Saijo Sake Tasting Tour: 7 Breweries in 2 Hours

Walk through Saijo's brewing quarter and taste what each brewery makes best

A guided sake tasting tour in Saijo, Hiroshima visits seven breweries within walking distance of Saijo Station in two hours. You taste eight different sake styles (Daiginjo, Junmai, frozen and unfiltered varieties) recommended by each brewery, with an English-speaking guide explaining the history and craft of each one. The tour starts at the Tourist Information Center. Arrive 10 minutes early, and note that some breweries rarely offer tastings on weekdays, making this access unusual.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saijo Sake Breweries Tasting Tour

• Meet at Saijo Station Tourist Center
• Watch sake making video at Kamotsuru
• Taste Daiginjo Gold Kamotsuru sake
• Taste Fukubijin Junmai-Shu sake
• Taste Kamoizumi Junmai Ginjoshu sake
• Restroom break and souvenir browsing
• Taste Yoshidaya’s Sake at Kirei Shuzo
• Taste Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Shinzui at Saijotsuru
• Taste Hyoka frozen sake and plum wine at Hakubotan
• Taste cloudy sake at Sanyotsuru brewery

The experience

Saijo is one of Japan's three major sake brewing regions, and seven breweries cluster within roughly one kilometer of Saijo Station. The tour meets at the Tourist Information Center right outside the ticketing gate and moves through them on foot, covering about 1.5 kilometers total. Your guide walks you through the history and brewing philosophy of each brewery before you taste their signature sake, so you understand what you're drinking instead of just sampling.

The stops move through different styles. Kamotsuru, a pioneer in Ginjo brewing, opens with a 10-minute video on sake-making and a taste of their Daiginjo Gold. Fukubijin, once called the Saijo Brewing School, offers Junmai-Shu (and warm sake in winter). Kamoizumi was among the first to brew pure rice sake and pours their Junmai Ginjoshu. Kirei Shuzo specializes in dry sake and serves a limited monthly blend. Saijotsuru uses traditional techniques and offers a Monde Selection award winner. Hakubotan, founded in 1675, pours unfiltered frozen sake and plum wine. Sanyotsuru, west of the station, serves cloudy sake. A restroom break and information stop happen midway.

The two-hour window is tight enough that timing matters. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, your reservation cancels. The pace is walking and tasting, not sitting. Wear comfortable shoes. You won't see the brewing process itself, only the finished products and the spaces where they're sold and tasted. The order of breweries can shift depending on group size that day, and some stops may change, but the seven breweries and eight tastings stay the same.

What’s included

• Eight different sake tastings across seven breweries.
• English-speaking guide explaining the history and brewing methods of each brewery.
• a 10-minute video introduction to sake-making at Kamotsuru.
• a restroom break and information stop midway through the tour.
• access to breweries that rarely offer tastings on weekdays.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and FridayDeparts at 13:00

AgesAdult (20 and older) · Under 20: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Higashi Hiroshima City Tourism Association

Is this one for you?Choose this tour to taste seven different breweries' sake styles in one compact afternoon with an English-speaking guide explaining each brewery's approach: some don't normally open for weekday tastings.

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Top questions

Can I do this sake tasting tour if I don't drink alcohol?

Yes, the tour fee remains the same whether you taste the sake or not. You still walk through all seven breweries and hear the guide's explanations about each one.

What types of sake will I taste on this Saijo tour?

You'll taste eight different sake styles across the seven breweries, including Daiginjo (highly polished rice sake), Junmai (pure rice sake), frozen sake, unfiltered sake, and limited seasonal blends. Each brewery pours their own signature product or a sake they've selected for that month.

Do I need to be fit to walk this Saijo sake tour?

The tour covers about 1.5 kilometers on foot over two hours with tastings at each stop, so a moderate level of fitness helps. Comfortable walking shoes are essential. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.

Why is this tour valuable if I can visit Saijo breweries on my own?

Some of the seven breweries do not usually offer sake tasting on weekdays, making this guided tour the rare chance to sample from all of them in one visit. The English-speaking guide also explains the history and brewing methods behind each sake, which you wouldn't get walking in alone.

What time does the Saijo sake tour start, and how early should I arrive?

The tour starts at 1:00 PM at the Tourist Information Center outside Saijo Station's ticketing gate. Arrive 10 minutes early. If you're more than 15 minutes late, your reservation will be canceled and a cancellation fee will apply. The tight schedule is what allows all seven breweries to fit into two hours.