Sake Town Tour, Saijo Hiroshima – Daytime

Price

¥20,570

Availability

DAILY

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Saijo is a hidden gem for sake fans.

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)

Sake Town Tour, Saijo Hiroshima

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

This tour doesn’t show the actual sake-making process, this is unavailable to the public and the breweries don’t allow this for sanitation and safety reasons. Sake Breweries are dangerous places: wet floors, high platforms, heavy machinery, and brewery workers hurriedly running around. There is also the possibility of contamination of the rice wine. Sake brewing is a delicate process, so bacteria brought in on the shoes or clothes of visitors could easily result in the entire batch literally going down the drain. Because of these conditions, we will view great information and displays detailing how sake is made and of course, visit delicious tasting rooms but we will not be able to see Sake being made in front of us, and cannot visit the brewing facilities.”

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 hopping. 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.

Sake Town Tour, Saijo Hiroshima 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.

Please note: due to legal restrictions at some of our stops on this tour- all members of your group must be 20 years old or older.

Minimum of 2 guests, Solo travelers 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 the 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.

Private Tours: For a more customized experience, make your tour private for an additional ¥19,500+ TAX. (min. 2 people). Please click the add-on button on your cart when you check out.

We have family-friendly pricing on many of our tours, BUT This tour is for adults over 20. Thank you for your understanding. If you would like to book a tour with children please check our Family-Friendly Page or inquiry to bookings@arigatojapan.co.jp for recommendations.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: We have a strict policy about starting our tours on time. 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 your meeting up at any of the food stops once you’ve missed the start of the tour. This is to protect the enjoyment of all our guests and the relationships with our restaurant partners. Please note we can only wait an additional five minutes after the starting time and then the tour will depart.

PLEASE NOTE: In addition to our limited no-exception five-minute grace period: we cannot give directions or contact the guides on the phone once the tour begins. This is to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all guests on the tour. Our Guides will focus on the tour and cannot be responsible to help you connect after the tour begins.

Tour Schedule:

Every day (Mon-Sun)
Meeting Time Frame	10:45 – 11:00 am
Start Time	11:00 am
End Time	2:00 pm

Changes on tours: Applicable substitutions may be made due to public holidays, weather conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances.

Sake tasting, lunch, snacks, and a pretty stroll through this historic town! We loved this tour and ended up bringing home 2-3 bottles to remember the day.

Marcus F.

Tour Details

SAKE TASTING INCLUDED YES
LUNCH AND DESSERT IN RESTAURANT YES
WALKING LEVEL MODERATE YES

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

Sake Town Tour, Saijo Hiroshima
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 Travel. Also, some stops may not have a viable substitution but we will make every effort to compensate at different stops throughout the tour.