Tokyo Sake Brewery Tour plus One
You are interested in Sake, aren’t you? Sake is popularly explained as “rice wine”, but the expression is not correct. On this tour, you will visit Ozawa Shuzo Sake Brewery in Ome City, Tokyo, and learn about various issues related to sake. After a beautiful Japanese lunch, the brewery visit, and tasting of various types of sake, you will touch nature in a suburban area in metropolitan Tokyo.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel lobby in the central Tokyo
9:30 AM : Meet up at your hotel, and briefing of the tour.
Meeting time may vary depending on your hotel location.
After briefing of the itinerary, move to JR Shinjuku/Tokyo Station.
10:36/10:19 AM: 80/97 min. JR train ride from Shinjuku/Tokyo Station
On the train, you will learn basic knowledge of sake, and see changes of Tokyo sceneries from business/commercial areas to residential area and suburbs.
12:00 PM: Ozawa Shuzo in Ome City
With 3 min. walk from JR Sawai Station, we will arrive at Ozawa Shuzu (Ozawa Sake Brewery) which is one of 10 sake breweries in Tokyo.
12:10 PM: Lunch at a restaurant in Ozawa Shuzo's Mameraku reataurant
Main dish served there is tofu, or bean curd, made with sake brewing water. Light lunches such as Japanese noodles are also available in Sawanoien garden restaurant.
13:00 PM: Sake brewery tour guided by Ozawa Shuzo staff
The 40 min. tour will give you further information and knowledge in the authentic sake brewing atmosphere. And then, you will try sake tasting with a souvenir sake cup.
The brewery tour time may change to 11:00 am (or 14:00 pm: Saturdays, Sundays, holidays) depending on booking availability.
13:40: Sawanoi Sake Tasting Shop and Sawanoien Shop
Sake tasting of some 10 types of Ozawa Shuzo's products and/or shopping sake bottles and souvenirs for yourself, your family, and friends.
14:30 PM: 30 min to one hour hiking along with upstream of Tamagawa river (option 1)
You will visit a local temple and/or a village head's house in the mid-18th century (availability on the day to be checked).
16:00 PM: Tonogayato Japanese Gardens (option 2)
One of nine Tokyo metropolitan gardens by dropping off at Kokubunji Station on the way back to Shinjuku/Tokyo.
15:00 PM: Gyokudo Art Museum for Japanese Paintings (option 3)
With 30 min. walk along Tama River, a beautiful museum for a master of Japanese painting, Kawai Gyokudo, stands beside Tama River and adjacent to JR Minake Station.
14:30 - 16:30 PM: Any other spot on the way to/in Shinjuku/Tokyo (option X)
Upon your request and as time allows.
Ending Point
At JR Shinjuku/Tokyo Station or your hotel at around 17:30 PM
Want to personalize this tour?
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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
Admission fee for Sawanoi Brewery Tour for you and your guide
Traveling expenses and admission fees in the itinerary for your guide
Traveling expenses for you: JPY2,080 (2,460)/person, round-trip from Shinjuku (Tokyo) to Sawai, etc.
Sake tasting for you: JPY200 - (as much as you can drink)/person
Lunch for you and your guide: JPY700 to 3,000/person, depending on your selection
Admission fees (for you): JPY600/person for Gyokudo Art Museum, JPY150/person for Tonogayato Gardens
Taxi fare,, when taken
Other fees and expenses for you and your guide during the tour, if any
Tour Important Information
The brewery tour is operated with a limited number of visitors.
- See calendars for available tour dates, however,
- Ozawa Shuzo's visitor facilities are closed on Mondays, and their main restaurant, Mameraku, is closed on Fridays too.
- If a guest is younger than 20 years old, they can participate in the tour, but cannot taste sake by law in Japan (a citrus soda will be served instead).
- The meeting time will be discussed when the date and meeting point are finalized, and it may be between 9 am and 10 am.
- The tour schedule is based on 1 pm brewery tour, however, it may be replaced with 11 am (or 14 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays) tour, depending on availability, and the itinerary will be modified accordingly.
- Availability of the village head's house visit will depend on the owner's schedule on the tour day. The house is locked and will open especially for you if he is available.
You will be a sake lover and obtain sufficient cultural and technical information and knowledge regarding sake history, culture, and production, which you can demonstrate to your family and friends as you are a sake master. Your dishes and life will be enriched with a good selection of sake after the tour.
During the tour, you will breathe fresh natural air in Tokyo's countryside and touch the gentle and kind "omotenashi", hospitality, of the people there.
