Inuyama Sweet Sake Tasting & Custom Bottling From Nagoya

1 h 30 min Free cancellation

Inuyama Sweet Sake Tasting & Custom Bottling From Nagoya, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Step into a 1597 brewery—a Registered Tangible Cultural Property—and discover Nindoshu, a naturally sweet, liqueur-like sake crafted without any added sugar. As the only remaining Nindoshu brewery in Japan, its 430-year-old recipe is fiercely protected by the "Isshi Soden" tradition, passed orally to just one heir per generation. Beyond exploring this untouched samurai-era heritage, you will personalize two bottles with custom hand-written labels. Take one home as a unique souvenir, and leave the second to age in the cellar—waiting to be poured upon your return visit, or shipped to you in the future.

Wine Tastings Cooking Classes Sake Tasting Wine Making Workshops Small Group Short term availability Weather Dependent - Weather-Proof

At a glance

Duration: 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 6 people
People per booking: 1–6
Guide: Japanese, English
Operated by: Honey J Tours

Ages: Adults (1–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Bottle sealing on the brewery's hand press and custom label making
Included: Access to cellars not otherwise open to the public
Included: 2 bottles of Nindoshu: 1 home with you, 1 aged in the cellar
Included: Shared brewery tour at Kojima Jozo, brewing since 1597 with English Interpreter
Included: Guided tasting of 4–5 pours for guests aged 20 and over, including unfiltered Nindoshu

Not included

Not included: Transport to and from the meeting point
Not included: Food and additional beverages
Not included: Shipping of your preserved bottle
Not included: Non-alcoholic beverage option

Itinerary

Stop 1

1 h 30 min Admission included

Your host meets you at the entrance to Kojima Jozo and takes you through the working and historic cellars of a merchant house that has made Nindoshu since 1597. You will see the traditional rice press, the ceramic jars sunk into the earthen floor that held an even temperature before refrigeration, and the cast-iron hand press still used to cap every bottle.

You then taste four to five pours, including unfiltered Nindoshu drawn before filtering and the family's fruit-infused expressions. Guests aged 20 and over take part in the tasting, in accordance with Japanese law.

Finally you seal two bottles yourself on the hand press and write your own labels. One bottle comes home with you the same day. The second is laid down in the cellar under your name to mature for at least two years, and can be collected on a return visit to Inuyama or shipped to you once it is ready.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Important: The experience takes place in Inuyama. Nagoya Station is only a suggested departure hub. You will need to take the Meitetsu train to Inuyama Station (a 30-minute ride), followed by a short walk to the brewery.
Getting there: a 10-minute walk from the west exit of Meitetsu Inuyama Station. Inuyama Station is about 30 minutes by limited express from Meitetsu Nagoya Station. Inuyama-Yuen Station is also nearby but Inuyama Station is the closer approach on foot.

End point

Important: The experience takes place in Inuyama. Nagoya Station is only a suggested departure hub. You will need to take the Meitetsu train to Inuyama Station (a 30-minute ride), followed by a short walk to the brewery.
Getting there: a 10-minute walk from the west exit of Meitetsu Inuyama Station. Inuyama Station is about 30 minutes by limited express from Meitetsu Nagoya Station. Inuyama-Yuen Station is also nearby but Inuyama Station is the closer approach on foot.