PRIVATE & CUSTOMIZED · PAY ON THE DAY · *GUIDING FEE ONLY ·

Discover Saijo, Japan's Sake-Brewing Town!Seven historic sake breweries are clustered within an easy-to-explore walking district, offering a unique opportunity to experience the heart of Hiroshima’s sake culture in a single outing. Stroll through streets lined with distinctive white brewery walls and tall red chimneys, discover the subtle aromas of brewing, and taste a variety of Hiroshima-style sakes along the way.This is more than a sake tasting. It is an opportunity to experience a living sake-brewing district!Your experience is led by an English- and Spanish-speaking local guide who has lived in Higashi-Hiroshima for 20 years and has trusted relationships with local breweries. Your guide is a Higashi-Hiroshima Tourist Association Certified English Tour Guide and holds an SSI International Sake Sommelier certification.More Than Sake TastingThe experience can go beyond sake. Upon request, your guide can introduce local food, brewery tours, shopping, and cultural experiences, allowing you to discover Saijo’s food culture and everyday atmosphere at a relaxed pace.

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-Key Points To Know Before Booking-

Flexible Experiences
Choose a small-group or private experience, with groups of up to 25 participants. Tours can be adapted to your interests and preferences.Guiding Fee Only
Your guiding fee covers English interpretation, navigation, local knowledge, and insights into Saijo's sake culture and brewing traditions. Spanish interpretation is also available.Tastings, Food & Other Expenses
Sake tastings, meals, food, brewery experiences, and other purchases are not included in the guiding fee. These costs are paid directly by guests to the respective breweries, restaurants, or businesses.Pay on the Day!
There is no upfront payment for the guiding service. Simply pay your guiding fee when you meet your guide. Other expenses are paid separately and directly by guests.No Alcohol Sales or Reservations
The guide does not sell alcohol or make brewery or restaurant reservations. Guests purchase and pay for tastings, meals, and other services directly at each business.Sustainable Sake Tasting
A traditional ceramic tasting cup, ochoko, is provided at the beginning of the tour. Use it instead of disposable plastic tasting cups at the breweries, then take it home as a souvenir.Local Food
Upon request, your guide can introduce you to local specialties such as Bishu Nabe, Saijo's traditional sake hot-pot. Food costs are paid directly by guests at the restaurant.Meeting Point
Tours normally begin at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. outside the Higashi-Hiroshima Information Centre inside JR Saijo Station, where your guide will be waiting.Ages 20+
This experience includes alcohol tasting and is available to participants aged 20 and over. Vegan and pork-free food options can be introduced upon request.

WHY SAIJO?

This historic town is proudly regarded as one of Japan’s top three legendary sake districts, alongside Nada (Hyogo) and Fushimi (Kyoto).Nestled in a scenic basin blessed with a perfect brewing climate and pure mountain spring water, Saijo offers a completely unique layout: seven historic, world-class breweries operating side-by-side along Sakagura Street—all within less than one kilometer and an easy walking distance right from the station.

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A Powerful Mix of History & High-Tech Innovation

While brewing began here in the Edo Period, Saijo exploded as a national sake capital during the Meiji Period. Today, Saijo beautifully bridges ancient heritage with cutting-edge global technology. It is the proud home of the National Research Institute of Brewing (the only one in Japan) and the world-leading Satake Corporation, while thriving as a modern educational and tech hub hosting Hiroshima University and global semiconductor giant Micron Technology.

Today, you can walk from brewery to brewery, discover centuries of history and taste sake directly where it is made.But Saijo is more than a place to drink sake.
It is a place to understand how water, rice, climate, microorganisms, craftsmanship and local culture come together in one bottle!

• EXPLORE THE SEVEN BREWERIES!

Explore the breweries below to learn more about their history and visit their official websites.From Kamotsuru and Fukubijin to Kamoizumi, Kirei, Saijotsuru, Hakubotan and Sanyotsuru, every brewery adds a different chapter to Saijo's brewing story.

