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Gekkeikan Sake Brewery

  • Kyoto, Kansai, Japan

Last updated: 05 April, 2024

One of Japan’s better-known sake brands, Gekkeikan was founded in Kyoto’s Fushimi district in 1637, and while they now produce most of their sake on a large scale in Fushimi.

Their Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum is the perfect primer for anyone interested in Japan’s national tipple. Housed in a renovated wooden brewery dating from 1909, the museum’s exhibits document the history of sake, its varieties and how it’s made. Better still, at the adjoining Sakekobo mini-brewery, visitors can see small-batch sake being brewed with traditional methods. If that triggers a thirst, no problem – the tasting area has several Gekkeikan’s brews for sampling.

Logistics

Price from: £4
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Several train lines connect Kyoto Station to the Fushimi area, but the easiest option for visiting Gekkeikan is to take the Kintetsu Kyoto Line 10 minutes to Momoyama-Goryomae Station. From there it’s a 10-minute walk.

Once at the museum, the tours are self-guided and there’s no need for a reservation. The only exception is the Sakekobo mini-brewery – to visit, make a reservation at least one day before going.

When to do it

The museum and mini-brewery are open all year round, seven days a week.

Who to go with: organised tours

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Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

  • Kyoto

Uncover the little-known sake culture of Fushimi, Kyoto on a 3-hour insider brewery visit + sake tasting and food pairing session with an expert. Deepen your knowledge of sake making process and a bit of history of its production at Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum.  Enjoy the samples of different types of sake as well as leaning details and varieties and personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour. This is a fun and educational experience to change your way of enjoying sake.   If you love sake but don't know what to select or want to know more about sake, join us and let's deep dive into the world of sake. After you experienced this, you will know which type of Sake actually you like, and you will be able to select your favorite Sake from labels or restaurant's menu even if they are all written in Japanese.

Price ¥12,300

Min age 4

Rating 4.97 / 5 [727 ratings]

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  • Kyoto

-Visit Kyoto's major sake brewery district and the Kyoto Sake Museum- you'll learn the rich history of Gekkeikan and the brewery process of sake by observing sake exhibits. Three kinds of sake tasting are offered. After deepening your knowledge of sake, feel free to stroll around the area and visit the cultural and historical spots, such as liquor stores and Teradaya. - Enjoy Kyoto's local sake samplings!- Deepen your knowledge of sake and appreciate the different aromas and flavors between the 18 of them brewed in Fushimi, Kyoto. -Be a little tipsy- Stop by one of Kyoto's shrines, and get refreshed by drinking exquisite Japanese groundwater at the end of the tour Magical Trip is a local tour operator with the TripAdvisor certificate of excellence that offers various types of small-group tours throughout Japan! Check out our Trip Advisor Page for more tours and our reviews!

Price ¥14,400

Min age 0

Rating 4.93 / 5 [434 ratings]

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  • Kyoto

Uncover the little-known sake culture of Fushimi, Kyoto on a 90 min sake tasting and food pairing session with a certified Sake Sommelier.  Enjoy the samples of different types of sake, and learn about different varieties of sake with the personalized attention from your guide on this small-group activity.  This is a fun and educational experience to change your way of enjoying sake.    If you love sake but don't know what to select or want to know more about sake, join us and let's deep dive into the world of sake.  After this experience, you will know which type of sake you like, and you will be able to select your favorite sake from labels or restaurant menus even if they are all written in Japanese.

Price ¥9,800

Min age 20

Rating 4.95 / 5 [205 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Kyoto

KYOTO SAKE BREWERY TOUR – A Journey Through Tradition and Taste Step into the heart of Fushimi, one of Japan’s most renowned and oldest sake regions, where centuries of craftsmanship and passion flow like the clear, pristine waters that give life to its legendary brews. Guided by a local expert, you’ll wander through charming streets and modern tasting rooms, each with its own story to tell. As you explore, breathe in the fragrant aroma of fermenting rice, a scent that has lingered in the air for over 400 years. Listen to the tales about dedicated brewers who have perfected their craft through generations, their hands shaping each batch with precision and care. Visit a variety of sake breweries, both historic and contemporary, and uncover the delicate balance of art and science behind Japan’s beloved national drink.

Price $236

Min age 21

Rating 4.66 / 5 [12 ratings]

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