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Tokyo Sake Brewery and Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
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Joined 2020
Toshimaya Shuzo is one of ten sake breweries in Tokyo. It is located in a residential area in Higashi-Murayama City not far from central Tokyo. They organize brewery tours on Saturdays and guide their facilities introducing their sake brewing philosophies and offering several types of their sake products for tasting.
In the afternoon, the tour visits Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei Park in Koganei City on the way back to central Tokyo.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
In the lobby of your hotel in central Tokyo [Meeting time may vary depending on your hotel location]
- Brief introduction, talk on the tour, and then, move to Toshimaya Shuzo. We take one of Tokyo's private railways, Seibu-Shinjuku line, which takes us from Seibu-Shinjuku Station to Higashi-Murarama Station in 35 min. by express train.
Toshimaya Shuzo Sake Brewery
Toshimaya Shuzo is rather a small sake brewery established in 1935, but its root traces back to some 400 years when Toshimaya Jugoro opened a liquor shop and a sake brewery. They have firm philosophies that their products connect people and create a happy society for everyone. You learn the full process of sake-making through the brewery tour, and several types of fine sake products are offered for tasting.
Lunch in Higashi Murayama City
Take luch in a local restaurant around Higashi-Murayama Station.
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
This open air museum exhibits historical buildings of great cultural value constructed in Edo period (17th to 19th centuries. Edo is the previous name of Tokyo before Meiji Restoration, Japan's modernization) and Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras (19th and 20th centuries).
These buildings were relocated from their original locations (mostly in Edo/Tokyo area) and reconstructed for preservation and exhibition.
We take a short ride of a local bus from Hanakoganei Station on the way back to Shinjuku. Koganei Park where the museum locates is a nice visiting spot too. In spring, we can enjoy beautiful sakura, cherry blossoms, in the park.
Ending Point
At your hotel or a station close to your following destination
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
English-speaking guide
Picking up from and sending off at your accommodation in central Tokyo
Traveling expenses and admission fees in the itinerary for your guide
Traveling expenses for you: approximately JPY2,000/person
Fee for brewery tour with tasting of several types of sake for you: JPY1,000/person
Additional sake tasting for you: JPY 300 - ?? /person (as much as you take)
Lunch for you and your guide: JPY1,000 to 3,000/person depending on your selection
Admission fee of Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum for you: JPY400/person
Taxi fare, when taken
Other fees and expenses for you and your guide during the tour, if any
Tour Important Information
* The tour is held on "Saturdays only".
* This tour may not be organized when the brewery is busy (in December and occasionally). In such a case, an alternative tour to Ozawa Shuzo will be offered (see Tokyo Sake Brewery Tour plus One).
* When you want to visit Toshimaya Sake Brewery only, the tour may be completed at around 3 pm. Please don't book the tour and send a message.
* Drinking alcoholic beverages is not allowed for people under 20 years old in Japan. Young visitors are welcome, and a bottle of citron soda is served for them instead of tasting sake during the brewery tour.
* This is a walking tour using public transportation.
* Please inform me if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Important message from the supplier
The inbound tour has been resumed. Wearing a mask depends on individual decisions, and you can enjoy tours and cultural experiences in Japan now.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2020
About Tour Guide Koichiro Y.
Hello! I’m Koichiro. Please call me “Yamasan”. It derives from my family name and my friends call me so.
I worked for a machinery company as a project manager and engineer for mechanical and electrical construction projects both domestic and overseas for over 35 years. I recall my first overseas project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when I was 26, and the second was in Singapore. I visited many countries for surveys, meetings, commissioning, project handing over, and so on.
In 2014 at the age of 60, I decided to retire from the company and live the expected further 30 years of life with a new career and experiences. I, then, studied translation and guide interpretation. I passed the national examination for licensed guides (English) in 2015 and registered with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in February 2016.
Until now, I have been guiding many beautiful guests mainly to popular sightseeing spots such as Asakusa, Tsukiji, Omote-Sando, Meiji Jingu Shrine, and Tokyo Skytree, and also cultural experiences of Origami making, Furoshiki wrapping, and Sushi cooking.
