Sake tasting in Asakusa: Japan's oldest underground street

Sip rare sake styles paired with local bites in Asakusa’s hidden cellar ambiance

A sake pairing activity in Asakusa's historic underground street, where you taste at least five types of sake with curated local dishes while a sommelier explains brewing history, flavor profiles and how the pairings work. The venue itself, a hidden gem beneath the city, has preserved its original character for more than seven decades. English-speaking guide included. Minimum age 20.

The Experience

What makes this different from a sake bar is the setting and the structure. You're tasting in Japan's oldest underground street, a narrow passage that has survived since the 1950s and still feels like stepping back into old Tokyo. The sommelier walks you through the sake itself (dry to sweet, the subtle aromas, what makes each type distinct), and then you taste each one alongside a carefully chosen dish designed to bring out flavors you'd miss on their own. It's not a lecture. It's a pairing, which means the food and the sake are doing the work together.

The experience runs about 90 minutes and includes at least five kinds of sake, a meal built around those pairings, and stories about how sake is made and why this particular street matters to Tokyo's cultural memory. Your guide speaks English and knows the history of both the sake and the underground street itself. The sommelier's job is to help you taste what's actually in the glass, not to sell you on it, so you'll leave knowing what you like and why.

What’s included

• Guided sake tasting with at least five types of sake.
• curated meal pairing with local dishes.
• sommelier explanation of sake characteristics, brewing history and pairing techniques.
• access to Japan's oldest underground street in Asakusa.
• English-speaking guide.

Days and timesDaily · 19:00

Ages20 to 70 years · Under 20 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “There is a Japanese style bar, named Motsunobu.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by CarpediemGuys

Is this one for you?This is a shared experience with a sommelier leading the group through the tasting and pairing, so it suits anyone who wants to learn sake properly rather than just drink it, and who values the hidden-gem venue as much as the sake itself. If you prefer to taste at your own pace or want a private group, this format won't be the fit.

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Top questions

How many different sake types will I taste?

At least five kinds of sake, each paired with a dish designed to complement its flavor profile.

What's included in the meal part of the pairing?

A carefully curated selection of local delicacies chosen to enhance and complement the sake you're tasting throughout the experience.

Is there a minimum age requirement?

Yes, you must be at least 20 years old to participate in the sake tasting.

What makes Japan's oldest underground street special?

This hidden passage has preserved its original atmosphere for over 70 years, offering a nostalgic glimpse into old Tokyo that most visitors never find. It's been a cultural landmark in Asakusa since the 1950s.

Will the guide explain how sake is made?

Yes, the sommelier shares the history of sake brewing, the characteristics of different types, and the cultural significance of the underground street itself.