Sake Town Tour in Saijo, Hiroshima: 4-6 Breweries & Lunch

Walk through Japan's sake heartland and taste what eight breweries make

A 3-hour guided tour of Saijo, Hiroshima's sake region, where you visit 4-6 working breweries, taste a range of sake styles, and eat a local specialty hot-pot lunch and dessert. An English-speaking guide leads the way through the white-walled buildings and red brick chimneys that define the district, with time to shop for bottles you want to take home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sake breweries and local sights tour

• Meet at Higashihiroshimashi Information Centre
• Visit Kyozenji Temple
• Visit Mitate Shrine
• Explore Saijosakaguradori Information Centre
• Tour 4-6 local sake breweries
• Enjoy local specialty hot-pot lunch
• Stop for dessert with sweets and snacks
• Visit Senseki Garden
• Visit Kagamiyama Park

The experience

Saijo sits about an hour from central Hiroshima and holds eight breweries: more than most sake towns in Japan. The tour visits 4-6 of them depending on the season and opening hours, so you taste different styles: crisp and dry, smooth and fruity, and whatever else the breweries have on pour that day. You walk the charming streets where the air smells of fermenting rice, and a guide explains what goes into production as you move through each brewery. The actual fermentation rooms stay off-limits, but you see enough of how a brewery operates to understand why the craft matters here.

Lunch is Bishu Nabe, a hot-pot dish made only in this small historic town and ordered in advance so it's ready when you arrive. You also stop for dessert and snacks. The tour runs 3 hours total, so it fits into an afternoon or a morning with time before or after. Shopping happens at the brewery shops, where you can buy exclusive bottles and other sake products if something catches your taste.

The tour requires at least a moderate level of fitness. You're walking the district and climbing brewery stairs. Minimum drinking age is 21. If you're traveling solo, email ahead to confirm availability. The guide speaks English, and the route may shift based on restaurant schedules, holidays or weather, with substitutions made as needed.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide.
• tastings at 4-6 local sake breweries.
• Bishu Nabe hot-pot lunch.
• dessert and snacks.
• shopping time at brewery shops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (20 to 80 years) · Under 20: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 10

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 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 yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Arigato Japan KK

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon and want to taste sake directly from the breweries that make it, with a guide explaining the craft as you walk. The 3-hour length fits between other Hiroshima activities, and the included lunch means you don't need to plan a separate meal.

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Top questions

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 does the tour actually include to eat and drink?

The tour includes tastings at 4-6 breweries, a local hot-pot lunch called Bishu Nabe, and a dessert stop with sweets and snacks. Additional drinks or food beyond what's listed can be ordered at checkout.

How many breweries do we visit, and can we choose which ones?

You visit 4-6 breweries depending on the season and their opening hours that day. The guide selects the route to fit the schedule, so the exact stops may vary from tour to tour.

Is this tour walkable for someone with limited mobility?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. You walk through the Saijo district and climb stairs inside the breweries, so it's not suitable for travelers with significant mobility limitations.

Can I buy sake to take home?

Yes. The brewery shops offer exclusive bottles and other products. Shopping time is built into the tour, so you can purchase what you like and arrange to carry it or have it shipped.

What's the minimum age to join this tour?

The minimum drinking age is 21 years. You'll taste sake at each brewery, so this age requirement applies to all participants.

Is the tour suitable if I'm vegetarian or have dietary restrictions?

The tour is not recommended for vegans, vegetarians, those avoiding seafood, or those avoiding pork, since Bishu Nabe is a hot-pot dish with meat and seafood. Pescetarian and gluten-free options are available: email ahead to arrange this before booking.