Best thing to do in Kyoto - Amazing experience.

It was exactly what my friend and I were looking for. We went to some tastings before where we left feeling none the wiser about the culture... read more surrounding sake, the variety of flavour profiles and the brewing process. The Insider Sake Experience changed all of that! Our guides were informative and personable with a great sense of humour. But most importantly their love for sake was evident for all of us to see.

Before any tasting we were given an in-depth tour of a brewery where we learned about the brewing process and the history of sake in Kyoto and Japan.

By the end, we had over 10 different types of Sake all of which were explained in detail. Yet we were also encouraged to develop our own opinions and pallet along the way too.

The food pairing was a major highlight too. If you want to know more about sake this is the experience for you. 10/10

  Terrific time - Wonderful experience with Kiyomi & Kiyoko learning about sake history and enjoying some wonderful sake. Great learning experience, very fun and also Oishiiiii!!!!!

  Enlightening behind-the-scenes look at the world of sake - I had a blast having Greg and Chika as our guide! They led us through one of the oldest sake breweries in Japan and gave detailed (and often humorous) explanations... read more of the sake brewing process. During the sake tasting experience, they also taught use how to differentiate between sake bottles even without needing prior Japanese knowledge, which is highly useful information to have during my trip around other areas of Japan. Greg and Chika were great guides, so I highly recommend giving this tour a shot (no pun intended) if you're at all interested in the delicious world of sake!

  Worth visiting Japan just for this experience 😁  - If you love sake, then this is an experience that cannot be missed. I completed both the 1.5-hour tasting session and the advanced sake course, sampling around 17 distinct sakes... read more across a wide spectrum of styles. The advanced course introduced experimental artisanal brewing techniques not found in commercial products.

The most valuable takeaway: I learned how to interpret Japanese labeling to determine sake type and expected flavor profile, eliminating guesswork when ordering in Japan or abroad. Tasting each type side-by-side, paired with food, revealed how drastically flavor can shift based on context. I now know precisely which style I prefer.

The advertised experiences delivered. What exceeded expectations was the staff. They rescheduled my missed session without hesitation, adjusted timing to fit my availability, and consistently made the experience personal and accommodating. By the end, I felt more like a friend than a customer.. but maybe that’s just the sake talking 😆.

  Amazing Sake Experience  - Lots of fun, great tasting, highly recommend! I learned all I wanted about sake and was able to taste a large variety. The cheatsheets were so helpful!

  Excellent beyond expectations  - Our daughter previously enjoyed this tour and booked us to attend. This experience was beyond our expectations - with a huge factor due to our wonderful guide Kiyomi (and... read more her assistant Kyogo). Kiyomi is so knowledgeable with an infectious passion for all things sake! We had a great time learning about the history and complex elements of Sake production. Following the education session we enjoyed tasting a wide range of Sake that illustrated the variety of categories. We also experienced food pairings that enhanced sake flavours. To top it off we were shown how to interpret the information printed on all bottles to confidently select our preferred sake to enjoy anytime. Highly recommend this tour.

  Excellent Sake Tasting - Excellent sake experience! Learned a lot about the process of making sake and then tried 7 different types. Tried alone and then paired with food - amazing how different... read more the sake tastes with different kinds of food. Highly recommend!

  Sake Experience  - Fantastic presentation and service. Kotaro was our Sake guide and he was fantastic. Very helpful in understanding and made us very comfortable. Can’t wait to come back for an advanced... read more sake course! Biggest recommendation to this place for anyone traveling to Japan!

  A must…  - Very good, informative and interrsting sake Experience!!! Greg was a super guide: funny, verry competent and sympatic!!!
A must in Kyoto😊🍶