• Walking Map of Sakagura Street

GOOD TO KNOW!

Guide Fees cover interpretation, navigation, and curated brewery insights, with fees varying by group size and tour length.Sake tastings are paid directly to each brewery as you go, typically ¥300–¥600 per tasting.As an SSI Certified International Sake Sommelier, I will recommend specific pours at each stop to help create a personalized and enjoyable tasting experience.

WHY YOU CAN TRUST ME?

Local experience・Sake knowledge・A scientific curiosity

I was featured by Inaka Adventure Hiroshima in their YouTube video, “3 Days in HIROSHIMA - BEST Hidden Gems in JAPAN!” sharing the charm of Saijo and its sake-brewing heritage.
The feature highlights the local experiences that make Saijo a special destination for visitors to Hiroshima.

In May 2026, I had the opportunity to guide judges participating in the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Japan event in Saijo, one of Japan's renowned sake-brewing districts.
This experience allowed me to share my local knowledge of Saijo's brewery district and its sake-making heritage with international professionals in the industry.

I was featured in the Nikkei Shimbun (newspaper), one of Japan's leading business newspapers, in its portrait section.
The article shares my story of living in Saijo and my connection to the area's distinctive sake culture.

• Read the newspaper article (only Japanese)

Recommended option: take the JR Sanyo Main Line from JR Hiroshima Station to JR Saijo Station. Direct trains are available; the journey is typically around 35–45 minutes, depending on the service.

*Tip: In the JR route finder, enter “Hiroshima” as the departure station and “Saijo (Hiroshima)” as the destination.
Check the date and time before travelling.

The easiest option is usually the limousine bus from Hiroshima Airport to Saijo Station North Exit. The ride takes approximately 23–25 minutes and the adult one-way fare is currently listed as ¥700. Bus times and fares can change, so check the official timetable before travelling.

Meeting point: JR Saijo Station, next to Tourist Information Center. After leaving the ticket gates, follow the signs to the South Exit. The Information Center is located on your right hand. Your guide will be waiting for you there.
Please arrive 5 minutes before the tour starts.

I would be delighted to help you discover the history, traditions, and flavours of Saijo's sake-brewing district.Whether you are interested in a private guided tour, sustainable sake tasting, or a customized experience, please get in touch. I will be happy to answer your questions and help you plan your visit.

CONTACTEmail:
[email protected]
[email protected]Languages:
English and SpanishLocation:
Sakagura Street, Saijo, Higashi-Hiroshima, JapanPrivate Tours & Customized ExperiencesPlease include your preferred date, number of participants, and any particular interests in your message.
I will get back to you as soon as possible.I look forward to welcoming you to Saijo and sharing its sake culture with you!Ione Madinabeitia
Your Local Sake Guide in Saijo

1. How do I book and pay?
Send a tour request through the booking link. No payment is needed in advance. You pay the guiding fee in cash when you meet your guide.2. What is included in the price?
The guiding fee covers English or Spanish interpretation, navigation, and local sake knowledge. Tastings (usually ¥300-¥600 each), food, and purchases are paid directly at each brewery or restaurant.3. Where do we meet?
Outside the Tourist Information Centre inside JR Saijo Station, at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. Please arrive on time. If you’re running late, send a message using the details in the Contact section.4. What if I need to cancel or the weather is bad?
To cancel or change your booking, please contact the guide at least 48 hours before the tour using the details in the Contact section. In case of heavy rain or a typhoon, the guide will contact participants at least 24 hours before the tour if it needs to be cancelled.5. Who can join? Do I need to know about sake?
Anyone aged 20 or over is welcome, and no sake knowledge is needed. Your guide will recommend pours at each stop, whether you’re a complete beginner or an enthusiast. Everyone who joins the tour must be included in the reservation, so please tell us your group size when you book. Extra companions can’t join on the day without a reservation.