Top 6 Japan Drinks Tours

1.Best of Shinjuku: Izakaya Food Tour (4 Stops, 14+ Tastings)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,863 reviews · from $92Our pick

Spend 3.5 hours eating through Shinjuku with a bilingual guide such as Taiga, Yusuke, Nobu, or Chi. Visit several izakayas for 14+ tastings, including skewers, sashimi, comfort food, and three drinks, while walking through Kabukicho, Golden Gai, and Omoide Yokocho. Menu and venues vary.

“What a fabulous experience! Hawaii Joe was a great guide and the food at all the establishments we visited was amazing. The walking tour was fascinating and seeing all the bars was incredible. There were 11 other guests and by the end of the evening we all were friends! Highly recommended this tour!”

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2.3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 917 reviews · from $84

Spend three hours in Fushimi with a certified Sake Sommelier, visiting the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum and tasting 10 carefully selected sakes with traditional otsumami. Guides such as Kyoko, Miyuki, Mai, and Shogo explain brewing, labels, flavor styles, and pairings in clear English. The small-group format leaves room for questions.

“Mayo is phenomenal! I showed up for the sake tasting and left with so much knowledge. The history, the process, and the categories of sake were all very well explained. Bonus: you also get to try the sake with food, which makes it even better. Highly recommend!”

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3.Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 704 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Meet an English-speaking sake expert at Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum in Fushimi. You’ll learn how sake is brewed, compare 10 or more styles, pair them with Japanese otsumami, and leave with a practical tasting note and bottle-reading cheat sheet. Guides such as Kyoko, Miyuki, Momo, and Chika explain the subject with humor and care.

“Miyuki was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide for this fantastic tour. As someone who doesn't drink a lot of sake (or make that Nihonshou!) it was really interesting to learn about the history of the drink and the Gekkeikan family, as well as understand the effect different levels of polishing had on the overall taste. One of the best tours we've had during our time in Japan!”

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4.Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 623 reviews · from $98

Spend about three hours in Fushimi, Kyoto’s sake district, with a certified MagicalTrip guide such as Matt, Rika, or Yuka. Visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, pass historic Teradaya, see the Kappa Gallery, and taste up to 18 Kyoto sakes at a local sake restaurant. Food costs extra.

“Our afternoon spent during the sake tour was rich in history who would know that the Gekkeinan brewery existed since the 1600’s. Our guide was knowledgeable regarding the brewing process and stepped us through the tasting process. We had a wonderful time being sociable and tasting 17 types of sake. Our tour finished with our guide giving us advice on how to get to other areas more efficiently and hailing a taxi for us. I would thoroughly recommend our guide and the sake tour. It was a wonderful experience!”

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5.[1 Group Only] Osaka Street Food Tour for Family

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 208 reviews · from $66Best value

Spend three hours with a private guide such as Ben, Bao, Taro, or Mizuki, exploring Osaka’s Shinsekai and Namba food quarters. Try takoyaki, kushikatsu, gyoza, sushi, tempura, and other local dishes at small eateries, with translation where English menus are absent. One drink is included, and the route can be shaped around your group.

“Ben was amazing! We definitely visited places we would never have seen or experienced on our own. One of a kind.”

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6.KOBE Sake Tasting Tour at Breweries (tasting fee included)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 154 reviews · from $109

Spend about three and a half hours walking Kobe’s Nada Gogo with an English-speaking guide such as Hiro, Romi, Aya, or Aki. Visit historic breweries, taste up to several sake styles, stop at a local tofu shop, and learn how water, rice, yeast, and tradition shape each bottle. The route may change with brewery opening days.

“Hiro was a very knowledgeable and wonderful guide. Although the day was very hot she was so prepared and brought us water & fans. We toured several breweries, learned a lot and had great conversations”

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