Tour Details
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
- A local bar in the downtown area
Photos & Highlights
- Experience Japanese sake culture, complete with samples of high-quality sake and local snacks
- Private Tokyo sake-tasting experience led by an expert sommelier
Select a date
Tour Description
Wandering through the cobbled streets of Monzen-Nakacho, a Tokyo neighborhood favored by locals and known for its colorful authenticity, it is inevitable that you feel the pull to enter one of the many drinking holes and order a glass of the local elixir. But how on earth to choose from the shelves of calligraphed bottles? What exactly is sake, and is there a particular way to drink it?
On this Sake tasting tour with food pairing, your expert will let you in on all of the secrets this Japanese specialty holds. From traditional brewing techniques to modern trends and refined tasting methods, your Sake guide will arm you with all of the knowledge you need to enjoy and order sake like a local.
Visit a few of your expert’s favorite haunts in the neighborhood, sampling a variety of carefully selected sakes as well as accompanying your drinks with Otsumami, savory snacks intended to be consumed alongside alcoholic beverages. These pairings not only delight the palate but also enhance your understanding of how sake can complement various flavors.
You’ll part with your expert after experiencing an evening as only a true local could, having savored the complexity of Japan’s national drink in a neighborhood far from the tourist-filled crowds of Shibuya. Whether you're a seasoned sake enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this experience promises to be both delicious and informative.
On this Sake tasting tour with food pairing, your expert will let you in on all of the secrets this Japanese specialty holds. From traditional brewing techniques to modern trends and refined tasting methods, your Sake guide will arm you with all of the knowledge you need to enjoy and order sake like a local.
Visit a few of your expert’s favorite haunts in the neighborhood, sampling a variety of carefully selected sakes as well as accompanying your drinks with Otsumami, savory snacks intended to be consumed alongside alcoholic beverages. These pairings not only delight the palate but also enhance your understanding of how sake can complement various flavors.
You’ll part with your expert after experiencing an evening as only a true local could, having savored the complexity of Japan’s national drink in a neighborhood far from the tourist-filled crowds of Shibuya. Whether you're a seasoned sake enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this experience promises to be both delicious and informative.
- You have an appreciation for wine tasting or brewery experiences. Why not add sake to the list?
- You want to do as the locals do and drink as the locals drink
- You are starting out your trip and want to be confident in Sake ordering and purchasing for the remainder of your time in Japan
- Several glasses of Sake spanning different types and qualities
- Otsumami - a special variety of Japanese appetizers, sure to complement your Sake tastings
- These tastings do replace a meal, but you are in Japan, where there are far too many delicious things to taste, so never rule out a post-tour snack.
- We are taking you to local establishments that are often family-run, hours and availability may vary.
- We don’t recommend this tour for non-drinkers as there are no suitable non-alcoholic options.
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
- For more information on planning your travels to Tokyo, take a read through our Context Stories.
- If you are looking to learn more about Japan prior to a visit, check out our online lectures.
Can the tour accommodate those with allergies or dietary restrictions?
We do our best to accommodate everyone. If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, please let us know when you book. We can check in on dishes, order ahead, and do everything possible to ensure you enjoy your tasting and meal. Vegetarians can join, but food pairing options may be more limited. Gluten-free diets are easy to accommodate, but there are trace amounts of wheat in soy sauce, which is common but can be avoided.
Is it okay to tip my guide in Japan?
Yes. Context clients generally tip anywhere from 10-25% of the purchase price of a personal service such as this, depending on the quality of the experience and their tipping habits.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
The sake bars we visit are often cramped and narrow, and therefore not ideal for wheelchair-bound guests. However, as the experience is mostly seated, it is an ideal choice for guests with low mobility.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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20 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Fabien was extremely knowledgeable on sake, wine, and other alcohol. We had a great evening. We wish we could've stayed in one place- a place that was prepared to have us and serve sake with food pairings. We were at the whim of what was available which worked out well but maybe not ideal.
Ashley
Mar 24, 2025
Fabien took us to great places that we would not have found on our own as tourists. He was also a valuable resource on sake, and we enjoyed spending time with him.
Andrea
Mar 3, 2025
Fabian was AWESOME! I know that language wasn't the focus of the tour, but I marveled at Fabian's mastery of English and Japanese (I like language, so that stuck out to me). And the sake that we sampled + the unique food pairings were excellent. There were plenty of sweet sakes for me to enjoy (I have a sweet tooth)! Just like the other guides that we've had on our Context Tours, Fabian was incredibly friendly and engaging. And needless to say, he truly knows his sake/wine/food/other spirits! It was really cool to listen to him explain both the sake-making process and the label specifications that teach buyers about the content of the bottle. I only hope that I can find a career/calling that I'm so passionate about. This was an excellent tour and my husband and I can't wait to return to Japan to book some more tours. Thank you!!
Colleen
Dec 1, 2024
