Sake Tasting in Kita-Maruyama, Sapporo | Explore 4 Traditional Sake Vessels and Local Crafts in About 75 Minutes

Step through the black wooden door at Wa-Modern N6 in Kita-Maruyama, Sapporo

The venue is "Wa-Modern N6" in Kita-Maruyama, Sapporo. Including the sake tasting and time to browse crafts in the attached shop afterward, the whole experience lasts about 75 minutes.

The building combines silver walls with black wooden cladding, and the "N6" logo at the top makes it easy to spot. A parking area in front also makes it easy to find from the street.

A noren curtain hangs at the central entrance, next to a wooden "OPEN" sign. The second floor houses the craft shop "Wa-Modern N6 Kita-Maruyama," and the third floor is a gallery. Beyond this door, your time with sake and sake vessels begins.

Step inside: a modern Japanese space filled with crafts from across the country

The experience takes place in a modern Japanese space displaying traditional crafts from all over Japan. Display cases line a tatami-floored passageway, and kitchen knives glow under the lights on the walls.

A lattice ceiling and indirect lighting, light filtering through shoji screens, and a kumiko lattice partition: the calm, subdued lighting quietly sets the mood for the sake time ahead.

Every vessel on display has its own maker's story. Here, you will try a selection of them by actually drinking from them.

Glass, tin, wood and lacquer: the moment four sake vessels are set out

On the table are traditional sake vessels made from different materials: a tin guinomi cup, a wooden Magewappa (bentwood) vessel, and a Kiriko glass with colored overlay. The contrast in textures between metal, wood and glass is clear at a glance.

Unlike a typical tasting that compares several brands, this experience takes a distinctive approach: tasting the same sake from different vessels. The vessels include crafts from around Japan, such as Kiriko glass, Nousaku tin, Magewappa wood, and Usuki lacquer.

The sight of the vessels lined up is one of the most popular moments of the experience. Each one is made with careful attention to texture and how it feels to drink from.

One sake, poured into each vessel to discover the difference

The sake served is smooth and fruity, easy to drink even if you are new to sake. You will pour the same sake into four vessels and taste it from each one in turn.

Even though the sake is the same, the vessel changes how you perceive the aroma, how it feels on your lips, and the impression on your palate. That moment of realizing "this is the same sake as before, but it tastes different" is what makes the experience so fun.

As you compare, staff will tell you about the artisans and regions behind each vessel, and you can savor everything slowly with light snacks that pair well with sake.

After the tasting, find a vessel you love in the attached shop

After the tasting, you will have time to shop in the store. Being able to pick up the very vessels you just drank from, and choose the one you liked, is what makes this experience special.

If you take home a favorite sake vessel, you can keep using it at your own table as a reminder of your trip. When you pour the same sake at home, you will be able to recall what you discovered that day.

The store also displays crafts other than sake vessels, so it is worth leaving some extra time after the experience.

Things to check before booking

• About 75 minutes in total, including the tasting and time browsing products in the store afterward
• Venue: "Wa-Modern N6" in Kita-Maruyama, Sapporo
• Guidance available in English and Japanese
• Sake and light snacks are included
• As alcohol is served, check the age and ID requirements before booking
• Check the cancellation and change policy, as well as the latest details of the experience

Prices, hours and plan details are subject to change. Please check the latest information before booking. If you plan to drink, we recommend using public transportation.

Summary

At "Wa-Modern N6" in Kita-Maruyama, Sapporo, this tasting experience lets you enjoy a single sake in four traditional sake vessels.

Kiriko glass, tin, Magewappa and lacquer: pour the same sake into vessels of different materials and sip it one at a time, and you will notice differences in aroma and mouthfeel. While hearing the stories of the artisans and regions from the staff, you compare by changing not the sake but the vessel, which is the unique pleasure of this experience.

After the tasting, you can head to the attached shop to look for the vessels you just used. If you take home one you love, every sip of sake will remind you of the differences you tasted in Sapporo.

Rather than sampling lots of sake, this experience is for those who want to savor a single cup slowly while enjoying Japanese craftsmanship and sake culture together.

Book here: Sake Tasting Experience (Discover the Difference Through Sake Vessels)