Sake Town Tour, Saijo Hiroshima

The town has eight breweries, seven of which are situated along Sakagura-dori (Sake Brewery Street). On our tour we will take a stroll through the historic streets  going from brewery to brewery to enjoy samples of local sake.

Saijo breweries are concentrated in such a tight area because of the “shikomi mizu,” the water that is essential for producing sake. Hailed as a “miracle water” with a medium hardness suited to sake brewing, it bubbles under the ground of this area in the Saijo district. What’s more is that apparently there are subtle differences in the water’s components according to a brewery’s location. Shikomi mizu is an absolute must for sake.

If you want to discover the true taste of sake you must visit Saijo (Hiroshima Prefecture)

Our tour begins with a tasting and sake explanation at Kamotsuru. This sake brewery is representative of Hiroshima sake. Kamotsuru boasts an impressive line up of 12 unique bottles. Visiting this spot first we will see many artifacts and learn about the brewing process.

After our first brewery visit, we will head off to try a local specialty hot-pot dish made with premium sake, called Bishu Nabe, and other tasting plates made with Saijo ingredients. Learn about the history of this tasty dish at a local lunch spot. (bishu nabe must be ordered in advance so for last minute bookings for the tour we may have an alternate lunch menu.) After lunch, stroll the picturesque streets and go brewery hoping. Tasting rooms are each unique and you can sample many kinds of sake and sake based products.  Visit a local cafe and enjoy sweets and a snack break inspired by Japanese rice wine.

 At each brewery will sit be able to sample different kinds of sake. If you find a type you like, the brewery shops carry a huge variety for you to purchase and take home.

Minimum of 2 guests, Solo travellers please email us.
Tour Highlights:

• 3 hour tour of Saijo district in Hiroshima
• Visit 4-6 local sake breweries to get a sense of the differences, try their sake and other products.
• See how a brewery works and get a sense of what goes into production of the world’s best sake.
• Enjoy a local specialty hot-pot lunch only made in this small, historic town.
• Dessert stop with sweets and snacks.

We have a strict policy about starting our tours on time. This is to protect the enjoyment of all our guests and restaurant partners. We are sorry to say that if you are not able to arrive at the meeting point by the departure time, the tour will start regardless and no refund will be provided. We are also unable to accommodate meeting up in any of the food stops once you’ve missed the start of the tour.
Arigato Tours are a great way to meet other travelers and food fans from around the world. However if you would prefer a private tour please see the additional fees below and click the add on button on your cart when you check out. 
For a more customized experience, make your tour private for an additional $175 + TAX (min. 2 people) (5+ $250 + TAX)

Private Food Tour Add-on (1-4 people) (+$175.00)
Private Food Tour Add-on (5+ people) (+$250.00)
Tour Schedule:

Changes to tours and spots we visit may occur due to schedules of restaurants, public holidays, weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances. Applicable substitutions will be made in this case. 

For this tour, it is possible (with advanced notice at the time of booking) to make adjustments to support the following dietary restrictions:

Please keep in mind, however, that we cannot make an allergy free or dietary restriction food guarantee since food is prepared in kitchens that do not belong to Arigato Japan. Also some stops may not have a viable substitution but we will make every effort to compensate at different stops throughout the tour.

You can copy and paste this to Google Maps:

〒739-0011 Hiroshima-ken, Higashihiroshima-shi, Saijōhonmachi, 12, 西条本町１２

Take the Sanyo Main Line from Hiroshima Station. Train leaves aproximately every 10 minutes, takes about 35-40 minutes.

Our guide will be in front of the info center, holding an “Arigato Japan” sign.

We suggest wearing comfortable shoes as there will be walking involved.

WEATHER REMINDER: 
On rainy days, we recommend bringing an umbrella. They can be easily purchased at any convenience store.

Should you have any questions you can reach us at info@arigatojapan.co.jp