1.5-Hour Sake Tasting and Food Pairing Experience
1.5-Hour Sake Tasting and Food Pairing Experience
Understand Sake in 90 Minutes
A fun and eye-opening 90-minute experience in Kyoto that changes how you taste and understand sake.
Understand Sake in 90 Minutes
A fun and eye-opening 90-minute experience in Kyoto that changes how you taste and understand sake.
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- Best price when booking direct on our official website
- Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance
What You will Experience
What You will Experience
Learn the Basics of Sake
Discover everything you need to truly enjoy sake. You’ll learn its ingredients, how it’s made, and it’s categories. We’ll also teach you how to read Japanese sake labels, giving you the confidence to choose wherever you go. Once you understand these basics, every glass of sake will allow you to fully appreciate sake in the future .
Sake Tasting with an Expert
Through our expert-led tasting session you'll get the chance to learn the unique characteristics of different varieties of sake, discovering which type you most prefer and how to identify your favourites on menus and bottle labels.
Food Pairing
Discover the way the taste of sake can completely change when paired with different dishes. We will give you some tips on how to pair sake with food when you go to Japanese restaurants, or when you re drinking sake at home.
What Sets Us Apart
What Sets Us Apart
Led by Certified Sake Professionals
Because our tours are led exclusively by certified sake experts, we are able to answer your questions, find your sake preferences, and guide you deeper into the world of sake.
Name： Kotaro
Qualifications： Sommelier of sake
Name： Kiyomi
Qualifications： Sommelier of sake
Name： Shogo
Qualifications： Sake Brewer, Fermented Food Specialist
Name： Momoko
Qualifications： J.S.A. Sake Diploma
Name： Mayo
Qualifications： Sommelier of sake
Name： Rieko
Qualifications： Sommelier of sake
Name： Yui
Qualifications： Sommelier of sake
Name： Kyoko
Qualifications： Sommelier of sake
Name： Mai
Qualifications： Sommelier of sake
Name： Chika
Qualifications： Sommelier of sake
The Benefits of a Private Sake Tasting Room
The Benefits of a Private
Sake Tasting Room
Immerse Yourself in Sake
- Enjoy a quiet, private lounge where you can fully focus on tasting sake — savoring its aroma, flavor, and finish.
- Unlike noisy group tours, this calm space lets you relax and truly enjoy each sip.
Private Space, Personal Attention
- Feel free to ask any questions without hesitation
- Learn at your own pace
- Enjoy relaxed, one-on-one conversations
- Connect deeply with your sake guide
What You Will Discover in This Sake Experience
What You Will Discover
in This Sake Experience
- How Sake Is Made – A Simple Guide
- About Ingredients
- Sake Categories
- Characteristics of Each Category
- Pairing with Food
- What Type of Sake goes well with Sushi?
- Hot vs Cold
- Q&A
After Taking This Sake Experience, You Will..
After Taking This Sake Experience,
You Will..
- Be able to find your favorite type of sake
- Be able to order sake at restaurants or bottle shops with confidence
- Know what type of sake good to pair with sushi
- Be ready to explore the deep world of sake
This Experience is for ...
This Experience is for ...
- Those who are interested in sake and want to learn the basics.
- Those who are new to sake but want to enjoy it with confidence during their trip in Japan.
- Those who want to gain more knowledge about sake before traveling around Japan.
- Those looking for a perfect indoor activity on rainy or extremely hot days in Kyoto.
- Wine, beer and whisky lovers who also want to understand the basics of sake.
- Professionals in the hospitality industry who would like to learn the basics of sake.
- In-house training in the hospitality industry
- Private courses for companies and groups are also available. Please contact us.
Please Note
This class is also included in the 3-hour tour. If you wish to experience the sake brewery tour as well, please consider booking the 3-hour sake tasting experience.
〒612-8365 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Fushimi-ku, Kurumamachi, 271-1
● Access
By Public Transportation
- 25 min from JR Kyoto Station: Take a train on the Kintetsu Line to Momoyamagoryo-Mae Station. Walk for 10 min from the station.
- 20 min from Gion-Shijo Station: Take a train on the Keihan Line to Chushojima Station. Walk for 5 min from the station.
From Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan Line)
Take the Limited Express (red) or Rapid Express (purple). Avoid the Sub-Express (blue) and Local (black) - these take much longer
- 20 min from Fushimi-Inari Station: Take a train on the Keihan Line to Chushojima Station. Walk for 5 min from the station.
By Taxi
- Allow around 30 minutes from Kyoto Station or 35 minutes from Gion-Shijo Station (map apps may show less).
Which Sake Experience is Right for You?
