Over the course of five days, we traveled through six prefectures, visiting eleven sake breweries and discovering the stories behind their craft. From Mount Fuji to Shirakawa-go, the tour wove together sake, regional culture, and iconic destinations, offering an immersive experience of Japan beyond the glass.
Sakagura Tour 2025
Tour Itinerary & Breweries we visited
Day 1: Yamanashi
Visited two sake breweries in Yamanashi, a region blessed with pure spring water from Mount Fuji, and enjoyed traditionally brewed sake paired with local ingredients while taking in the area’s stunning natural scenery.
Address: 8 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0301
Tour Available
Make reservation: here
Address: 2283 Hakushucho Daigahara, Hokuto, Yamanashi 408-0312
Tour Available
Inquiry: here
Day 2: Nagano
Visited one sake brewery in Suwa, Nagano, a region embraced by pure water and crisp mountain air, and enjoyed traditionally brewed sake known for its clean, sharp profile shaped by the cold climate, while strolling the charming townscape overlooking Lake Suwa.
Address: 1-16 Motomachi, Suwa, Nagano 392-8686
Day 3: Gifu
Visited two sake breweries in Hida-Takayama, enjoying traditionally brewed, full-bodied sake alongside local mountain cuisine, including Hida beef, while exploring the town’s historic streets.
Address: 105 Kamisannomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0846
Address: 7-7 Furukawacho Ichinomachi, Hida, Gifu 509-4234
Tour Available on Wed,Thu, & Fri
inquiry e-mail : global@sake-hourai.co.jp
Day 4: Ishikawa
Visited one sake brewery in Komatsu, observing a Noto brewer continuing sake brewing after the earthquake through a shared-brewery arrangement, and experienced Kanazawa’s cultural highlights, including historic streets, local cuisine, and gold leaf application.
Address: 9 Chome-605 Imaemachi, Komatsu, Ishikawa 923-096
Tour Available from Nov to Apr
inquiry form : here
Address: 30-114 Matsunami, Noto, Hosu District, Ishikawa 927-0602 (currently rebuilding)
Day 4: Fukui
Visited one sake brewery in Fukui, a town nourished by snowmelt from sacred Mt. Hakusan, and enjoyed lunch at Eshikoto while taking in the area’s serene satoyama landscape and refined local cuisine.
Address: 6-10 Motomachi, Ono, Fukui 912-0081
Day 5: Mie
Visited three sake breweries in the Iga Basin, Mie, known as the historic home of ninja, and enjoyed full-bodied local sake shaped by the region’s cold climate, paired with Iga beef while exploring the castle town.
Address: 1365ｰ1 Kaminosho, Iga, Mie 518-0121
Address: 141 Kashiwara, Akamecho, Nabari, Mie 518-0464
Address: 1317 Ao, Iga, Mie 518-0226
From the Sakagura Tour to Your Glass
Even if you can’t travel to Japan, you can still enjoy the sake from the breweries we visited on the Sakagura Tour 2025. Below is a curated list of selected bottles available for purchase in the U.S., allowing you to experience the flavors and craftsmanship of each region from wherever you are.
Yamanashi Meijo(Yamanashi)
Sparkling Sake
Second fermentation in bottle sparkling sake, carefully brewed and aged in mellow whiskey barrels. The one and only. Refreshingly cool, like sunlight filtering through the trees.
Sparkling Sake
In this Usunigori sparkling, the fine bubbles that only the second fermentation in the bottle can produce, and the fruity ginjo aroma that rises in a haze of ori.
Junmai Daiginjo
Shichiken Hakushin is a delicately crafted sake from Hakushu, brewed with locally grown Yumesansui rice polished to an ultra-refined 27% and pure spring water. It offers gentle aromas of snowmelt and soft fruit, with a mellow yet vibrant palate and clean, lingering umami.
Miyasaka Brewing Co. (Nagano)
Sparkling
A sparkling sake crafted for Japanese cuisine that goes well beyond. Gracious umami presence followed by savory depth in the mid-palate and a lingering honey finish.
Junmai Daiginjo
With its gentleness and charm, “Sanka” brings to mind a meadow of alpine wildflowers. The taste is subtle and suave, with mild aroma and savory undertones.
Junmai Ginjo
With a lower alcohol content than most sakes (12%), “Shiro” is smooth and gentle, with sweetness and acidity in finely etched balance. Ideal for lunchtime sake-sipping, with enough body for evening enjoyment as well.
Funasaka Sake Brewery (Gifu)
Yuzu Fruit Infused Sake
Here is a unique tasting sake with natural Yuzu fruit offering the aroma and taste of citrus. Yuzu Bay Sake plays with sweetness and with tartness, and is perfect as a dessert or as an aperitif. It will always stir curious questions with connoisseurs.
Honjozo
Named after Hidari Jingoro, the artist behind the famous Nemuri Neko, this sake is brewed in the Japanese Alps using only local Gifu ingredients. It delivers a rich rice-forward flavor with a gentle sweetness, balanced by a clean, medium-dry finish.
Featured in Media
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YBS News (TV)
Kofu NHK(TV)
Yamanashi Yomiuri News Paper on 11/19/2025
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Suwa NHK(TV)
Nagano Nippo on 11/19/2025
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FBC Fukui (TV)
Fukui Shimbun
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Shop Sake Online
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Tippsy makes finding great sake easy and fun!
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Retail shop and tasting room located in Portland, OG
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features around 50 highlyselected premium Sake
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Japan's finest sake straight to your door.
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Marin Sake Imports is a Mill Valley California company
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An online sake boutique bringing unique artisanal varieties from the breweries