Guided Sake Tasting in Central Tokyo (Shimbashi)
Ease into Japan’s national beverage, sake, in this beginner-friendly guided tasting in central Tokyo that includes a fun tasting quiz. Shochu tastings are also available!
Highlights
Venture into the fascinating world of Japanese sake, and enjoy tasting six different varieties, from sweet to dry and clear to cloudy, sourced distinguished sake breweries across Japan.
Learn about the history, culture, and spiritual significance of sake, as well as how to pair sake with food, from a leading sake expert.
Easy to access: This experience takes place at the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association in Shimbashi, central Tokyo, only a short train ride from Tokyo Station.
Test your new sake knowledge with a fun sake tasting quiz at the end and take home a sake-related souvenir and printed materials to guide you on your sake journey!
Shochu tasting is also available (see Options below).
10 meals
Experience Details
While many Japanese foods and drinks enjoy widespread popularity, sake remains largely misunderstood. A clear beverage often served in a small cup, sake can easily be mistaken for a strong spirit like vodka, but is actually a brewed drink made of fermented rice, both complex and delicate in taste. Sake has multiple varieties, with flavor notes ranging from sweet, dry, sour, and bitter.
Also known as Japanese wine, its production is more similar to beer than vodka, while still different from all three — and any other drink, for that matter. Curious to take a sip? Then, this guided tasting in Shimbashi (central Tokyo) is for you!
You’ll learn about the history, culture, spiritual significance, and brewing methods of sake from a leading expert in the field while sampling six kinds sourced from across Japan. Sip your way through oaky, fruity, cloudy, amber, and clear varieties of sake, and find your new favorite as you explore the depths of Japan's national drink.
Your guide will teach you what foods pair with what kinds of sake and answer all your sake-related questions before you wrap up with a fun tasting quiz. You’ll also receive a souvenir to kickstart your new life as a sake connoisseur.
Itinerary:
-Arrive at the venue and greet your guide
-Sit down and relax as you learn about sake, its cultural significance, and brewing processes from your guide
-Taste different kinds of sake while learning about their characteristics, origins, and brewing methods
-Put your newfound knowledge to the test in a fun tasting quiz
-Wrap up the experience and take home a souvenir and printed materials to help you on the next step of your sake journey!
Shochu is another traditional Japanese drink, a distilled spirit made from a variety of ingredients like sweet potato and barley. Shochu can be enjoyed alone, with hot water or soda, or used as a base for cocktails. If you’re curious to taste shochu and learn about its production and regional variations, see the Options below.
Inclusions
Guided sake tasting, including 6 different types of sake
Tasting quiz
Souvenir
Printed materials
Exclusions
Snacks and foods
Additional sake or shochu available for purchase
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Meet your host at the venue, Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association. It is a 5-minute walk from Toranomon Station (Exit 9), Kasumigaseki Station (Exit C3) and Uchisaiwaicho Station (Exit A4). More detailed information and a Google Maps link will be provided upon booking.
Remarks
Please note that no food pairings are available for this experience.
Participants must be over 20 years of age to drink alcohol. Underage guests can join for free without drinking (upon booking, please let the host know how many underage guests will join).
A shochu tasting is also available. If interested, please select it from the options menu.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 48 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Package Options
Experience Location
Over 14 million residents call Tokyo home. Functioning as Japan's economic and cultural center, it's no surprise the metropolis often appears at the top of travelers' bucket lists. Here, you can find everything from traditional tea houses to futuristic skyscrapers.
An excellent overview of what Sake is and the kinds of Sake available. Highly recommended 👌
This was a very informative and excellent experience. The folks at the Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center are very knowledgeable and represent the community of Sake and Shochu makers professi...read more
We really enjoyed our guided tasting and educational talk with Shuso yesterday. Fantastic experience. We’ll travel now with a much better understanding of japan’s food and sake culture.
I work in the spirits & tourism industry and this was a truly special experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable, professional and personable and an excellent host. The information shared on the ...read more
A great introductory session to sake. We really loved the lesson and the quiz. If you have 60 minutes, this is 100% worth it - if anything, try and do this BEFORE you hit the town and get a littl...read more
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10 meals
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