Which Sake Experience
is Right for You?
| Experience | Insider Sake Brewery Tour | Discover | Sake Tasting | Food Pairing | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 3-Hour Sake Tasting + Brewery Tour | 10 am / 11 am Less Crowded | Sake Basics + Making Process | 10 kinds | 10 am / 11 am JPY ¥12,300～ (USD $77.11～) ------------------------- 1 pm / 3 pm JPY ¥13,000～ (USD $81.49～) | |
1.5-Hour Sake Tasting Experience | Sake Basics | 7 kinds | JPY ¥9,800〜 (USD $61.43〜) | ||
 Advanced Sake Tasting Experience （Duration：1.5〜2 Hours） | Sake Basics + Advanced Sake Insight | 10 kinds (Special sake) | JPY ¥10,800〜 (USD $67.70〜) |
| Experience | 3-Hour Sake Tasting + Brewery Tour | 1.5-Hour Sake Tasting Experience | Advanced Sake Tasting Experience （Duration：1.5〜2 Hours） |
| Insider Sake Brewery Tour | 10 am / 11 am Less Crowded | ||
| Discover | Sake Basics + Making Process | Sake Basics | Sake Basics + Advanced Sake Insight |
| Sake Tasting | 10 kinds | 7 kinds | 10 kinds (Special sake) |
| Food Pairing | |||
| Price | 10 am / 11 am JPY ¥12,300～ (USD $77.11～) ----- 1 pm / 3 pm JPY ¥13,000～ (USD $81.49～) | JPY ¥9,800〜 (USD $61.43〜) | JPY ¥10,800〜 (USD $67.70〜) |
Latest Reviews
Latest Reviews
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A must for anyone who wants to learn about and try sakes! - My husband and I absolutely LOVED this experience! Kotaro, our sake tasting guide (who was assisted by Mitch), was so knowledgeable. He led us through a tasting of more than... read more 10 sakes, and along the way taught us so much about sake's history; how variations in the production process and ingredients impact the taste; how to read sake bottles so we can choose ones we most enjoy; and ideas for how to pair different sakes with different foods. We have so much insight to take with us to purchase sake or order it at restaurants, or to purchase bottles for ourselves or others. This was far better than many wine tastings we have done (and we have done a lot!). Thanks, Kotaro! 
Anne F
2026-08-12 Excellent sake tasting class! - I loved this class! Such wonderful information, the sake and food together were delicious, and the whole experience was very personal. I have an even greater appreciation for... read more sake now, and know a lot more about it. One of my trip highlights! 
Lori S
2026-08-11 Sake and Food Pairing Experience - Had a great experience here doing the sake and food pairing tasting with Kyoko. She was full of information and could answer any and all questions we had. For what... read more you get from the experience the price is more than reasonable. The delicious ninonshu (sake) and the food combinations will leave your tastebuds confused but wanting more. Couldn’t recommend this experience more! 
CraigD2477
2026-07-29 - An Excellent Sake Tasting Experience - I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in learning more about sake. Momo and Mai were fantastic guides - knowledgeable, engaging, and fun throughout the experience. I came away... read more with a much better understanding of the history of the Gekkeikan Distillery, the sake (nihonshu) brewing process, and how different styles are classified and labeled.
The tasting was excellent, with 10 different sakes sampled before and after thoughtfully paired foods, making it easy to appreciate how food changes the flavor profile of each sake. By the end of the tour, I felt much more confident choosing and ordering sake to complement a meal. This was one of the highlights of my time in Kyoto. 
Jon C
2026-07-21 Great experience! Highly recommend! - Awesome experience— learned quite a bit and had the ability to ask questions. English guide was amazing, highly recommend! 
Carley M
2026-07-20 Great Experience with our expert tour guide - Great experience, highly recommended. We had a great time and learn a lot from this tour. Before, we came for the Insider Sake experience tour at Gekkeikan Sake Brewery and... read more some Japanese Sake testing with Mr. Shogo, and it was amazing. So this time we came back again for an Advance Sake Testing course with Mrs. Kiyomi, and we were so amazed to find out how much more can the Sake making process affect the test and aroma of the Sake. Our guide today, Mrs. Kiyomi is also very lovely and really easy going. We really enjoyed our Sake testing tour today. 
เอกวุฒิ บ
2026-07-17 - WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE - Great experience! I was clueless about sale but learning about the history of it and the breweries was amazing. Also, learning how to read the labels on the bottle was... read more very helpful as well. I now know to order sake by saying “Nihonshu” instead of just “sake” which means alcohol. We learned by saying this, it can confuse the servers.
Heidi M
2026-07-15 Japanese Sake tour in Kyoto - don’t miss - Kiyomi and Nanase introduced us to Japanese sake, in an informative and personalized way, so cool! From learning how sake is made, purified to bottling always adding the local history.... read more Ok and the tastings were so fun! Diaginjo please, no wait, make mine Junmai Ginjo! Thanks to our amazing guides! 
Navigator48055961900
2026-07-14 Amazing sake class/light food pairing - This was an amazing class! I wish I had signed up for the 3-hour version. I now know far more about sake (or nihonshu) than I did before, and I’m... read more really excited to put my new knowledge to the test over the next couple of weeks while I’m in Japan! Definitely recommend this if you like sake! 
Bryan M
2026-07-14