Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour: 10 Local Sakes & Zenkoji Temple

Taste 10 local sakes and walk Nagano's quiet streets around Zenkoji Temple

A 2-hour guided sake tasting in Nagano pairs around 10 local sakes (unfiltered, unpasteurized and seasonal styles) with a walk through Zenkoji Temple's backstreets and small shops. You taste three kinds of amazake (non-alcoholic), enjoy warm Nagano miso soup, visit a preserved sake factory dating back over 300 years, and learn tasting etiquette from your English-speaking guide. The tour starts at Nagano Station and returns there at the end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Nagano sake tasting and walking tour

• Meet guide at MIDORI Nagano Station
• Walk to Zenkoji Temple area
• Explore Zenkoji backstreets and shops
• Taste around 10 local sakes and plum wine
• Try 3 kinds of amazake and miso soup
• Visit historic old sake factory area
• Walk back to Nagano Station

The experience

The walk begins at Starbucks in front of Nagano Station and heads toward Zenkoji Temple's quieter streets for about 20 minutes. Your guide takes you past the main tourist route through local shops and backstreets, then shares the story of Zenkoji itself before moving on to the tasting venue. This is not a rushed highlight run. The pace lets you absorb the laid-back rhythm of the neighborhood and stop where something catches your eye.

At the tasting, you compare around 10 local sakes, the selection shifts with the season, including unfiltered and unpasteurized styles plus Nagano plum wine. Small nibbles like soy sauce beans and Japanese pickles come with each pour. You also try three kinds of amazake, a traditional sweet non-alcoholic drink, and a warm bowl of Nagano miso soup. The guide walks you through simple, authentic tasting etiquette and explains how each style differs. If you're under 20, you get an alternative drink instead of alcohol.

The historic sake factory area is a preserved site no longer used for production, but it shows you the traditional brewing space and how Nagano's sake culture took shape over more than 300 years. After tasting, you walk back toward Nagano Station (another 20 minutes). The tour runs about 2 hours total. If you want to linger near Zenkoji Temple afterward (to eat at a restaurant or explore on your own), you can say goodbye to your guide there. It's an easy walk back to the station from that point.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide.
• tasting of around 10 local sakes including unfiltered and unpasteurized styles.
• three kinds of amazake (non-alcoholic sweet drink).
• warm Nagano miso soup.
• small nibbles like soy sauce beans and Japanese pickles.
• admission to the historic sake factory area.
• instruction in Japanese tasting etiquette and local food culture.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00, 13:00 and 15:00

Book up to15h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 30

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by o8Experience

Is this one for you?This is a small-group walking tour with a guide, so you're learning and tasting alongside others rather than exploring on your own. It suits anyone curious about how sake is made and what makes Nagano's styles distinct, and it works well if you want the context and stories a local can share without the pace of a rushed sightseeing run.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): 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.

How many different sakes do I taste on this tour?

You taste around 10 local sakes, with the seasonal selection varying. The styles include unfiltered, unpasteurized and seasonal varieties, plus Nagano plum wine.

What is Zenkoji Temple and what do I see there?

Zenkoji Temple is a historic site in Nagano that your guide will explain as you walk through its quieter backstreets and small local shops, taking you beyond the main tourist route.

Is this tour suitable for someone who doesn't drink alcohol?

Yes. You taste three kinds of amazake, a traditional non-alcoholic sweet drink, and enjoy warm Nagano miso soup. If you're under 20, an alternative drink replaces the sake tasting.

How long is the walk, and what's the total time for the tour?

The tour runs about 2 hours total. The walk to Zenkoji Temple takes around 20 minutes, and the return walk to Nagano Station takes another 20 minutes, with the sake tasting and factory visit in between.

Where does the tour start and end?

You meet your guide in front of Starbucks at MIDORI Nagano Station. The tour concludes back at Nagano Station, though you can say goodbye to your guide near Zenkoji Temple if you'd like to explore the area further on your own.