Kasama sake brewery and temple tour: 3-hour walking guide

An 800-year-old ginkgo tree planted by Shinran still grows in the temple courtyard

A 3-hour guided walking tour through the Inada area of Kasama city visits Sainenji Temple, Isokura Sake Brewery, and Inada Shrine with an English-speaking guide. You enter the temple's main hall to see statues of Amida Buddha, Shinran (the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism), and his wife Eshinni, then learn how sake has been brewed using local water and rice since 1868, taste the products at the shop, and finish at a cypress shrine founded 1,200 years ago.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cultural tour in Inada area

• Meet at JR Mito Line Inada station
• Walk to Sainenji temple
• See giant Ginkgo tree at temple
• Enter temple main hall to see statues
• Visit Isokura Sake Brewery
• Learn traditional sake making
• Taste various sake products
• Visit Inada Shrine
• See worship hall and main shrine

The experience

How do you spend a morning learning Japanese craft and religious history without a car? This tour strings three sites across the Inada area (a temple, a working brewery, and a shrine) into one walking route that starts at JR Mito Line Inada station. The guide speaks English and walks the whole route with you, so the stops and their stories stay connected instead of scattered across a day you have to piece together yourself.

Sainenji Temple is where Shinran, the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, lived for about 20 years during his missionary work in eastern Japan. You walk from the station and enter the main hall to stand in front of statues of Amida Buddha, Shinran, and his wife Eshinni. Outside, an 800-year-old ginkgo tree with golden leaves grows on the temple ground, Shinran planted it. The Sanmon gate above the courtyard is thatched roof and dates to the 14th century. It survived a fire that destroyed other buildings around it.

At Isokura Sake Brewery, you join the brewery tour and learn how sake called Inasato has been made since 1868 using water from Inada granite stones and rice grown in Kasama. The brewery uses traditional methods, and you taste various products at the shop afterward. The tour fee is included. Inada Shrine, founded roughly 1,200 years ago and the origin of the area's name, closes the route. The worship hall and main shrine are built entirely of cypress wood, and the shrine ground is surrounded by trees: a quiet place to end the walk.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide for the full 3-hour walk.
• brewery tour at Isokura Sake Brewery.
• sake tasting at the shop.
• bottle of water.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to Sunday

AgesAdult (19 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 75 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Infant (3 to 6 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

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 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Miyoko

Is this one for you?The route is a 3-hour walk across the Inada area, so you'll be on foot the whole time with a guide who sets the pace. Choose this tour if you're comfortable walking for that length and want to move through the sites on foot rather than by vehicle.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (7 to 12 years); Infant (3 to 6 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What is Shinran and why is he important to this temple?

Shinran was the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and lived at Sainenji Temple for about 20 years during his missionary work in eastern Japan. Statues of him, Amida Buddha, and his wife Eshinni stand in the temple's main hall, and an 800-year-old ginkgo tree he planted still grows in the courtyard.

Can I taste sake at Isokura Brewery, or just watch how it's made?

You join the brewery tour to learn how sake called Inasato is made using traditional methods with local water and rice, and then taste various sake products at the shop. The brewery tour fee is included in your booking.

How old is Inada Shrine and what is it known for?

Inada Shrine was founded approximately 1,200 years ago and is the origin of the area's name. The enshrined deity is Princess Kushinada, worshiped as a deity of matchmaking, and the worship hall and main shrine are built entirely of cypress wood.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to get to the tour start?

The tour meets at JR Mito Line Inada station, and public transportation options are available nearby to reach it. The rest of the route is walked with the guide.