Discover Suwa’s unique sake culture on a guided walk through a rare district where five sake breweries stand within a short distance of one another.

Meet your guide in front of the Suwa City Tourist Information Centre. After a short introduction, you will learn how the tour works, including the tasting ticket system and how sake from breweries closed on certain days may still be enjoyed during the experience.

At the tourist information centre, your guide will pick up the local sake tasting set, which is already included in the tour price. You do not need to pay for it separately. After that, you will walk towards the first brewery, Maihime, while your guide explains why so many breweries developed along this historic road, once part of the old Koshu Kaido route connecting Shinshu with Yamanashi and Edo.

You will also learn about the natural conditions that support sake brewing in Suwa, including underground water from the Kirigamine highlands, the region’s cool climate, clean air, and its position along an important travel route.

The tour then visits five breweries: Maihime, Reijin, Honkin, Yokobue, and Masumi. At each stop, you will enjoy sake tasting and discover how each brewery has its own history, style, and character. Because the breweries are located close together, you can compare different types of sake while experiencing the atmosphere of Suwa’s historic brewing district on foot.

After the final tasting at Masumi, your guide will lead you back to the Suwa City Tourist Information Centre, where the tour ends.

brewery may be closed or replaced, travellers can receive a refund