Niigata Sake Tour – Brewery Visits, Sake Train & Ryokan Stay
Japan’s sake powerhouse
Discover Niigata – The Soul of Japanese Sake
Discover the art of Japanese sake on this immersive 3-day Niigata sake tour, featuring brewery visits, a sake-themed train ride, and a traditional ryokan stay.
Niigata
From JPY 247,000 /pers.
3 Days ~ 2 Nights
2 ~ 4
Three Days with Niigata‘s Toji — Japan’s Master Brewers
- Ride the famous Koshino Shu*Kura sake-themed train along the Sea of Japan
- Discover the rich tradition of sake in Niigataa, Japan’s premier sake region
- Visit Aoki Shuzo and Hakkaisan Brewery for premium sake tastings
- Experience traditional sake storage inside a Yukimuro snow-aging cellar
- Enjoy an authentic ryokan stay with onsen hot springs and regional cuisine
- Discover local flavors including traditional Yamaga-zuke pickles
Niigata’s Breweries, Snow Cellars & the Sake Train
Begin your journey aboard The Koshino Shu*Kura, one of Japan’s 44 ‘Joyful Trains’, which runs along the Sea of Japan and is specially dedicated to sake lovers.
Niigata, renowned for its snowy winters, has an even greater reputation as a major producer of rice and sake. The Minamiuonuma area, is nationally recognized as a pinnacle for its premium Koshihikari rice, used in the region’s sake production, particularly by breweries like Aoki Shuzo, and Hakkaisan Brewery, which enjoy nationwide recognition.
Experience eco-friendly yukimuro snow storage techniques, and learn about the art of sake production or authentic Yamaga-zuke pickles at Imanari Tsukemono, a traditional pickle made from wild edible vegetables.
Then elevate your experience with a two-night stay at a ryokan, with soothing onsen and exquisite regional cuisine, embodying the stories Niigata has to tell.
Meet the Toji Behind Niigata’s Finest Sake
Niigata & Sake
Niigata’s long winters, abundant snowmelt, and premium Koshihikari rice create conditions found nowhere else in Japan. It is the country’s most celebrated sake region — home to over 90 breweries, each shaped by the same cold, clean water and exacting craft.
The Breweries
Aoki Shuzo and Hakkaisan Brewery are two of Japan’s most respected names in sake. Your visit goes beyond the tasting room — snow cellar storage, koji production, and the brewing process explained by the people who live it.
The Sake Train
The Koshino ShuKura is one of Japan’s 44 Joyful Trains — a moving sake experience running along the Sea of Japan coastline. Premium Niigata sake, live music, and landscapes that change with the seasons, all from a single carriage.
Why Wanotabi
Brewery access in Niigata is not guaranteed to individual visitors — schedules, language barriers, and private areas require advance arrangement. Wanotabi handles every introduction, ensuring your group moves through the region with depth and ease that independent travel cannot replicate.
What’s Included
- 3 Days / 2 Nights guided experience
- Ride aboard the Koshino Shu*Kura Joyful Train
- Brewery tours and premium sake tastings
- Traditional ryokan accommodation
- Regional gourmet delicacies
What’s Not Included
- International flights
- Gratuities (optional)
