour with expert local guide
My wife and daughter booked The Sake tasting tour in Nagano thru Viator and enjoyed every part of the tour.
We met Masa, our guide, at the Nagano station and begin walking toward the Zenkoji temple (which is part of the tour).
Masa, who is a native person from Nagano but spent several years living in UK (which is why his English was perfect), explain to us the in and out of the Zenkoji temple which only local knows.
We spent about 1 hour at the temple before we headed out to the Sake Brewery (Yoshinoya Brewery).
At the brewery, we tasted all kinds of Sake and the ingredients that affect the taste. How the rice is polish, the yeast, etc.
We tried at least 10 small cup of sake ranging from the most basic up to the top shelf, even a non-alcoholic Sake which is very interesting (taste exactly like the real thing).
During this time, Masa explain to us all the procedure and highlight.
All and all we are very happy with the Sake Walking Tour and top it is Masa's easy going and knowledgable insight of the subject.
Very highly recommeded and if possible ask for Masa to be the guide
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that your wife and daughter had a fantastic time on our Nagano Sake Tasting & Walking Tour.
It’s wonderful that Masa’s deep knowledge of Zenkoji Temple’s history and sake brewing added so much value to the experience. Exploring the sake-making process and tasting a variety of sake—including the unique non-alcoholic option—sounds like it was a highlight!
We truly appreciate your kind words about Masa’s guidance and are glad you found the tour both enjoyable and insightful. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you or your family again on another o8Experience tour in Nagano! 🍶✨
Compare similar tours in Nagano
Lowest price: Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour — $54
Best rated: 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano — 4.9 (1,153 reviews)
Shortest: Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour — 2 hours
