Top Takayama Spring Break

Hirata Sake Brewery, which celebrates its 130th anniversary this year, offers tours of its new brewery, which relocated in 2024. Each tour is limited to a small number of participants, and staff members will guide you through the brewery and offer tastings, allowing you to learn more about sake brewing up close. The roots of Hirata Sake Brewery were put down way back in 1769 during the Edo period. It was started by a merchant who ran a bintsuke oil and candle shop in the center of Hida Takayama. In 1895, during the Meiji era, the 5th generation owners converted this to a sake brewery which then was the beginning of Hirata Sake Brewery. The source of Japanese spiritual culture and the distinct advantage of Hida with its severe winters and rich tradition of sake making brings forth a fine range of exquisite sake. That is Hirata Sake Brewery.

If you’re interested in learning how sake is made, then this is the tour for you. In the company of an English-speaking guide, you'll visit the historic Tenryo Sake Brewery, one of the oldest sake breweries in the Hida region. A sake brewer will show you the step-by-step process of making sake, and take you on a behind-the-scenes tour. A highlight is being able to taste different sakes; all tastings are included in the tour cost.

A skilled guide will give you this tour of the taverns and charming Takayama nights that only locals usually enter. You will learn about the local culture and history as well as the nightlife of the locals. You may also take this opportunity to ask your guide any questions you have about Japan or anything else you would like to know. The tour will stop at no less than 3 Izakaya or Bar. For safety reasons, we cannot accept groups of men only when a female guide is available. Sometimes Izakaya or bar we are planning to visit is not open, in which case we will go somewhere else. Please contact us in advance if you have any allergies or food restrictions or the case only table seat available.

Discover the Art of Japanese Sake in Takayama Join a guided tour of historic sake breweries in the heart of Takayama’s old town. Learn the traditional brewing process, explore normally off-limits areas inside the breweries, and enjoy tastings of carefully crafted sake, from time-honored classics at Hirata Brewery to modern flavors at Funasaka Brewery. With an English-speaking guide, deepen your appreciation for Japan’s iconic drink in a truly immersive setting.

You can experience not only History and culture but also local food & Sake brewery of Takayama. include food fee and experience of making Rice cracker and Sake tasting in Hirase brewery. sometimes Rice cracker factory suddenly rest, so we need confirm if it's possible to do making rice cracker This is walking tour around in Takayama city. local guide could satisfy you! If you need other language guide, please let us know. If you wanted to private tour let us know. Not less than 2 person. Please call us if you want to do our tour within few hours. If it's raining possible to do this tour.

Rather than simply visiting sake breweries, this experience offers a deeper understanding of “jizake,” or locally rooted sake culture. Your guide tailors the tour to your preferences, selecting breweries based on your interests and curiosity. You will step inside working breweries, including areas not typically open to the public, and gain insight into traditional brewing methods and seasonal processes. At one brewery, you will taste multiple varieties in the place they were made, with guided explanations that help you understand differences in flavor, style, and craftsmanship. This is not just a tasting, but an experience that connects what you drink to where you are. As a fully private tour, it also allows you to explore at your own pace in a relaxed and personal setting.