10 Japan Brewery Tours That Earn the Thirst

1.Fukuoka: Yufuin & Beppu Day Tour (Dazaifu / Brewery Options)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 31 reviews · 570 minutes - 10 hours · from $55Our pick

From Fukuoka, this 10-hour guided coach trip visits Beppu’s Kamado Jigoku and the mountain town of Yufuin. Choose a Dazaifu Tenmangu route or a Hita route with Mamedamachi, Sapporo Kyushu Hita Brewery, and the Attack on Titan Museum. English and Korean guides lead the day, with guides such as Tae and Yusuke noted for friendly service.

“Grazie a questa escursione abbiamo potuto visitare diversi luoghi nei dintorni di Fukuoka, dagli inferni di Beppu al museo di Attacco dei Giganti. È stata una bellissima esperienza, resa ancora migliore dalla guida Tae che ci ha accompagnati - super simpatica, disponibile e parla un ottimo inglese! Consiglio tanto!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Kanazawa Historic Brewery: Fermentation Tour, Tasting, Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 15 reviews · 2h 30m · from $77

At Yamato Soy Sauce & Miso’s Koji Park, owner Yamamoto and guide Yukiko introduce you to koji, miso, soy sauce, and Japanese fermentation. Tour the historic brewery grounds, compare two miso pastes, make miso soup, enjoy a four-course fermented-food lunch, and taste yuzu and black-currant doburoku. The small English-language group lasts 150 minutes.

“This was an amazing tour! Yukiko, our guide, was so personable and knowledgeable that the time just flew by. The tour included a scrumptious lunch, and plenty of sampling of the breweries find products (miso, sake, etc.) Don't miss this friendly place and inviting opportunity.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Hiroshima Night Tour: Craft Beer and Local Bites

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $78Top rated

Meet local guide Levi at Orizuru Tower at 6 pm for a three-hour walk from the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Park to three Tokaichi brewpubs. Three craft beers, dinner snacks, and local bites are included. The group is limited to six, and the evening ends back at the meeting point.

“Levi is an amazing host, he took us to multiple bars and we got to try some amazing craft beer. At the lat stop my partner played the drums and we had a dart challenge. There is no rush at each stop Levi works to the pace of ypur drinking style. Highly recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Rural Brewery Town Walk: Half-Day Private Tour Near Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $106

Meet your local guide, including Asami when available, at Maibara Station and take a local train to Kinomoto. Visit a 100-year-old soy sauce brewery, two sake makers dating back nearly 400 and 500 years, and Jizoin Temple. Tastings are included, though train fares and extra drinks cost more.

“It was a highlight of our vacation to be able visit a small town known for breweries by a local guide who lived there. Asami navigated the trains and scheduled the visits to two Saki and soy breweries that we would have never been able to find on our own. We also learned abRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Guiged Brewing Tour and Workshop Local Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $100

Meet at Asakura Station at 10:00 a.m. for a guided walk through historic Okada, then visit OKD Kominka Brewing, a local brewery in a traditional house. Finish with a generous lunch and beer tasting from 16 taps. The experience suits adults who want local food, town history, and small-scale Japanese brewing in one outing.

Check availability →Read our full review

6.1-Day Tour Sapporo: The port city of Otaru & Local Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 8h 30m · from $170

Meet your English-speaking guide at Sapporo Station at 9 a.m. for an 8.5-hour outing to Otaru. Walk the historic canal, make optional glassware at Kitaichi Glass Factory, hear an Aeolian pipe organ, see the Steam Clock, and finish with a drink at Germain Beer Brewery. Lunch and craft fees cost extra.

“great day out with Scott. great tour and great worldly discussions.recommended!! port very pretty place and very historical.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Small-Group Walking Tour of Matsuyama and Minakuchi Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $68

Start at Dogo Onsen Station with an English-speaking local guide, visit Isaniwa Shrine, Enmanji Temple, Dogo Onsen Honkan, Haikara Street, and Asuka-no-Yu, then finish at Minakuchi Brewery. You’ll choose a meaningful word for an original sake label, taste several samples, and browse the shop. Guide Miwa has been praised for thoughtful pacing and lively explanations.

“My guide was very sweet and we had great conversation! She took me to all the important sights around the Dogo Onsen and provided a lot of important history that explains the significance of the Onsen! The sake tasting at the end was an amazing way to end the tour! SRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Sapporo Tour in the Port City of Otaru and Local beer brewery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $165

Spend about eight hours traveling from Sapporo to Otaru, a former port and coal town known for its canal and historic shopping streets. Your English-speaking guide leads you to Kitaichi Glass, the Music Box Museum, the Steam Clock, and Otaru Beer. Lunch is on your own, and the tour returns to Sapporo Station.

“Had a wonderful time experiencing Otaru with our guide Scott. He shared a ton of information about the local culture and history of the town as we wandered the streets. A beautiful, relaxing place to visit as our trip wound down.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Obuse: Make Your Own Miso at a 240-Year-Old Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 5 hours · from $162

Meet guide Kazuo at Obuse Station for a five-hour private outing built around food and local culture. Eat miso ramen, make a 1kg batch of miso at a 240-year-old brewery, visit Hokusai-kan Museum, and browse Obuse with time for local shops and chestnut sweets.

“The guide was knowledgeable, professional, and friendly. His communication was fantastic. He planned a diverse day of sightseeing in Obuse and was flexible based on our group’s needs. The miso making was so much fun. It was such an interesting and unique experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Suntory Whisky and Beer Tasting Walking Tour in Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $91

Spend 4.5 hours walking from Hankyu Oyamazaki Station to the Yamazaki Whisky Museum and Suntory Kyoto Brewery. You’ll browse the museum, join a brewery production tour and tasting, and finish at JR Nagaokakyo Station. An English-speaking assistant helps with the day, but this is not a fully guided tour. All participants must be 20 or older.

“We understood this tour did not include the highly popular whisky distillery tour, but we were still excited. Within 1 business day, Fujiya-san from H.I.S. Co. (DMC) contacted with clear instructions, detailed itinerary, and photos of our meRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review