Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery Tour: Private Day Trip with Tasting

Walk the Tama river valley, tour a working brewery, taste sake in the tasting room, eat lunch overlooking the water

A private guided day trip to Ozawa Shuzo, Tokyo's oldest functioning sake brewery, located 80 minutes by train from Shinjuku in the Tama river valley. The tour includes a riverside walk from Mitake station, a brewery tour with production methods and sake varieties explained by staff, a gourmet lunch at the brewery's traditional restaurant, sake tastings in the tasting rooms, a visit to a small forest temple, and return transport to Shinjuku with your guide. All food, drinks and beverages are included; minimum age is 20 years.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit brewery and riverside walk

• Stroll along Tama river to brewery
• Tour Ozawa Shuzo sake brewery
• Enjoy gourmet lunch at brewery
• Taste various sakes in tasting room
• Shop for souvenirs at brewery
• Have final drink in brewery garden
• Visit small temple overlooking river
• Walk to Sawai station and return

The Experience

The day starts with a walk from Mitake station down to the brewery along the Tama river, building your thirst with the green valley scenery and fresh air before you arrive at Ozawa Shuzo. The brewery sits in the woods next to the river and has been operating longer than any other sake brewery in Tokyo. Your guide and brewery staff walk you through the production process, the history of the brewery and the different types of sake made there, then you tour the actual working brewery floor.

After the tour, you eat a gourmet lunch at the brewery's traditional restaurant overlooking the water. Then you move to the tasting rooms to sample the various types of sake on offer—the core part of the day for anyone who came to understand what sake actually tastes like. You have time to browse the brewery shop for bottles to take home before a final drink in the garden. The walk back up to Sawai station takes you past a small temple hidden in the woods, with a view over the Tama river and a large bell.

Your guide accompanies you on the train back to Shinjuku, so the 80-minute ride is part of the experience, not dead time. The whole day runs about eight hours from pickup to return. Comfortable shoes matter—there is a moderate amount of walking—and the Tama valley runs slightly cooler than central Tokyo, so dress for the weather.

What’s included

• Private local guide in English or Japanese.
• train transport from Shinjuku to Mitake station and return from Sawai station with your guide.
• riverside walk along the Tama river.
• brewery tour and production explanation.
• gourmet Japanese lunch at the brewery's traditional restaurant.
• sake tastings in the tasting rooms.
• visit to the forest temple.
• brewery shop access.
• bottled water and all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day.

Good to know

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

Operated by Tokyo Memories

Is this one for you?This eight-hour day trip works best if you have a full morning and afternoon free and want to spend it outside central Tokyo. The 80-minute train ride each way means it is not a quick add-on to a busy schedule, but it is the trade that makes the riverside walk, the brewery tour, the lunch and the tastings all fit into one day without rushing.

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Top questions

How far is Ozawa Shuzo brewery from central Tokyo?

The brewery is an 80-minute train ride from Shinjuku. Your guide travels with you on the train, so the journey is part of the tour experience rather than something you arrange separately.

What exactly happens during the sake tasting?

After lunch at the brewery restaurant, you move to the tasting rooms where brewery staff guide you through samples of the various types of sake the brewery produces. The tasting is the core of the afternoon and gives you time to understand the differences between styles and what the production methods actually create in the glass.

Is lunch included in the price?

Yes. Lunch is a gourmet meal at the brewery's traditional restaurant overlooking the Tama river, and all food and beverages throughout the day—including sake tastings and drinks in the garden—are included in the tour price.

What is the temple visit like?

The small temple is hidden in the woods overlooking the Tama river and has a large bell. You visit it on the walk back up to Sawai station after leaving the brewery, so it is a quiet stop at the end of the day rather than a major attraction.

Do I need to speak Japanese to enjoy this tour?

No. Your guide speaks English and Japanese, and brewery staff explain the production and sake varieties during the tour. The guide stays with you throughout the day, including on the train rides, so language is not a barrier.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear comfortable shoes because there is a moderate amount of walking, especially the riverside stroll from Mitake station to the brewery and the walk back up to Sawai station. The Tama valley is slightly cooler than central Tokyo, so bring weather-appropriate clothing. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.