Sake Runs Deep: Brewing Towns of West Japan

Who is this for?
This tour is designed for culturally curious travelers who want to explore Japan through its regional traditions, flavors, and craftsmanship. It’s ideal for sake enthusiasts eager to visit the country’s top brewing areas: Nada, Fushimi, and Saijo with guided tastings and insight into centuries-old techniques. Whether it’s a first-time visit or a return trip, this tour is for those who want to connect with Japan through what’s brewed, built, and shared.

- This is a private tour. Only you and your group will participate.
- This trip can be tailored according to your preferences. Please feel free to inquire about any specific requests ahead of time. 

Physical Activity:  Low
Length of Trip:  8 days, 7 nights
Capacity:  2-20 people

Visualize yourself:
- Meeting local experts who share the art and craftsmanship of sake brewing
- Sipping crisp, complex sake in places where it’s been perfected over centuries
- Wandering through shrines, temples, and streets that haven’t changed in decades
- Experiencing the excitement of Japan’s most iconic areas

OSAKA    |   2 nights
Day 1: Travel Day

Arrive in Tokyo or Osaka and meet your guide. After a swift transfer to the hotel, take time to explore the city or rest up for the travels ahead. 

Day 2: A Day with Kobe’s Flavors and Heart of Sake Making
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start the day in Kobe’s Chinatown to see its bright signs, steaming snacks, and a lively street scene. Then head to Nada for a guided brewery tour and sake tasting with a local expert. In the afternoon, wander the hillside Kitano district, known for its old Western-style homes and city views. End with a Kobe beef dinner at a well-loved local spot. 

HIROSHIMA    |   2 nights
Day 3: A Day in Hiroshima
Included meals: Breakfast,  Lunch, Dinner

Hop on the shinkansen to Hiroshima in the morning, then take a short ferry ride to Miyajima to see the famous floating shrine gate. The shrine dates back to the 6th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a symbol of Japan’s cultural and religious traditions. Spend some time exploring the island’s shops and paths. Head back to the city in the afternoon and end the day with a  dinner of Hiroshima’s beloved savory pancake dish, Okonomiyaki.

Day 4: Peace and Craft in One of Japan’s Great Sake Towns
Included meals: Breakfast,  Lunch, Dinner

The day centers on remembrance, resilience, and tradition. Start with a walk through Hiroshima’s Peace Park, visiting the A-Bomb Dome and museum for a powerful look at the city’s past and its message for the future. In the afternoon, travel to Saijo, one of Japan’s top sake towns, for a brewery tour and tasting along the historic Sakagura-dori. Then take the shinkansen to Osaka, arriving in the evening just in time for dinner.

OSAKA    |   3 nights
Day 5: Layers of Osaka
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin with a visit to Osaka Castle and learn about its deep history. Osaka Castle was originally built in the late 16th century and though it has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, it remains a powerful emblem of resilience in Japanese history. Then head to Kuromon Market for street food and then Dotonbori experiencing Osaka’s everyday energy. In the afternoon, take in the views from the Umeda Sky Building, with its open-air observatory above the skyline.

Day 6: Gates, Temples, and the History of Fushimi Sake
Included meals: Breakfast,  Lunch, Dinner
Start the day with a walk through the iconic bright orange torii gates of Fushimi Inari, one of Kyoto’s most recognized and historically significant shrines. Then stay in the area for a tour and tasting at a local sake brewery, part of a tradition that’s thrived here for centuries. In the afternoon, visit Kiyomizu Temple and stroll the sloped stone paths of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. Lined with preserved wooden buildings, they’re home to traditional shops, teahouses, and sweet shops.

Day 7: From the Calm of Nara to Vibrant Osaka
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Visit Nara’s Deer Park, where friendly, free-roaming deer greet visitors near ancient temples. Visit Todai-ji to see the towering Great Buddha housed in one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Learn about  Todai-ji’s historical importance as a symbol of early Buddhist influence in Japan. Stop by the local sake brewery from the 19th century for a casual tasting in a cozy setting. Then head back to Osaka for an evening stroll and dinner through Shinsekai, the downtown and retro area of Osaka. 

Day 8: The Journey Ends
Included meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a swift transfer to the airport. Your next destination? Home sweet home. But remember, it's not sayonara yet, it's "See you soon!" The question is, where to from here?

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