About Our Tours

What exactly is a private sake brewery tour?

A private sake brewery tour is a curated visit to one or more sake breweries (sakagura), arranged exclusively for your group — not a shared bus tour with strangers. You travel by private car, meet the brewers directly, and access areas not open to general visitors: the koji room where fermentation begins, the aging cellars, and the tasting space usually reserved for the brewery's own team.

At Wintage Tour, every journey is fully private, fully in English, and fully tailored to your interests.

Can people who don't speak Japanese join a sake tour?

Yes — that is precisely why Wintage Tour exists. All of our experiences are conducted fully in English. We handle all communication with breweries and producers on your behalf. You focus on the experience; we take care of everything else.

Do I need to already know about sake or wine before joining?

Not at all. Whether you are tasting sake for the first time or have been visiting Japanese breweries for years, we design the experience to match your level. Curiosity is the only prerequisite.

How many people can join a private tour?

Our tours are designed for individuals, couples, and small groups — typically 1 to 8 people. For larger groups, please contact us to discuss options.

Regions and Destinations

Which regions of Japan do you cover?

We currently offer curated experiences in two core regions:

  • Yamanashi — Japan's premier wine region, at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Also home to sake breweries with centuries of history.
  • Niigata — Japan's most celebrated sake prefecture, known for its clean water, cold fermentation, and tanrei karakuchi (clean, dry, refined) style.

Experiences in Nagano and Okinawa (Awamori) are coming soon.

Do you only go to sake breweries, or also wineries?

Both. Wintage Tour covers Japan's full spectrum of craft beverage culture: sake breweries, wineries, and in the future, Awamori distilleries. Every full-day experience includes lunch at a renowned local restaurant.

How far is Yamanashi from Tokyo? And Niigata?

Yamanashi is approximately 90 minutes from Shinjuku by private car. Niigata is about 90 minutes from Tokyo Station by the Joetsu Shinkansen (bullet train). Both are ideal for a full-day experience from Tokyo.

Bookings and Logistics

How do I book a Wintage Tour experience?

All experiences are privately arranged. To begin, contact us:

We will ask about your interests, travel dates, group size, and what kind of experience you are looking for. From there, we design your itinerary.

How far in advance should I book?

We recommend contacting us at least 2 to 4 weeks before your intended travel date. Some brewery partners have very limited availability. For peak seasons (spring cherry blossom, autumn foliage), earlier is better.

What is included in the tour price?

A full-day Wintage Tour experience typically includes: private car transportation (roundtrip from Tokyo), all brewery and winery visit arrangements, guided tastings with producers, lunch arrangements at a local restaurant, and English-language guidance throughout.

What is the approximate price of a private tour?

Full-day private experiences start from approximately ¥60,000 per person for small groups, with variation based on the itinerary. Please contact us for an accurate quote tailored to your journey.

The Sake and Wine Experience

What will I actually see inside a sake brewery?

Depending on the brewery and time of year, a private visit may include:

  • The koji room (kojimuro) — where Aspergillus oryzae mold is cultivated on steamed rice. The most sacred space in any brewery, rarely shown to visitors.
  • The fermentation tanks (moromi) — where yeast converts sugars into alcohol over 20–30 days
  • The pressing room and aging cellar
  • A private tasting session with the brewer or toji (master brewer)

What is the difference between sake types?

Term What it means
Junmai Pure rice sake — no added alcohol. Often richer and fuller-bodied.
Ginjo Rice polished to 60% or less. Fruity, delicate aromas.
Daiginjo Rice polished to 50% or less. The pinnacle of fragrant, refined sake.
Nigori Unfiltered, cloudy sake. Creamy, slightly sweet.
Tanrei karakuchi Style descriptor meaning "clean and dry" — Niigata's signature character.

Is sake strong?

Sake typically ranges from 14% to 16% alcohol by volume — similar to a full-bodied wine. It is sipped slowly and thoughtfully. The drinking pace on a Wintage Tour experience is relaxed and exploratory.

About Wintage Tour

Who is behind Wintage Tour?

Wintage Tour is led by Kenta Ishii (石井健太), a Japan-based travel specialist with deep personal relationships across Japan's sake and wine producing communities. Wintage Tour is operated by BOND Resort Co., Ltd., a Tokyo-licensed travel agency (Tokyo Gov. License No. 3-6199).

What makes Wintage Tour different from a standard brewery tour?

Most brewery tours are fixed itineraries with large groups and surface-level access — a tasting room visit and a gift shop. Wintage Tour is built on genuine personal relationships with producers who trust us to bring the right kind of guests into their world. That trust is what opens the koji room. That trust is what puts you at a table with the toji over a meal.

Is Wintage Tour a licensed travel agency?

Yes. Wintage Tour is operated by BOND Resort Co., Ltd., registered with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a licensed travel agency (東京都知事登録旅行業第3-6199号).

Still have a question? Contact us — we'd love to hear from you.