Higashi Hiroshima 3 Breweries 1.5-Hour Sake Tasting Tour

Saijo makes a strong case for slowing down over a small cup. In 90 minutes, this guided walk takes you to three breweries in one of Japan’s major sake regions, with pours that can include daiginjo, junmai sake, and umeshu. At Kamotsuru, you also watch a short film about sake making.

I like the mix of three distinct breweries and an English-speaking guide who can put each tasting in context. I also like the chance to taste at breweries that may not offer tastings on weekdays, and the personal touch guides such as Masa-san and Ione have brought to the walk.

The main limitation is clear: this is a tasting tour, not a live brewing tour. You won’t see sake being made, and the quick schedule leaves little time to linger. Everyone in your party, including infants, must be at least 20.

• Three Saijo breweries in 90 minutes: Visit Kamotsuru, Fukubijin, and Hakubotan on foot from the station area.
• A tasting with context: An English-speaking guide explains each brewery and its sake.
• Different styles in the cup: Samples may include daiginjo, junmai sake, umeshu, and seasonal warm sake.
• A short sake-making film: Kamotsuru shows a 10-minute introduction in its visitor room.
• A useful weekday option: Some breweries do not offer tastings on weekdays, so the organized route can open up tastings you might otherwise miss.
• A firm age rule: Japanese law sets the legal drinking age at 20, and younger participants cannot join.

Three Saijo Breweries, One Short Walk

1 / 8

Saijo is one of Japan’s three major sake-producing regions. Seven breweries sit within walking distance of Saijo Station, giving the town an unusual concentration of sake history in a compact area. This tour visits three of them: Kamotsuru, Fukubijin, and Hakubotan.

The short format is its biggest practical advantage. You get a guided introduction to three producers without needing to plan separate visits, check each tasting schedule, or work out which bottles to try first. The guide gives you a local frame for what’s in your cup, which can make unfamiliar sake styles easier to compare.

It is also a brisk outing. The listed schedule runs from 10:30 to 11:50, with about an hour of brewery visits and time between stops. That suits a morning in Saijo or a wider Hiroshima itinerary, but it is not a leisurely afternoon. If you want to browse every brewery or spend a long time studying labels, plan extra time before or after the tour.

The walk focuses on tasting and explanation, not production. You will not watch the brewing process in person. Kamotsuru’s 10-minute video introduces sake making, but it is not a substitute for a working brewery tour.

👉 See our pick of the 3 Best Workshops And Classes In Hiroshima

Starting at Saijo Station

Meet at 10:30 in front of the Tourist Information Center at JR Saijo Station, just outside the ticket gate. Arrive 10 minutes early. The meeting point is easy to identify from the directions, and starting at the station makes the walking route straightforward.

Bring a valid ID showing that you are at least 20. The age rule applies to everyone, including infants and other minors accompanying adults. If anyone in your group is under 20, the tour operator will not allow the group to participate, and the stated policy is that there will be no refund in that case.

The tour includes an English-speaking guide and a city brochure. A choko, the small cup used for sake, has also been provided on past tours, but check what is included for your date rather than relying on that detail. Drinks at the selected breweries are included; extra personal purchases and tips are not.

Kamotsuru: A Film and Three Tasting Pours

The first stop is Kamotsuru Sake Brewing Co., Ltd. Head Office, where the schedule allows about 30 minutes. Kamotsuru is described as a pioneer in ginjo sake brewing, making this a fitting place to begin with a little background before tasting.

In the visitor room, you watch a 10-minute video introducing sake making. Then the tasting can include Daiginjo-Type, Tokusei Gold, and Junmai Daiginjo Hiroshima Nishiki. These named pours give you a useful first comparison: rather than tasting one house style and moving on, you have several expressions from the same producer to consider.

Pay attention to what changes from cup to cup, and ask the guide what the brewery is known for. One of the tour’s strengths is that you can direct questions toward the sake in front of you, rather than trying to absorb a broad lecture. Past guides have included Masa-san, who answered technical questions, and Ione, who explained the area’s history and sake. The guide for your date may differ.

Keep expectations in check. The video is an introduction, not access to the brewing floor. If seeing production is your priority, look at a separate brewery tour that specifically offers that.

Fukubijin: A Brewery with a Teaching Tradition

At about 11:15, the group moves on to Fukubijin Shuzo for a 15-minute visit. Fukubijin was once called the Saijo Brewing School and has produced many accomplished master brewers. That background gives the stop a distinct angle: you are tasting from a brewery associated not only with sake production but also with passing brewing skill on to others.

The scheduled sample is Fukubijin Junmai-Shu. In winter, you may be able to try it warm. That seasonal detail is worth asking about, since warming can make for a different tasting experience than sampling sake at room temperature. The information provided does not promise warm sake outside the winter season.

Fifteen minutes goes quickly, so focus on the sample and the short explanation. If you have questions about junmai sake or how this brewery differs from Kamotsuru, this is a good time to ask. You will have less room to browse at length than you would on an independent visit.