I am happy that I can freely arrange a customized tour together with you, or can propose my tours to you. I want to show you some parts of daily Tokyo life and introduce you to Bunkyo City which is located in the heart of Tokyo, just north of Chiyoda City where the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station are. The city is Tokyo’s typical residential and academic area where I was born, grew up, and live a happy life now.
Now, we can tour around the world but have not yet overcome COVID-19 completely. Recently, the number of passengers wearing masks on public transportation in Tokyo reduced to some 25% but we should mind about it still. Please carry your mask to wear it where or when necessary (December 2024, Yamasan).
Reviews
Brian G.
“Art, culture, lunch and nature”
Once again we were treated to a wonderful day out with Yamasan, whose choices for us were perfect. We started with the Edo Museum, a must for visitors’ education about the development of Tokyo through its history. This was followed by lunch close by the Sumo Basho, a delicious and typical noodle based meal. Onto the Hokusai Museum which broadened our knowledge of reduction printing techniques and insights to the evolution of his work. Finally we visited the Rikugien Gardens which provided us with tranquil time to reflect on our day. On the three occasions we have spent time with Yamasan he has proved himself to be wise, thoughtful, humorous and a good friend. We shall miss him. Arigatoo gozaimasu
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Koichiro Y.
Thank you very much (Arigato gozaimashita). You have had good knowledge of Japan and the Japanese language prior to the tour. I'm happy if the three-day tour could provide you with further information. I agree with you that the Edo-Tokyo Museum is a must-see spot for visitors who are interested in the ecological city of Edo, flourished commoners' culture there, and the development of Tokyo. Please enjoy the Kabuki Play and your remaining days in Tokyo. These were precious and fantastic days with such a wonderful couple for me. Zehi, mata kite kudasai. Matte imasu (Please visit Tokyo again. I'll be waiting for you).
Brian G.
“From Urban Bustle to Calm Countryside.”
Once again we were treated to the results of Yamasan’s meticulous research and planning by travelling out to Chiba Prefecture to experience the calm of the countryside. The Kominato train ride was great fun and the lunch at our destination was simply splendid. The journey back enabled us to observe local residents going about their business and ended with a short bus ride past high end shops. Thank you Yamasan for another brilliant day which showed us a different side of Japanese life.
Koichiro Y.
I appreciate your second review comment very much. It was sad that we couldn't have a full tour of the Kominato Railway to Yoro Keikoku Valley because of the record-breaking heavy rain in Chiba Prefecture last August. However, thanks to a high school student's recommendation on the railway's homepage, we enjoyed a heartfelt lunch at a local restaurant in Kazusa Ushiku town where the Satoyama Trucks driven by an SL-designed engine could reach. We strolled through the town becoming desolate, and had a short peaceful rest on the old train on Track "0" of the station. The short bus ride in Shinjuku was just something extra for your experience. I'm happy to hear that even such a small event could be of interest to you.
Brian G.
“Public transport orientation in Tokyo.”
We have no compliments that adequately reflect the qualities of Yamasan. He understood our requirements perfectly and our day was one of learning and laughter His preparation and research was encyclopaedic and we appreciated his flexibility to match our needs. This charming,engaging and knowledgeable gentleman quickly became our friend and we look forward to his guidance again on this trip. He is a diamond among gems.
Koichiro Y.
Thank you very much for your quick and splendid comment. Your words are too much for me. I’m thinking about several points that should be improved. I should say that I was lucky to have welcomed and guided such excellent guests on the tour. Please enjoy your two weeks in Japan.
$303/ per group
More tours by Koichiro Y.
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Japanese Gardens and Tokyo Life: Bunkyo City Customized Tour
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Japanese Gardens and Origami Workshop in Central Tokyo
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Traditional and Modern One-day Tour in Tokyo
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Timeless Tokyo: One-Day Walking Tour Through Ueno & Yanaka’s Hidden Gems
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Alte Japanische Kulturgüter besuchen
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