Saijo Sake Tasting Tour: Brewery Street & Matsuo Shrine

Seven breweries still make sake the way they did a century ago.

A half-day sake tasting tour in Saijo, Hiroshima, where you walk Brewery Street, step inside historic breweries dating to the early 20th century, taste high-quality sake from multiple producers, and visit Matsuo Shrine. A Shinto shrine whose deity is said to bless sake making. A live English-speaking guide leads the experience. Entry fees and public transport are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saijo sake brewery tour and shrine visit

• Stroll through Saijo Sake Brewery Street
• Visit multiple sake breweries
• Taste various high-quality sake
• Purchase sake and souvenirs
• Visit Matsuo Shrine
• Learn and practice Shinto shrine prayers

The experience

Saijo earned its place as one of Japan's main sake capitals because of the town's climate, water and the Hiroshima-grown rice used in brewing. Seven breweries still operate here using traditional techniques, and most line a single street lined with white grid walls and red chimneys. You'll walk through this street with a guide, stopping inside multiple breweries to learn how sake is made and to taste different types. The location itself (the natural conditions, the rice, the techniques passed down) is what makes Saijo's sake rank among the highest quality in Western Japan. As you visit each brewery, you have the chance to buy bottles and souvenirs.

One stop takes you to Matsuo Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to various deities. The shrine holds a ritually divided part of the god from the original Matsuo Shrine in Kyoto, and this deity is venerated by Saijo's sake makers for providing blessings on the craft. Your guide will teach you how to pray at a Shinto shrine, and you can participate if you wish. The tour runs about four and a half hours and includes a live English-speaking guide, entry to all locations, and public transport to and from the activities.

What’s included

• Sake tasting at multiple breweries.
• entry fees to all tour locations.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• public transport to and from the activities.
• instruction on how to pray at a Shinto shrine.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 12:45

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 25

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a walking pace through Brewery Street and involves stops inside multiple breweries for tastings, so it suits someone comfortable with a half-day of moderate activity and interested in learning sake production firsthand rather than watching a demonstration.

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Top questions

What exactly do I taste on the Saijo sake tasting tour?

You sample high-quality sake from multiple different breweries along Brewery Street. Each brewery produces its own sake using traditional techniques, and the tasting lets you compare the different styles and qualities made in Saijo.

Can I buy sake to take home?

Yes. As you visit the breweries, you have the opportunity to purchase sake bottles and other souvenirs directly from each location.

What is Matsuo Shrine and why is it part of this tour?

Matsuo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Saijo dedicated to a deity said to bless sake making. The shrine holds a ritually divided part of the god from the original Matsuo Shrine in Kyoto, making it particularly venerated by the town's sake makers and brewers.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the tour?

Public transport options are available near the meeting point. The tour includes transport to and from the activities themselves, though you may need to arrange how you get to the starting location depending on where you're staying.

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

Travelers under 20 years old cannot participate in the sake tasting. The tour is built around tasting sake at multiple breweries, so if you don't drink alcohol, you may want to consider a different activity.