Hakubotan: A Historic Brewery and a Special Sake

The final scheduled brewery is Hakubotan Shuzo Head Office, reached around 11:30. Founded in 1675, it is one of Hiroshima Prefecture’s oldest sake breweries. The sample named for this stop is Hyoka, an unfiltered sake that has been fresh frozen in a special way.

That unusual treatment gives you something different to compare with the earlier pours. Rather than treating the tastings as three versions of the same drink, use the differences in style and preparation to notice what you enjoy. Your guide can help connect the taste to the brewery and explain the terms you might see on a bottle label.

The visit lasts about 15 minutes, and the tour is scheduled to return to JR Saijo Station at 11:50. Some past walks have included a fourth brewery when extra time allowed, but that is not part of the promised route. Treat any added stop as a bonus, not a reason to book.

What the Tastings Can Teach You

The samples may range across daiginjo, junmai sake, and umeshu, with the specific pours depending on the brewery. The tour’s value is not simply the number of cups. It is the chance to try different styles in a short span and ask what sets them apart while the person guiding you can connect the drink to its maker.

Some breweries do not offer tastings on weekdays. That makes a guided arrangement especially useful if your visit falls during the week. You are not left to guess which doors are open or which producers will pour for individual visitors.

You can also choose to pay a small extra amount for additional samples, if offered. Past participants have used this option to try more sake, including namazake that had recently left the press. Those extras are not part of the base price, and the availability of a particular sake is not guaranteed. Ask before adding samples so you know the cost and what is being poured.

Taste thoughtfully. The tour is short, and trying several styles in quick succession can blur your impressions. A simple note on your phone about which sake you liked, and why, can help when you later choose a bottle.

Is $69.39 a Fair Price?

The tour starts at $69.39 per person. Whether that feels worthwhile depends on what you want from Saijo. You are paying for an English-speaking guide, a planned route through three breweries, and included tastings at selected stops. You also save the effort of researching brewery schedules and figuring out which places will pour for you, particularly on a weekday.

The price is less compelling if your main aim is to watch brewing in action, or if you prefer to explore at your own pace. This tour does not include a live production visit, and a 90-minute group route gives each stop limited time. Extra tastings, personal expenses, and gratuities are outside the listed price.

If you are curious about sake but new to the terminology, a guide can add value beyond the samples. Guides Masa-san and Ione have been noted for patient explanations, friendly conversation, and answers to detailed questions. One guide also added a fourth brewery when time allowed. That flexibility is welcome, but the standard value should be judged by the three scheduled stops.

Practical Details Before You Book

The tour departs at 10:30 and returns to JR Saijo Station at about 11:50. The schedule may change with traffic or weather. The voucher is valid only for the selected date and time, and late arrivals or no-shows are not refundable, so give yourself a little margin getting to the station.

Confirmation is expected within 48 hours. If it does not arrive, contact customer support. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the activity date, using the destination’s local time.

This experience is best for adults who want a structured first taste of Saijo’s sake culture, appreciate having an English-speaking guide, and are happy with brief visits rather than a full brewery tour. It is less suited to anyone traveling with minors or hoping to see active brewing.

Should You Book the Saijo Sake Walk?

Book this tour if you want a compact introduction to three Saijo producers and would value an English-speaking guide to help you make sense of the tasting. The stops offer a good mix: Kamotsuru’s ginjo focus, Fukubijin’s brewing-school past, and Hakubotan’s long history and unusual Hyoka sample.

Skip it if you need a live look at sake production, want to linger at each brewery, or have anyone under 20 in your party. For everyone else, it is a practical way to taste across the town in one morning, with enough context to make your next sake choice a more informed one.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour is scheduled for about 90 minutes, from 10:30 to 11:50.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet in front of the Tourist Information Center at JR Saijo Station, just outside the ticket gate.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive 10 minutes before the 10:30 departure.

Which breweries does the tour visit?

The scheduled stops are Kamotsuru Sake Brewing, Fukubijin Shuzo, and Hakubotan Shuzo.

Will I see sake being brewed?

No. This is a tasting tour, not a tour of the brewing process. At Kamotsuru, you watch a 10-minute video introducing sake making.

What kinds of sake might I taste?

Samples may include daiginjo, junmai sake, and umeshu. Named samples on the route include Kamotsuru’s Daiginjo-Type, Tokusei Gold, and Junmai Daiginjo Hiroshima Nishiki; Fukubijin Junmai-Shu; and Hakubotan’s Hyoka.

Can people under 20 join?

No. Participants must be at least 20, including infants and other minors. Bring valid ID to prove your age.

What is included in the price?

The price includes an English-speaking guide, a city brochure, and drinks or alcohol at selected bars. Personal expenses and gratuities are not included.

What does the tour cost?

The listed package starts at US$69.39 per person. Extra sake samples may cost more.

Can I get a refund if I cancel?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, using destination local time. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refundable.