Ozawa Shuzo visitors' facilities close on Mondays.
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
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
Martin B.
“All aspects of Tokyo”
We spent two pretty full days looking around Tokyo with Yamasan. Planning with Yamasan was easy - he understood quickly what we were and were not interested in doing and put together an itinerary that got in as much possible. We followed the plans quite well and Yamasan didn’t worry about the fact that that our looking at extra things meant we finished late. Yamasan was very knowledgeable about Tokyo and its history and a nice , kind and genuine person - and we all survived eating blow fish (fugu) together.
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Koichiro Y.
Thank you so much for your review comment. I didn't know the fugu restaurant you found via the internet, but it was great. We enjoyed every fugu dish, and the best thing was we all survived as you mentioned. I sincerely hope to see you again in the near future.
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.
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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.
$329/ per group
More tours by Koichiro Y.
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Japanese Gardens and Tokyo Life: Bunkyo City Customized Tour
Bunkyo City is in the heart of central 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 now. We'll move around the city with a Bunkyo City Community Bus, B-guru ( “beagle”, the mascot character of the bus), and visit Edo-Tokyo Japanese gardens and other calm and pleasant sites. You'll also catch a glimpse of Tokyo citizens’ life during the tour.
Japanese Gardens and Tokyo Life: Bunkyo City Customized Tour
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Japanese Gardens and Origami Workshop in Central Tokyo
The tour consists of two characteristic Japanese cultures; typical strolling style Japanese gardens, Rikugien, and origami paper folding. Rikugien is one of nine Japanese gardens in the Tokyo Metropolis. Its strolling-style garden has a fine and warm touch with scenery images from classical Japanese poems. After the visit, you will be invited to the guide’s residence nearby, and have a joyful origami workshop of 90 minutes.
Japanese Gardens and Origami Workshop in Central Tokyo
Tokyo Staple Spots for First Visitors
Welcome to Tokyo! This tour is a walking tour designed for first-time visitors to Tokyo and includes the four or five most popular and essential spots of Tsukiji Outer Market, the Imperial Palace, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo Tower, and Asakusa. The number of visiting spots and visiting order may be reviewed, referring to guests' requirements, location of their accommodation, weather conditions, etc.
Tokyo Staple Spots for First Visitors
Tokyo Sake Brewery and Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
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.
Tokyo Sake Brewery and Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Other Popular Food & Drink Tours in Tokyo
Jardin Mejiro : promenade, dégustation de sakés premium et déjeuner de soba
Découvrez le charme de Mejiro à travers une promenade dans son magnifique jardin japonais. Dégustez un saké soigneusement sélectionné, savourez un délicieux déjeuner de soba artisanal et découvrez une boutique traditionnelle de pâtisseries japonaises ainsi qu'une célèbre cave spécialisée en saké. En tant que formatrice certifiée SSI Sake Educator et guide francophone, je vous ferai découvrir la culture japonaise et le saké dans une ambiance conviviale.
Jardin Mejiro : promenade, dégustation de sakés premium et déjeuner de soba
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Enjoy Japanese Dinner at Kagurazaka
Let's walk around Kagurazaka where you find nice restaurants and traditional shops, and enjoy nice dinner at a cozy Japanese restaurant :) I'll book a restaurant of your favorite Japanese food such as Yakitori, Soba, Yakiniku/Shabushabu, or some local cuisine from different regions (Okinawa, Kumamoto, Niigata, etc). You can explore Kagurazaka including small alleys, and enjoy both traditional and modern atmosphere of the area as well.
Enjoy Japanese Dinner at Kagurazaka
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Tsukiji Market morning tour for food lovers
This is an invitation to a tasty and lively food experience at the No. 1 market, Tsukiji. The place is a treasure trove of delicious seafood, so let's sample some of the ’catch of the day’, sold fresh or skewered and grilled at the store front!
Tsukiji Market morning tour for food lovers
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Ramen Food Tour & The Best of Tokyo: Asakusa, Sumida, Odaiba
If you love Ramen and want to see the best of Tokyo, then look no further. On this private tour, you will visit Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, Sensoji in Asakusa. Then enjoy a river cruise on the Sumida River. The highlight of this food tour is the Odaiba Ramen Village, where you can try different regional Japanese Ramen. Finally, take the driverless Yurikamome train line and see the breathtaking view of Odaiba and Tokyo Bay. No visit to Tokyo is complete without visiting these amazing places!
Ramen Food Tour & The Best of Tokyo: Asakusa, Sumida, Odaiba
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