Kyoto (Fushimi)
Fushimi, in southern Kyoto, is one of Japan’s great sake districts: canals, black-timbered warehouses and more than a dozen breweries within walking…
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Sake tours in Kansai: where to go?
We list 32 bookable sake experiences and 9 breweries you can visit across Kyoto, Kobe, Nishinomiya, Itami, Osaka and Nara. Each place with three or more listings has its own page with prices as shown on booking pages and brewery visiting details.
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Places in Kansai
Kobe (Nada)
Nada, along Kobe’s eastern waterfront, is Japan’s biggest sake-producing district. Several of its famous breweries run free museums with tastings…
Photo: hslo, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nishinomiya (Nada)
Nishinomiya holds two of the five Nada Gogo brewing villages and the well that made the region famous. It is quieter than Kobe’s side of Nada and a…
Photo: Saigen Jiro, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Osaka
Osaka’s sake experiences are built around its love of food: sake with takoyaki you cook yourself, guided nine-sake flights near Dotonbori, and a…
Photo: Joli Rumi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Also in the region, with fewer than three listings so far: Itami (1 experience) and Nara (1 experience · 1 brewery to visit). They are included in the lists below.
How to plan a sake trip in Kansai
Base yourself in Osaka or Kyoto. From Kyoto, Fushimi is 10–20 minutes by train; from Osaka, the Hanshin line runs straight through Nada’s brewery towns in Nishinomiya and Kobe. Many Nada museums are free, while Fushimi’s Gekkeikan museum charges a small fee. Itami and Nara add older, smaller sake towns with deep history.
For a first visit, a guided Fushimi walk and a self-guided afternoon in Nada make a good pair: one gives you context, the other lets you explore at your own pace.
All sake experiences in Kansai
Showing 32 of 32 experiences. Prices are as shown on each booking page on 18 October 2026, in the currency shown; check the final price before you pay.
Kyoto Fushimi: Sake Master’s Tour of Japanese Sake Breweries
Brewery tours
Two or three Fushimi breweries from Chushojima Station, including the Gekkeikan museum, Kizakura and Aburacho, with a Jukkokubune boat ride option.
3-Hour Sake Tasting + Insider Sake Brewery Tour
Brewery toursFood pairingPrivate & sommelier
Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, then 10+ sakes chosen by a certified sommelier with otsumami pairings in the operator’s own tasting room.
¥12,300 per person (from; ¥13,000 for afternoon starts)Book on operator site
€73 per person
Book on GetYourGuide
Book on GetYourGuide
Kobe Sake Brewery Tour in Nada with Guided Tastings
Brewery tours
A 4 km small-group walk (1:00–4:30 p.m.) through Nada with about 10 tastings, from Ishiyagawa Station. The rating combines Viator and Tripadvisor reviews, as shown on the operator page.
¥17,000 per guest for 2–5 guests (¥34,000 solo)
Book on operator site
Book on operator site
See price on siteBook on Viator
Kyoto Fushimi Sake Brewery Tour – 18 Tastings in 2.5 Hours
Brewery tours
Gekkeikan, Kizakura and the Fushimi Sakagura Koji tasting hall, with about 18 small pours in total.
US$108 per person
Book on GetYourGuide
Book on GetYourGuide
See price on siteBook on Klook
1.5-Hour Sake Tasting Experience
Tastings & classesPrivate & sommelier
A 90-minute guided introduction to sake: a short lesson, then seven sakes.
¥9,800 per person (from)Book on operator site
See price on siteBook on Viator
Itami: Konishi Brewery Tour with Sake Tasting
Brewery tours
A 1.5-hour guided visit to Konishi Brewing (Shirayuki) in Itami, with sake and beer tasting.
See price on siteBook on GetYourGuide
See price on siteBook on Klook
Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour
Brewery tours
A three-hour Fushimi walk built around the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, with around 20 tastings.
See price on siteBook on Viator
See price on siteBook on Klook
Sake Tasting & Takoyaki Cooking with a Sake Sommelier
Food pairingPrivate & sommelier
Seven or more sakes with an English-speaking sommelier while you cook your own takoyaki.
