Mashiko

Tochigi

Premium

Award Winning

Sake

Tasting

Private

Award Winning Private Sake Tasting & Pairing Experience - Only 90 Minutes from Tokyo

Tonoike Sake Brewery is a 3rd generation brewery with roots dating back to 1829 and in 2025 they were the first brewery in 106 years to win both the Junmai (pure rice) and Ginjo (special brew) Nanbu Toji Sake Tasting Competition, a blind sake tasting competition with over 580 entries. Located in Mashiko, only 90 minutes from Tokyo, this region is famous for its pure water and pottery ware.

In Japan, sake is often paired with food similar to wine and due to the wide variety of sakes, the pairing potential goes far beyond Japanese cuisine! In this private experience, you will learn about the history and process of sake making through a tour of the brewery before enjoying a premium sake tasting experience where you will samples award winning sakes paired with a mix of Japanese and western delicacies.

Whether you're a seasoned sake drinker or a just starting out on your sake journey, this immersive journey will change how you view sake going forward!

There are two different types of experiences available, see below for more details and book your exclusive experience!

Premium Private Sake Tasting Experience

Summary:

¥35,000 per person

2 hours

Min 2, Max 8

What is included:

What is included:

  • A dedicated English guide or translator

  • Transportation from your hotel in Mashiko or Mashiko Station

  • A tour of the Tonoike Sake Brewery

  • Private sake tasting experience and food pairing featuring 6 sakes including seasonal and exclusive sakes

  • Ceremonial welcome sake drink from a exclusively crafted Mashiko drinking vessel

  • Coffee and amazake (non-alcoholic sake) ice cream

  • Exclusive customised sake gift & surprise present

  • A dedicated English guide or translator

  • Transportation from your hotel in Mashiko or Mashiko Station

  • A tour of the Tonoike Sake Brewery

  • Private sake tasting experience and food pairing featuring 6 sakes including seasonal and exclusive sakes

  • Ceremonial welcome sake drink from a exclusively crafted Mashiko drinking vessel

  • Coffee and amazake (non-alcoholic sake) ice cream

  • Exclusive customised sake gift & surprise present

  • A dedicated English guide or translator

  • Transportation from your hotel in Mashiko or Mashiko Station

  • A tour of the Tonoike Sake Brewery

  • Private sake tasting experience and food pairing featuring 6 sakes including seasonal and exclusive sakes

  • Ceremonial welcome sake drink from a exclusively crafted Mashiko drinking vessel

  • Coffee and amazake (non-alcoholic sake) ice cream

  • Exclusive customised sake gift & surprise present

Standard Sake Tasting Experience

Summary:

¥20,000 per person

90 minutes

Min 2, Max 8

What is included:

What is included:

  • A tour of the Tonoike Sake Brewery

  • Private sake tasting experience and food pairing featuring 4 sakes including seasonal sakes

  • Ceremonial welcome sake drink from a exclusively crafted Mashiko drinking vessel

  • Exclusive customised sake gift

  • A tour of the Tonoike Sake Brewery

  • Private sake tasting experience and food pairing featuring 4 sakes including seasonal sakes

  • Ceremonial welcome sake drink from a exclusively crafted Mashiko drinking vessel

  • Exclusive customised sake gift

  • A tour of the Tonoike Sake Brewery

  • Private sake tasting experience and food pairing featuring 4 sakes including seasonal sakes

  • Ceremonial welcome sake drink from a exclusively crafted Mashiko drinking vessel

  • Exclusive customised sake gift

Tonoike Sake Brewery also produces other products made from rice including shochu, liqueurs and sake cosmetics which you can purchase at their brewery shop!

Other things to note:

  • All experiences start at 2pm

  • Sake tasting is only available to those aged 20 and above

  • If you are coming with children, a child ticket is available for ¥1,000 which includes ice cream and juice (child tickets are in addition to the minimum 2 people required)

  • Transport is included for the Private Premium Sake Tasting Experience. Please include details in the comments when booking or email bookings@dokodiscover.com

  • Please include the names of all participants in the comments when booking for your exclusive customised gift!

  • If any participants have any dietary requirements, please specify this in the comments

  • If you are coming with a designated driver who would still like to join in the tour, please let us know!

  • All experiences start at 2pm

  • Sake tasting is only available to those aged 20 and above

  • If you are coming with children, a child ticket is available for ¥1,000 which includes ice cream and juice (child tickets are in addition to the minimum 2 people required)

  • Transport is included for the Private Premium Sake Tasting Experience. Please include details in the comments when booking or email bookings@dokodiscover.com

  • Please include the names of all participants in the comments when booking for your exclusive customised gift!

  • If any participants have any dietary requirements, please specify this in the comments

  • If you are coming with a designated driver who would still like to join in the tour, please let us know!

How to get there

  • The easiest way to get here is by car which is around 90 minutes from Tokyo

  • Free parking is available opposite the brewery

  • Read our guides on Driving in Japan and Renting a Car in Japan for more information

  • From Utsonomiya Station, take the bus (益子駅~ベルモール~宇都宮東武) from Platform 14 for 65 stops (59 minutes) and alight at (益子新町) and walk for 20 minutes

  • The easiest way to get here is by car which is around 90 minutes from Tokyo

  • Free parking is available opposite the brewery

  • Read our guides on Driving in Japan and Renting a Car in Japan for more information

  • From Utsonomiya Station, take the bus (益子駅~ベルモール~宇都宮東武) from Platform 14 for 65 stops (59 minutes) and alight at (益子新町) and walk for 20 minutes

Reservations need to be made at least 5 days in advance. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the booking will be subject to a 100% cancellation fee. Cancellations prior to this will be subject to a 5% admin fee.

Request a Booking:

If there is no availability for the dates you require from the 'Book Now' link above, please fill out the request form below and we will check if additional availability can be added for your requested date. Please note that all experiences will be held at 2pm.

We will respond to your inquiry within 24 hours during weekdays or by the following business day.

We will respond to your inquiry within 24 hours during weekdays or by the following business day.