Unveil the Secrets of Sake & Soy Sauce in a Brewery Town

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Summary
Highlights
Experience Details
Experience Location
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Duration
3.5 hours
Number of Guests
1 - 6 guests
Language
Japanese, English
Other
Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescetarian, Private Experience

Escape the big city to Kinomoto–a charming brewery town in Shiga prefecture (just 20 minutes from Kyoto). Embark on a walking tour to explore sake and soy sauce breweries.

Highlights

  • Explore an off-the-beaten-path town in Shiga prefecture

  • Embark on a walking tour alongside a bilingual guide

  • Tour local breweries and tasting experience

  • Interact with the local townspeople

  • Visit a historical Buddhist temple

For each guest that attends this experience, byFood will donate
10 meals

Experience Details

Kinomoto is an enchanting sake and soy sauce brewery town nestled in Japan’s picturesque Shiga prefecture. Surrounded by natural beauty, Kinomoto has shied away from catering to the tourism industry by focusing on maintaining the local community and family businesses supporting the town. Due to this, a visit to Kinomoto will be a retreat from the heavily-footed paths of neighboring towns and cities.


Your experience will begin at JR Maibara Station (a Shinkansen stop and only 20 minutes from Kyoto), where your guide will be waiting with open arms. Together, you’ll hop on a train toward JR Kinomoto Station. From here, it’s time to tighten your laces as we embark upon a walking tour of the town. Our stops include sake breweries, some of which are among the oldest operating in Japan, and a traditional soy sauce brewery. What sets this tour apart, you ask? Unlike other sake-focused tours in Japan, this experience focuses on the local community and the history of the town brewers. Less big city, more small town.


Meet the real people who keep these businesses running as you sample sake and soy sauce in this off-the-beaten-path experience! If joining this tour outside of the winter brewing season, you might be lucky enough to get a peek inside the actual brewing areas at two of our stops (Yamaji Shuzo & Daiko Shoyu). Round off this experience with a visit to a historical Buddhist temple and local shops.


If you’d like to level up this experience, we have two optional packages that include a lunch component—check them out below!

Inclusions

  • Walking tour with a bilingual guide

  • Sake and soy sauce tastings

  • Entrance fee to the experience venues

Exclusions

  • Transportation to and from the experience

  • Additional purchases made outside those included in the experience

Meeting Point and Meeting Time

  • Meet your host right at the ticket gate of JR Maibara Station. By bullet train, Maibara is 1 stop east (20 min) from Kyoto. More details and a Google Maps link will be provided upon booking.

Remarks

  • Sake and alcohol tastings are only available for guests aged 20 or older due to the legal drinking age in Japan

Cancellation Policy

Cancel your booking at least 2 days before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.

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Experience Location

Maibara is a charming town located in Shiga Prefecture, and is a mere 20 minutes from Kyoto. Nestled between the beautiful Lake Biwa and the scenic mountains of Hira, it offers residents and visitors alike a tranquil and picturesque setting. With a population of around 40,000 people, Maibara is a relatively small but thriving community that exudes a strong sense of traditional Japanese culture and hospitality.

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2024
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Earliest available date: November 17, 2024
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¥8,000
per guest
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Please note that the time is in Japan Standard Time.
Free cancellation (2 days notice)
For each guest that attends this experience, byFood will donate
10 meals
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