3-Hour Sake Brewery Walking Tour in Fushimi, Kyoto | Sake & Craft Beer Tasting at Gekkeikan and Kizakura

Meet at Chushojima Station for a 3-Hour Walk Through Fushimi's Sake District

This tour is a 3-hour walking experience through the sake breweries and historic streets of Fushimi, Kyoto, accompanied by a guide. The meeting point is Chushojima Station, where you'll meet your guide, and the tour is offered in Japanese, English, and Chinese.

Fushimi is considered one of Japan's three great sake-producing regions, and this tour offers a chance to learn about traditional Japanese sake brewing, which was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024. Both group and private tour formats are available, with a rating of 4.5 (41 reviews) and over 400 bookings.

Taste Junmai Daiginjo at the Gekkeikan Sake Museum

The first stop is the museum of Gekkeikan Sake Brewery, said to be Kyoto's largest sake producer. The museum displays traditional sake-brewing tools and features a theater screening, allowing visitors to see firsthand how sake has been made over the centuries.

A tasting of junmai daiginjo, considered the pinnacle of Japanese sake, is included in the price here. Gekkeikan is also introduced as a brewery with a factory in California, USA, and the historic brewery building, constructed centuries ago, is another highlight worth seeing.

Kizakura Sake Brewery: Kyoto Craft Beer Too

At Kizakura Sake Brewery, a tasting of Kyoto craft beer is included alongside the sake tasting. The brewery is known as one of the pioneers of craft beer production in the region, and being able to compare sake and beer side by side is a distinctive part of this tour.

The experience also includes a tasting of Fushimi's natural spring water, essential to sake brewing. Described as soft, mellow, and rich in minerals, this tasting makes it easy to appreciate how water quality affects the taste of sake.

Fushimi Sakagura Koji and Fushimi Yumehyakushu: Great Photo Spots

Fushimi Sakagura Koji is a facility operated with the support of 17 sake breweries belonging to the Fushimi Sake Brewers Association. Visitors can enjoy local Fushimi sake alongside dishes from across Japan, and the tasting set featuring 17 different sakes is introduced as a popular attraction often featured on social media. URL: https://fushimi-sakagura-kouji.com/

Fushimi Yumehyakushu is a facility housed in Gekkeikan's former main store, built over 100 years ago. Here, sake-flavored ice cream is served, making it enjoyable even for those who don't drink alcohol or are pregnant. URL: https://kyoto-fushimi.or.jp/sake/

During the tour, there are said to be many great photo spots, including the chance to take commemorative photos inside a large sake barrel and along the riverside where boats once carried sake to Osaka.

Wrapping Up with a Tasting Guided by a Sake Shop Owner

The tour concludes with a sake tasting at a shop called Aburacho, guided by the shop owner's explanations. Since the commentary comes from the perspective of both a maker and seller, you can deepen your understanding of the differences in flavor as you taste your way through.

The guide's thorough explanations are also cited as one of the tour's highlights. In just 3 hours, you can gain knowledge about sake while soaking in the atmospheric streets of Fushimi, which still bear traces of the late Edo period.

Things to Check Before Booking

• Start time and duration (3 hours)
• Meeting point at Chushojima Station and how to meet the guide
• Languages offered (Japanese, English, Chinese)
• Difference between group and private tours
• What's included in the tastings and how many cups to expect
• Whether the facilities visited are open on the day of the tour
• Participation conditions for those under 20 or pregnant
• Whether sake-flavored ice cream will be served
• Appropriate footwear and clothing for 3 hours of walking
• Transportation plans after drinking
• Whether there's time to buy souvenirs
• Cancellation and rescheduling policies

Since this tour involves drinking, it's best to avoid planning to drive afterward. As part of the tour takes place outdoors, be sure to dress according to the weather.

Summary

This 3-hour guided walking tour in Fushimi, Kyoto, takes you through the Gekkeikan Sake Museum, Kizakura Sake Brewery, Fushimi Sakagura Koji, Fushimi Yumehyakushu, and the sake shop Aburacho. It includes tastings of junmai daiginjo, Kyoto craft beer, and Fushimi's natural spring water.

For those who don't drink, sake-flavored ice cream is also available, and there are many great photo spots, including sake barrels and sightseeing boats. The tour meets at Chushojima Station and is offered in Japanese, English, and Chinese.

Rated 4.5 (41 reviews). Check the booking page for full plan details and meeting location.