Discover Sake with a Local Expert: Brewery & Tasting

Meet a Rice Expert and Passionate Sake Lover Meet Mr. Suzuki, a rice cultivation expert who spent 38 years supporting rice farmers in Okayama. Learn about sake rice and discover what makes Omachi, Okayama’s celebrated sake rice, so special. You’ll also get practical tips for enjoying Japanese sake like a local. Step Inside a Historic Sake Brewery At Morita Brewery, founded in 1909, experience traditional sake brewing and see time-honored methods and historic equipment rarely seen today. You’ll also receive a small gift from Morita Brewery! Enjoy Sake and Connect with Locals The experience continues at Standing Bar Kakehashi, a local standing bar. Chat with the staff and discover stories and recommendations you won’t find in guidebooks—from Japanese sake and Okayama’s food culture to local sake vessels and food pairings. Come for the sake, stay for the stories, and meet the people who make Okayama’s sake culture special.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   20 min

   Mr. Suzuki, a sake rice expert, will introduce the world of rice and sake. He will explain what makes great sake, and how Okayama's sunny climate, unique geography shaped by the Chugoku Mountains and the Takahashi River, the Bitchu Toji brewing tradition, and Omachi rice—the oldest premium sake rice variety—have all contributed to Okayama's rich sake culture.

2. 2

   Achi Shrine

   10 min

   Mr. Suzuki will explain the role of sake in Japanese culture, traditions, and religious practices, including its close connection with Shinto shrines. He will also give a brief introduction to the traditional brewing methods used at Morita Brewery, which you will visit next.

3. 3

   Morita Shuzo

   50 min

   Enjoy a guided tour of Morita Brewery, the only sake brewery in Kurashiki's Historic Quarter. Learn about the sake-making process, explore the brewery, and enjoy a sake tasting. You will also have the chance to visit Koroku Garden, the oldest surviving private garden in Kurashiki. At the end of the tour, you'll receive a small souvenir—either a mini bottle of sake or a sake-filled chocolate bonbon, depending on availability.

4. 4

   Heisuiken

   10 min

   Next, enjoy some free time at Heisuiken, a carefully curated specialty shop next to Morita Brewery. You'll find Morita Brewery's sake, delicious snacks that pair perfectly with sake, and a wide selection of gourmet foods from across Japan, personally chosen by the brewery owner's wife. Even if you're just browsing, it's a delightful shop full of unique discoveries.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   30 min

   Enjoy local Bitchu sake and hidden culinary gems from the region at this welcoming shop, where you can experience the flavors of the area while chatting with the friendly staff. The sake cups are made from traditional Bizen pottery and Kurashiki glass, allowing you to discover how different vessels bring out different tastes and aromas. Your experience includes a tasting set of three types of sake and two local snacks. Any additional food or drinks ordered will be at your own expense.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.