Brewery Tour and Special Sake-Making Experience at a Historic Brewery in Nishijin, Kyoto—Includes Premium Sake Tasting

Brewing Sake in a Historic District that Harnesses Kyoto’s Water and Climate

Nishijin sits in downtown Kyoto, once thriving as the home of Nishijin-ori, a fine textile craft. Today, its rich heritage endures, with traditions passed through the ages. Established in 1893, Sasaki Sake Brewery brews sake in Nishijin in the heart of Kyoto, known as Rakuchu.

Cedar balls (sugidama) hung under the eaves to mark the brewing of new sake

While Fushimi is renowned for sake today, Kyoto's sake brewing roots lie in its center. Kyoto's basin geography, surrounded by mountains, collects high-quality groundwater, stored in underground bedrock reservoirs. Nishijin also saw sake flourish due to being able to select rice, an ingredient essential for sake brewing, from the annual tribute rice that gathered in Kyoto, Japan’s old capital. While Sasaki Sake Brewery is the only surviving sake brewery, the surrounding streets of Nishijin still carry a strong sense of history and tradition.

A stone monument near Sasaki Sake Brewery marks the site of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s former residence

Sasaki Sake Brewery stands at the southern end of the former Jurakudai, once home to Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598), the warlord who unified Japan. Blessed with abundant pristine groundwater, this area fostered various water-related industries like sake brewing, tofu production, dyeing, and the tea ceremony. Drawing from the same springs as tea master Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591), Sasaki Sake Brewery sources its water from Kinmeisui and Ginmeisui.

Observe the Refinement of Traditional Sake Making

At the brewery, craftsmen known as "kurabito" oversee the sake brewing process. These experts are well-versed in every step, from soaking the rice to bottling the sake, and will explain in depth both the process and the tools involved. At Sasaki Sake Brewery, everything from rice preparation to bottling is done on-site. This rare opportunity allows you to observe nearly the full scope of sake production—up close. The tour also includes exclusive access to the second floor of the brewery, a space typically closed to the public.

Rice undergoes milling, washing, bran removal, soaking, steaming, and cooling to achieve the desired consistency (The processes available for viewing vary depending on the season)

The storehouse maintains a cool temperature regardless of outside conditions, thanks to its traditional features like high ceilings, mud walls, and ventilation windows, crucial for optimal sake brewing. Sasaki Sake Brewery preserves handmade techniques while embracing innovation. They have adopted a centrifuge to separate the unrefined sake mash (moromi) without pressurizing it, resulting in a smooth aroma and clean taste.

In the brewery filled with the delightful aroma of sake, you can observe the fermentation process

During your visit, you will get to try the process of kaitsuki, stirring the sake base with a long wooden stick. Depending on the brewing schedule, you may also get to observe the jōzō process, where fermented moromi is strained into clear sake and sake kasu (sake lees). As sake is made through a complex process, the production stages you witness may differ depending on the time of year.

Stirring the sake base with a stick

Tasting 3-4 Types of Sake With Different Charms

Following the brewery tour, you will enjoy a tasting of Sasaki Sake Brewery’s finest labels. This includes 3–4 varieties with distinct flavor profiles, featuring seasonal selections and a Junmai Daiginjo not offered in the standard Wabunka experience.

A special tasting experience featuring rare and premium sake

You will also enjoy snacks that pair well with the sake you will taste, from pickles pickled in Sasaki Sake Brewery's sake to sake kasu karinto (fried dough snack coated with sake lees). By trying multiple sake types, you will discover your preferences and learn to enjoy sake in different ways.

Kyoto vegetable and fruit pickles, marinated in Sasaki Sake Brewery's sake

Preserving Kyoto's Culture & Crafting Superior Sake

After the experience, you can buy your favorite sake at the store, which stocks the complete range of Sasaki Sake Brewery's products. We recommend the flagship brand Jurakudai Junmai Daiginjo, known for its fragrant and elegant flavor, created to take advantage of Kyoto's chilly winter climate. Another favorite is the Koto Daiginjo, fruity and ideal for Japanese cuisine.

The shop offers a wide selection of sake, perfect for souvenirs

"Crafting various types of sake from rice and koji is a cherished Japanese tradition. I hope more people will discover and appreciate it," says Akira Sasaki, the fourth-generation owner of the brewery. Why not discover Kyoto’s history and culture through this exclusive brewery tour, hands-on sake-making, and guided tasting—an opportunity to fully savor the art of Sasaki Brewery’s sake?

Sake brewed from renowned Ginmeisui loved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi