Authentic Sake Tasting Experience at Tokoname's Heritage Brewery

Discover the deep history of Japanese brewing with a premium sake tasting experience in Tokoname. Step inside our historic 1848 heritage brewery for an exclusive tour guided personally by the brewery owner, sample an elite flight of 6 sake and plum wine selections paired with regional fermented snacks, and choose a beautiful, handmade Tokoname-yaki pottery cup from our artisan “Sasara-ke” set to take home as a keepsake.

  • 90 Min
  • 1-4 Participants
  • Nagoya
  • Easy

★★★★★

?? Reviews on Trip Advisor

From

¥ 20,000

Per Person

  • Guided Historic Brewery Tour
  • 6-Tier Tasting Flight: Taste 6 selections, including 4 signature Hakurou sakes, 1 seasonal namazake, and 1 umeshu.
  • Artisan Tokoname Ware Experience: Compare aromas and flavors using four handcrafted Tokoname-yaki cups.
  • Aichi Fermented Appetizer Plate
  • Take-Home Tokoname-Yaki Sake Cup
  • All Experience & Facility Fees
Questions? Contact us
Sake tasting experience in nagoya
Traditional wooden koji boxes used in production, viewed during the heritage tour
The exterior facade and historic chimney of the 170-year-old heritage brewery that hosts the sake label making experience.
Freshly steamed rice rising from a traditional koshiki vat inside the brewery
Pure brewing water pouring into a traditional wooden well
The traditional retail shop and sake display inside the historic venue hosting the sake label making experience.
Visitors taking an exclusive owner-led tour of the historic 1848 facility during the sake label making experience.
Historic Tokoname brewery tour and sake experience
A collection of four distinct, handcrafted Tokoname-yaki pottery cups from the "Sasara-ke" set, used during the premium sake tasting experience.
Artisan Shimizu Kohokujo throwing clay on a wheel to craft his signature textured, unglazed Tokoname pottery cup for the sake tasting experience.
Ceramic artist Koichiro Takeuchi shaping pottery in his workshop, creator of the traditional ash-glazed cup featured in the sake tasting experience.
Master potter Hitoshi Tanikawa in his studio, creator of the signature Chita seaweed-fired cup utilized to change flavors during the sake tasting experience.
Renowned ceramic artist Mami Kato sculpting clay in her studio, designer of the elegant white and light-blue glazed cup for the sake tasting experience.

Experience Overview

Immerse yourself in the rich liquid history of the Chita Peninsula. Our premium sake tasting experience invites you inside a traditional, family-run establishment that has been perfecting its craft in Tokoname since 1848.

Your visit kicks off with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes walkthrough of our heritage facility. Guided personally by the brewery owner, you will uncover the time-honored, generational steps of traditional sake-making and see how the region’s unique climate and culture influence the final pour.

The journey transitions into a curated tasting flight featuring 6 exceptional varieties—including 4 signature Hakurou sakes, 1 seasonal unpasteurized sake (Namazake), and 1 premium plum wine (Umeshu)—perfectly paired with a seasonal Aichi fermented snack plate. You will explore this flight using the exclusive “Sasara-ke” set, featuring four custom cups handcrafted by local Tokoname-yaki artisans, to discover how different vessel shapes beautifully alter and elevate every aroma and flavor. To conclude your experience, you will select your favorite individual pottery cup from the tasting set to pack up and take home as a world-exclusive souvenir.

Your Experience & Highlights

What to Expect on your Sake Tasting Experience

Owner-Led Brewery Tour

Go behind the scenes of our historic 1848 facility to uncover traditional, generational production secrets directly from the brewery owner.

6-Tier Tasting Flight

Savor a premium lineup of 6 handpicked selections—including 4 signature Hakurou sakes, 1 seasonal unpasteurized sake (Namazake), and 1 premium plum wine (Umeshu).

Local Flavor Pairings

Enjoy a specially curated Aichi fermented appetizer plate, meticulously designed to complement and elevate the distinct flavor profiles of your drinks.

Handmade Ceramic Keepsake

Select your favorite individual artisan pottery cup straight from the "Sasara-ke" tasting set to pack up and take home as a world-exclusive souvenir.

Why Choose This Sake Tasting Experience

170+ Years of Heritage

Gain exclusive entry into a historic, family-run establishment operating continuously and perfecting its craft on the Chita Peninsula since 1848.

The Ceramic Concept

Discover firsthand how the four distinct shapes of our custom, artisan-crafted Tokoname-yaki pottery set dynamically transform sake aromas and flavors.

English-Speaking Owner

Learn directly from the source! The brewery owner conducts the entire experience in English, offering deep cultural context with absolutely no language barriers.

Intimate & Exclusive Vibe

Skip the crowded commercial tours. Enjoy a relaxed, small-group setting that allows for meaningful conversations and a deeply personal connection with the owner.

Important Details

Know Before You Go

  • Duration: 1.5 hours
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Parking & Driving: Free on-site parking is available (approx. 10 spaces). Please contact us in advance for large buses.
  • Important: Due to Japan's strict zero-tolerance drunk driving laws, designated drivers may not participate in the sake tasting.
  • Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, though some historic areas are limited. Please notify us in advance.
  • No Natto: Do not eat natto (fermented soybeans) on tour day. Its bacteria can compromise the delicate sake brewing process.
  • Hygiene & Attire: Avoid strong perfumes or scents. Please wear a hat, tie back long hair, and use provided shoe covers where required.
  • Brewery Safety: Dress warmly as the facility can get cold. Watch your step on stairs and do not touch any brewing equipment.
  • Airport Transit: Guests are fully responsible for airline liquid limits and customs regulations when flying home with souvenir bottles.
  • Exclusions: Transportation to and from the meeting point, food, and drinks.

Cancellation Policy

  • 100% charge for no-shows or cancellations without prior notice
  • 80% charge if cancelled on the day of the tour (with notice)
  • 70% charge if cancelled 1 day before the tour
  • 20% charge if cancelled 2 to 3 days before the tour
  • Free cancellation 4 or more days before the tour

Meeting Point

Sawada Sake Brewery
〒479-0818 4 Chome-10 Kobacho, Tokoname, Aichi, Japan

Nearby Attraction: The brewery is conveniently located in Tokoname, close to local ceramic studios and within easy reach of the Pottery Footpath (Yakimono Sanpomichi), a scenic historic trail known for its iconic brick chimneys, winding lanes, and giant lucky cat statue (Tokonyan)

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