Discover the Soul of Sake in Nagano
A private brewery tour that blends sake, nature, culture, and heritage
Why Nagano Sake is Special
In Nagano, sake is more than just a drink—it’s a way to experience the land. Made from rice and water, its taste reflects the environment it’s born from.
This tour takes you to Ichinoya Sake Brewery in Omachi, where the water used for brewing flows from melted snow in the Northern Alps. It seeps through the mountain layers and rises fresh from the earth—clean, mineral-rich, and alive.
You’ll taste how this pure water shapes the flavor of the sake, and discover how each sake rice—locally grown in Nagano’s cool climate—adds its own character.
Ichinoya Sake Brewery
Founded in 1865, Ichinoya has been operating in the heart of Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture.
A Rare Glimpse into Traditional Craft
Ichinoya is a small-scale brewery, still making sake mostly by hand, with limited machinery. This human-centered process was officially recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024.
Because of its small production, Ichinoya’s sake is rarely found in markets. On this tour, you can taste a wide variety—each reflecting the terroir of the region and the care of its makers.
What you will experience through the tour
- Private guided tour of Ichinoya’s historic brewery
- See and learn a traditional Sake brewing method, “Kimoto-zukuri”, with base knowledge of Sake brewing
- Exclusive tasting of Ichinoya’s finest Sake selections
- Seasonal lunch made with local ingredients
- Opportunity to shop limited-edition Sake and other local specialties
- Pictures to be taken and shared
Sake & Food: A Seasonal Pairing
Enjoy a lunch at Wachigai, a restaurant known for its local cuisine using seasonal ingredients. Here, the food isn’t just delicious—it mirrors the landscape of Nagano.
Paired with Ichinoya’s sake, the meal becomes a journey through the flavors of this region—mountain water, local rice, seasonal vegetables, and handmade craft.
Historic Spaces That Hold Nature Inside
The brewery and the restaurant you’ll visit are both officially registered cultural properties, built in the late Edo period. Made from natural wood and earth, they embody the harmony between people and place.
Stepping inside feels like entering another time—calm, quiet, and deeply connected to nature.
Tour Details
- Start time: 11:00 am (2–3 hours, including lunch)
- What’s included:
- Guided visit to Ichinoya Brewery
- Sake and natural water tasting
- Seasonal lunch at Wachigai
- Sake and local goods shopping
- Tour photos provided afterward
- Availability: Once daily
- Where to meet: Ichinoya Sake Brewery, Omachi, Nagano
You can check out how the tour goes through my Instagram.
Sake Brewery Tour Booking
You can book through 2 ways:
- From Hakuba, take Hakuba Hospitality Group tour. Transportation is included so that you can fully enjoy the sake time.
- Direct booking is also available. Send me your request through email.