See price on siteBook on GetYourGuide
See price on siteBook on Viator
“tasting tasty” Japanese Sake 9 Tasting Experience
Tastings & classesPrivate & sommelier
A guided nine-sake tasting with snacks near Dotonbori, explaining labels and food matches.
See price on siteBook on operator site
See price on siteBook on Viator
Nara Sake Tasting Tour & Naramachi Cultural Walk
Brewery tours
A small-group afternoon walk through Naramachi with about 10 tastings, finishing at Kintetsu-Nara Station.
¥17,000 per guest for 2–5 guests (tasting fees included)
Book on operator site
Book on operator site
Fukuju Brewery Tours (Kobe Shushinkan)
Brewery toursFood pairingPrivate & sommelier
English-guided tours of the Fukuju brewery: a short sake tour with a souvenir (same-day booking possible) or longer tours with a kaiseki or Kobe beef meal (two weeks’ notice, 2–6 guests).
¥4,500 per person (from; kaiseki tours ¥30,000 and ¥60,000)Book on operator site
Fushimi Kyoto Tour with Sake Tasting & Canal Boat Ride
Brewery tours
A canal boat ride, a temple, a sake museum and a curated tasting in Fushimi.
See price on siteBook on Klook
Kobe Private Sake Brewery Tour with a Former Toji (Master Brewer)
Brewery toursPrivate & sommelier
A private Nada walk with a former master brewer, including kimoto brewing exhibits and Kiku-Masamune.
¥60,000 per guest for 2 guests (¥120,000 solo)Book on operator site
Kobe Sake & Western Heritage Cultural Day Tour from Osaka
Brewery toursPrivate & sommelierDay trips
A private day from Osaka with two Nada brewery museums and tastings, then Kitano’s old foreign residences.
See price on siteBook on GetYourGuide
Kobe: Nada Sake District Guided Tour with Tastings
Brewery tours
A guided walk through the Nada sake district with tastings.
See price on siteBook on GetYourGuide
Kobe: Premium Kobe Beef & Sake Tasting Culinary Experience
Brewery toursFood pairing
Kiku-Masamune tastings (six sakes and sake-lees ice cream) followed by a Kobe beef teppanyaki lunch.
See price on siteBook on GetYourGuide
Kyoto City, Premium Sake & Fushimi Cultural Half-Day Walking Tour
Brewery tours
A four-hour cultural walk in Fushimi tasting seven styles of sake.
See price on siteBook on Klook
Kyoto Fushimi Sake Tasting Tour: Breweries & Local Stories
Brewery tours
A small-group afternoon walk (1:00–4:00 p.m.) through Fushimi’s breweries with a local sake guide.
¥17,000 per guest for 2 guests (group rates available)Book on operator site
Kyoto Luxury Sake, Whisky, and Cocktail Tour – Evening
Tastings & classes
Sake, Japanese whisky and cocktails in Kyoto’s geisha districts; Tuesday to Saturday.
¥35,200 per adult (from)Book on Arigato Travel
Kyoto Premium Night Foodie Tour in Gion & Pontocho (9 Dishes, 6 Sake Tastings)
Food pairing
A night food tour with nine dishes and six sake tastings.
See price on siteBook on GetYourGuide
Kyoto Private Sake Brewery Tour with a Certified Guide
Brewery toursPrivate & sommelier
A private afternoon tour (1:00–5:00 p.m.) with a certified English-speaking sake guide.
¥24,000 per guest for 2 guests (¥48,000 solo)Book on operator site
Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour – Daytime
Brewery toursFood pairing
A daytime Fushimi brewery walk with rare sakes and food pairings; runs every day, ages 20 and up.
¥27,500 per adult (from)Book on Arigato Travel
Kyoto: Wagyu & Sake Tasting with Gion Walk
Food pairing
An evening walk through Gion and Pontocho with two izakaya stops, wagyu and five or more sakes.
See price on siteBook on GetYourGuide
Luxury Kyoto Evening Sake Experience
Tastings & classesFood pairing
An evening of tastings and historic streets in central Kyoto; Tuesday to Saturday.
¥35,200 per adult (from)Book on Arigato Travel
Nada Sake Breweries Kobe Local Tour with Licensed Guide
Brewery toursPrivate & sommelier
A six-hour private tour with hotel pickup, lunch and admissions included.
