Sake Town Tour, Saijo Hiroshima – Daytime

The town has eight breweries, seven of which are situated along Sakagura-Dori (Sake Brewery Street). On our tour, we will take a stroll through the historic streets going from brewery to brewery to enjoy samples of local sake.

Saijo breweries are concentrated in such a tight area because of the “shikomi mizu,” the water that is essential for producing sake. Hailed as a “miracle water” with a medium hardness suited to sake brewing, it bubbles under the ground of this area in the Saijo district. What’s more, is that apparently there are subtle differences in the water’s components according to a brewery’s location. Shikomi Mizu is an absolute must for sake.

If you want to discover the true taste of sake you must visit Saijo (Hiroshima Prefecture)

Our tour begins with a tasting and sake explanation at Kamotsuru. This sake brewery is representative of Hiroshima sake. Kamotsuru boasts an impressive lineup of 12 unique bottles. Visiting this spot first we will see many artifacts and learn about the brewing process.

After our first brewery visit, we will head off to try a local specialty hot-pot dish made with premium sake, called Bishu Nabe, and other tasting plates made with Saijo ingredients. Learn about the history of this tasty dish at a local lunch spot. (bishu nabe must be ordered in advance so for last-minute bookings for the tour we may have an alternate lunch menu.) After lunch, stroll the picturesque streets and go brewery hopping. Tasting rooms are each unique and you can sample many kinds of sake and sake-based products.  Visit a local cafe and enjoy sweets and a snack break inspired by Japanese rice wine.

 At each brewery will sit be able to sample different kinds of sake. If you find a type you like, the brewery shops carry a huge variety for you to purchase and take home.

Please note: due to legal restrictions at some of our stops on this tour- all members of your group must be 20 years old or older.

Single travelers: please email us directly and let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies.
Tour Highlights:

• 3-hour tour of Saijo district in Hiroshima
• Visit 4-6 local sake breweries to get a sense of the differences, try their sake and other products.
• See how a brewery works and get a sense of what goes into the production of the world’s best sake.
• Enjoy a local specialty hot-pot lunch only made in this small, historic town.
• Dessert stop with sweets and snacks.

Private Tours: For a more customized experience, make your tour private for an additional ¥19,500+ TAX. (min. 2 people). Please click the add-on button on your cart when you check out.

We have family-friendly pricing on many of our tours, BUT This tour is for adults over 20. Thank you for your understanding.  If you would like to book a tour with children please check our Family-Friendly Page or inquiry to bookings@arigatojapan.co.jp for recommendations.

Strict start time policy:  We are sorry to say that if you are not able to arrive at the meeting point by the departure time, we will need to start the tour regardless and no refund can be provided. We are also unable to accommodate meeting up at any of the food stops. This is to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all guests and also to respect our relationships with restaurants.

5-minute grace period: We can only wait an additional five minutes after the starting time and then the tour will depart. In addition, please note that we cannot give directions or contact the guides on the phone once the tour begins.

Tour Schedule:

Changes on tours: Applicable substitutions may be made due to public holidays, weather conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances.

For Vegetarians: 

Some food that we serve may have dashi, a soup stock made from kelp (seaweed) and bonito (skipjack tuna) as well as other ingredients. Dashi is the cornerstone of Japanese cuisine and is used in many/most Japanese dishes. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate your dietary needs if you cannot consume dashi. Additionally, please inform us if you can eat eggs and dairy products.

If you cannot consume Dashi, we recommend booking a private tour with us and we can offer some alternatives. Again, be aware, it will still be a challenge to 100% avoid fish stock.

For this tour, it is possible (with advanced notice at the time of booking) to make adjustments to support the following dietary restrictions:

Please keep in mind, however, that we cannot make an allergy-free or dietary restriction food guarantee since food is prepared in kitchens that do not belong to Arigato Travel. Also, some stops may not have a viable substitution but we will make every effort to compensate at different stops throughout the tour.

〒739-0011 Hiroshima-ken, Higashihiroshima-shi, Saijōhonmachi, 12, 西条本町１２

Take the Sanyo Main Line from Hiroshima Station. The train leaves approximately every 10 minutes and takes about 35-40 minutes.

Our guide will be in front of the info center, holding an “Arigato Travel” sign.

We suggest wearing comfortable shoes as there will be walking involved.

WEATHER REMINDER: 
On rainy days, we recommend bringing an umbrella. They can be easily purchased at any convenience store.

Should you have any questions you can reach us at info@arigatojapan.co.jp.