Kyoto Sake Discovery (Shared)

This tour will begin at 10:30.

Meet a local guide in Fushimi, a quaint district just 20 minutes by train from central Kyoto. Meeting spot is the left pillar of the huge orange torii gate that spans the street in front of Gokonomiya Shrine. This can be accessed from either Momoyamagoryo-Mae Station on the Kintetsu train line, or Fushimi-Momoyama Station on the Keihan train line. Simply walk uphill (east) for 1 minute from either station to arrive at the torii gate.

With more than 400 years of sake history, Fushimi breweries rely on a special secret that makes their sake stand out: the local water. Begin the tour with a stop at Gokonomiya Shinto Shrine, where spring water has flowed from the ground for nearly 1000 years, and discover why water is the key ingredient in good sake.

Stroll the local shotengai, or shopping arcade, where neighbourhood residents do their daily shopping. Pick up some takeout snacks a few popular eateries, and stop for a sample of some yuzu or matcha sake, playful modern twists on the traditional recipe. There’s even chances to try some local confections and amazake, a sweet drink made from the leftovers of sake production.

Soon the historic warehouses come into view, and guests walk along a stone-lined canal that once carried barges laden with sake barrel. Stop in the largest remaining brewery-turned-museum and learn the process of transforming rice and water into pure sake. Utilizing this new knowledge and with a souvenir sake ochoko cup in hand, sample a variety of sake to determine which is the most pleasing to the palate.

The grand finale is an indoor yokocho, a backstreets maze of restaurants and bars where locals gather after work. Prepare for a sake tasting unlike any other: a dazzling spread of 18 different kinds of Fushimi sake all served at the table for personal tasting! The guide will assist with ordering ramen, yakitori chicken skewers, tempura, and other favourite dishes.

Part ways with the guide, and continue the meal on your own or pick up some sake to bring home before returning to the nearby train station. 

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Notes:

- There is no guarantee that visitors will see the sake breweries in action, as production is seasonal and private.
- Reservations accepted from 2 guests for shared tours. For single travellers, please enquire. 
- There may be other participants in the shared tour (maximum of 8 pax per group). 
- Due to Japan's National Minimum Drinking Age, participants of this tour must be at least 18 years of age. 
- This tour is unavailable on Tuesdays & Wednesdays.
- In Japan, it is still allowed to smoke in some small restaurants and bars and many traditional izakayas do not have properly separated non-smoking rooms.
- Please understand that the menu of the tour is fixed and that traditional izakayas do not cater for food allergies or special dietary requirements. Our guide will try to adapt the menu as much as possible and find substitutions in the event of food allergies, but in some cases no alternative can be guaranteed. Should you have any specific dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free) please book a private tour.
- In the case of a serious or severe allergy, participants will not be able to take this tour. For moderate or mild allergies, the restaurants will be informed in advance but there could still be a potential risk of cross contamination, and participants will need to sign a waiver form before the day of the tour.
- Tour may be cancelled in case of extreme weather.
- Please contact your Travel Consultant for availability. Please note that all of the services and tours have yet to be booked and that they are proposed for your reference only. We will start making reservations after we receive your confirmation.
- Please inform your Travel Consultant of any special dietary requirements and physical conditions that you may have. We strongly recommend the purchase of a travel insurance that also covers emergency medical evacuation.