See price on siteBook on GetYourGuide
Nada Sake Brewery Walking Tour (Kobe)
Brewery tours
A walking tour of Nada breweries with about ten tastings.
See price on siteBook on Klook
Nishinomiya Private Sake Tour: Shrine & Brewery Tastings
Brewery toursPrivate & sommelier
A private morning walk from 10:00 a.m., from Nishinomiya Shrine to breweries, finishing at Hanshin Imazu Station.
¥24,000 per guest for 2–5 guests (¥48,000 solo)Book on operator site
Nishinomiya Sake Masterclass with a Former Toji (Master Brewer)
Brewery toursPrivate & sommelier
A private masterclass (1:00–5:00 p.m.) with brewery visits and tastings, from Hanshin Nishinomiya Station.
¥60,000 per guest for 2 guests (¥120,000 solo)Book on operator site
Nishinomiya: Sake Brewery Tour Near Kobe – Visit 3 Breweries
Brewery tours
Three Nishinomiya breweries, Hakushika, Hakutaka and Nihonsakari, with an English-speaking guide.
See price on siteBook on GetYourGuide
Osaka: Sake Brewery Tour Near Umeda Sky Building
Brewery tours
A brewery tour in central Osaka near the Umeda Sky Building.
See price on siteBook on GetYourGuide
Osaka: Sake Tasting & Japanese Cooking Experience
Food pairing
Sake tasting combined with a Japanese cooking class.
See price on siteBook on Klook
Private 3-Hour Kizakura Sake Brewery Tour for Groups
Brewery toursPrivate & sommelier
A private group visit to the Kizakura brewery plus a 10-sake tasting, for groups of up to 12 or 30.
¥13,500 per person (from)Book on operator site
Some “Book on” links go to GetYourGuide, Viator or Klook through our affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Links to operators’ own websites and Arigato Travel are not affiliate links. Commissions never affect which experiences we list. Details.
Breweries to visit in Kansai
| Brewery | Visit | Admission | Tasting | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum月桂冠大倉記念館Kyoto | Walk-in | ¥600 (age 20+), ¥100 (13–19), free for 12 and under | Yes, tasting after the museum | Not stated |
| Kizakura Memorial Museum (Kappa Gallery)黄桜記念館 Kappa GalleryKyoto | Walk-in | Free | Not stated | Tuesdays (Wednesday if Tuesday is a holiday), 31 Dec and 1 Jan |
| Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum白鶴酒造資料館Kobe | Walk-in | Free | Yes (sake-tasting area with freshly pressed, unpasteurised sake) | Summer holidays and New Year period |
| Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum菊正宗酒造記念館Kobe | Walk-in | Free | Not stated | Tuesdays (Wednesday if Tuesday is a public holiday) and New Year holidays |
| Sawanotsuru Museum沢の鶴資料館Kobe | Walk-in | Not stated | Yes, free tasting of unpasteurised genshu in the museum shop | Wednesdays (open if a public holiday), Obon and New Year |
| Hamafukutsuru Ginjo Kobo浜福鶴 吟醸工房Kobe | Walk-in | Not stated | Yes, paid tasting counter (last order 16:15) | Mondays (open on public holidays) |
| Kobe Shushinkan (Fukuju)神戸酒心館Kobe | Reservation | Sake tour with souvenir ¥4,500 per person; longer tours ¥30,000 and ¥60,000 | Included in tours | Not stated |
| Hakushika Memorial Museum of Sake白鹿記念酒造博物館Nishinomiya | Walk-in | Paid (combination ticket for both buildings) | Not stated | Tuesdays (next business day if Tuesday is a holiday), 3 days in summer, year-end and New Year |
| Harushika Saka-Gura Shop春鹿 酒蔵ショップNara | Walk-in | Not stated | Yes: buy an original glass for ¥500 and taste 5 sakes | Obon and year-end |
From each brewery’s official site or the local tourism office, checked 18 October 2026. Click a brewery for hours and the source link.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for sake, Kyoto or Kobe?
Both are excellent. Fushimi (Kyoto) is compact and pretty, with canals; Nada (Kobe) has more free brewery museums spread along the Hanshin line.