Sake tasting workshop in Asakusa: master selection skills

Taste 10 sakes, build your palate, learn to pick what you love

A hands-on sake tasting workshop in Asakusa where you learn to decode labels and flavor profiles, then select and taste 7 varieties from a library of 50+ premium labels over 110 minutes. The session teaches you the practical logic of sake selection through active exploration, not lecture, so you leave with the skills to navigate any menu. English-speaking guide; minimum age 20.

The Experience

The workshop opens with a 15-minute primer on sake essentials—the terms and label details that unlock what you're tasting. Then comes a vertical flight of three Dassai labels, where you taste how rice polishing shifts the flavor profile from one bottle to the next. That's the foundation. The rest of the 110 minutes is yours to explore: you move through the studio's library of 50+ premium sakes—icons like Dassai alongside rare local gems—and with the guide's help, you pick 7 more varieties to taste. The guide doesn't tell you what to like; they teach you how to taste, so each selection becomes a real decision instead of a guess.

The personal discovery part is where the logic clicks. You learn to read what's on the label—the rice polishing ratio, the brewing method, the alcohol content—and connect it to what lands on your tongue. By the time you've tasted your way through the selection, you've built a mental map of your own preferences: which styles pull you in, which ones you'd order again, what to ask for when you're at a restaurant menu with no guide beside you. The guide is there the whole time, but the tasting is self-paced; you move at your own speed and ask what matters to you.

The studio is in Asakusa and holds the Omotenashi Selection award for Japanese hospitality. It's wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby. You'll need to be at least 20 years old to participate. If you want to buy bottles or add extra tastings beyond the 10 included, those are available at checkout.

What’s included

• Tasting of 10 premium sake varieties.
• guidance on reading labels and flavor profiles.
• access to a library of 50+ labels.
• expert instruction in English from a live guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by WASAKE Sake Experience

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to learn sake selection as a skill you can use at any restaurant or shop, not just taste a few bottles and move on—the 110 minutes are built around teaching you the logic, so the knowledge sticks after you leave.

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Top questions

How many different sakes will I actually taste in this workshop?

You taste 10 varieties total: 3 from the Dassai vertical flight in the first part, then 7 more that you hand-pick yourself from the studio's library of 50+ labels during the personal discovery section.

What does the label-reading part teach me to spot?

The sake essentials segment covers the terms and details on the label—rice polishing ratio, brewing method, alcohol content—so you can decode what those numbers mean for flavor and know what to ask for when you're ordering at a restaurant or shop.

Do I have to taste what the guide picks, or do I choose?

You choose 7 of your 10 tastings from the studio's library of 50+ premium labels; the guide helps you apply what you've learned, but the selection is yours to make based on what appeals to you.

Is this workshop suitable if I'm pregnant or have heart concerns?

The workshop is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health; all other fitness levels are welcome, and the space is fully wheelchair accessible.

Can I buy bottles to take home after the tasting?

Yes, personal purchases and additional tastings are available at checkout if you want to buy any of the sakes you've tasted or add more varieties to your session.