Private Sake Tasting in Central Kyoto with Sommelier

Eight sakes, snacks, and how to taste like someone who knows

A private sake tasting in central Kyoto for 1–4 people, led by Kenji, a certified international sake sommelier who spent years at a brewery in Hyogo. You'll taste eight hand-selected sakes from across Japan, learn how sake is made and how to order it, and pair each pour with traditional Japanese snacks at a standing bar in the heart of the city. The experience runs two hours and is available in English or Japanese.

The Experience

Kenji leads you through the fundamentals of sake the way someone who has actually made it would — not as theory, but as the choices that happen inside a brewery. You'll learn how production methods shape what ends up in your glass, how to read a label, and what to ask for when you're ordering. The tasting moves through eight sakes selected to show you the range: different regions, different styles, different levels of refinement. Each one comes with traditional Japanese snacks that complement it, so you're tasting how sake actually gets enjoyed, not in isolation.

The venue is a standing bar in central Kyoto — no seats, which is part of what makes it feel like the real thing. Your group stays private, so the conversation stays between the four of you at most, and Kenji adjusts the pace to what you want to know. Two hours is enough to move through the sakes without rushing and to ask the questions that come up as you taste.

What’s included

• Eight sakes from across Japan.
• traditional Japanese snacks paired with each tasting.
• instruction from a certified international sake sommelier on production, ordering, and appreciation.
• two hours in a private group setting.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Kenji from Kyoto, a certified international sake sommelier

Is this one for you?The standing bar format and two-hour pace suit someone who wants to learn sake seriously without a long commitment — you're on your feet, moving through eight sakes with a professional who knows how to teach, not sitting through a formal ceremony.

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Top questions

What exactly will I be tasting during the two hours?

Eight hand-selected sakes from across Japan, each paired with traditional Japanese snacks. Kenji chooses them to show you the range of styles and regions, and the snacks are there to show you how sake is actually enjoyed with food.

Who is leading this tasting, and what makes them qualified?

Kenji is a certified international sake sommelier who spent many years working at a sake brewery in Hyogo. He teaches you from the perspective of someone who has actually made sake, not just tasted it.

Is this experience private, or will I be tasting with other groups?

It's completely private — your group only, whether it's one person or four. Kenji tailors the tasting to what you want to learn.

What's the standing bar like, and will I be comfortable there for two hours?

It's a cool standing bar in central Kyoto with no seats. The standing format is part of the authentic experience, and two hours at a bar counter with snacks and conversation is a manageable pace.

What languages does Kenji speak?

Kenji leads the tasting in English or Japanese, so you can choose whichever works best for you.

Is there a minimum age for this tasting?

Yes — participants must be at least 20 years old, which is the legal drinking age in Japan.