Kobe Beef & Sake Tasting Tour: Nada, Ikuta Shrine, Teppanyaki

Cedar barrels, six kinds of sake, a shrine that survived earthquakes, and Kobe beef seared in front of you

A guided tour of Kobe starting in Nada, Japan's top sake region, where you watch barrel craftsmen at work, taste six varieties of sake with sake-lees ice cream, visit the historic Ikuta Shrine, and sit at a teppanyaki counter to watch Kobe beef grilled live. The tour runs four hours with an English-speaking guide, includes lunch and a souvenir sake cup, and ends at Sannomiya Station.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kobe sake, shrine, and beef experience

• Meet at Uozaki Station
• Visit Kiku-Masamune Sake Museum
• Join barrel-making tour and sake tasting
• Travel to central Kobe
• Explore Ikuta Shrine
• Enjoy Kobe beef lunch
• Tour ends at Sannomiya Station

The experience

The tour begins at Uozaki Station in Nada, where you meet your guide outside the ticket gate. From there you walk to Kiku-Masamune Sake Museum, the starting point for understanding how sake gets made: the water, rice, techniques and regional terroir that define Nada's brewing tradition. You move through exhibits that let you handle actual tools and materials, then step into the Taruzake Meister Factory, a facility opened in 2023 where barrel craftsmen assemble and roast cedar barrels by hand. You watch them work, feel the wood, and smell the cedar that will flavor premium sake. After the tour (availability varies), you taste six kinds of sake and try sake-lees ice cream or sorbet.

Next, you travel into central Kobe to Ikuta Shrine, an ancient site with over 1,800 years of history. Your guide shares how the shrine survived war and earthquakes and why it matters to Kobe's story. The grounds hold the Ikuta Forest, where clear water flows through sacred space. Then comes the centerpiece: lunch at a teppanyaki restaurant where you sit at the counter and watch a chef grill world-famous Kobe beef live in front of you. The beef is graded under strict conditions, not every cow earns the name. You leave with photos your guide took during the day and an original Kiku-Masamune sake cup to take home.

What’s included

• An English-speaking guide throughout.
• entry to Kiku-Masamune Sake Museum and the barrel workshop.
• six sake tastings with sake-lees ice cream or sorbet.
• a souvenir Kiku-Masamune sake cup.
• Kobe beef lunch grilled teppanyaki-style at your counter seat.
• photos taken by your guide during the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except TuesdayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by MagicalTrip Inc.

Is this one for you?The tour starts at Uozaki Station on the Hanshin line, so you reach Nada's sake region by train without needing a car or arranging separate transport. If you're staying in central Kobe or near the airport, this meeting point settles the logistics before the day begins.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Kobe beef, and why is it so expensive?

Kobe beef is a world-renowned brand of Wagyu raised under strict conditions in a limited area. Only cattle meeting those standards earn the Kobe name, which is why the meat commands premium prices and why watching it grilled at your seat is the tour's signature moment.

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

Yes. The sake tasting includes sorbet instead of alcohol for non-drinkers, so you still get the ice cream experience and the full sake museum tour without the tasting portion.

How do I get to Uozaki Station if I'm staying elsewhere in Kobe?

Uozaki Station is on the Hanshin railway line, accessible from central Kobe and the airport by train. Your guide will meet you at the station ticket gate, so you can arrive by public transport without a car.

What is the Taruzake Meister Factory, and will I see it on this tour?

The Taruzake Meister Factory is a workshop where skilled craftsmen assemble and roast cedar barrels used for premium sake. You watch the entire barrel-making process up close and experience the wood's scent and texture, though availability of the barrel tour may vary by date.

How long is the tour, and where does it end?

The tour runs four hours and ends at Sannomiya Station, where your guide shares local tips for exploring more of Kobe on your own.