TOUR DATES: Tentatively November, 2022 (one week) depending on removal of travel restrictions. Check back for precise dates.
GROUP SIZE: Minimum 8 / Maximum 15
TOUR COST: TBD
TOUR COST INCLUDES:
• Train* and chartered bus transportation during the tour
• 6 nights hotel
• Meals included: 5 Dinners, 5 Lunches, 6 Breakfasts, and a lot of sake!
• Fees for all scheduled sightseeing and cultural activities (optional excursions excluded)
• 5-7 Jizake Brewery Visits
• Professional licensed tour guide
• Certified Advanced Sake Professional
Participants must be at least 21 years of age at commencement of tour.
* Train fares are included in the tour cost, but you may elect to obtain your own JR Rail Pass. We will be in contact to adjust the tour cost should you elect to obtain your own JR Rail Pass. Our tour guide can assist you to exchange your order for the JR Rail Pass on the first day of the tour.
Itinerary Highlights
Our excursion will take you through the heart of Tohoku, a region that is not on the usual tourist track, yet contains some of the most beautiful natural scenery in Japan.
Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
We begin our tour in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, the largest city in Tohoku and only a 90 minute train ride from Tokyo. We will enjoy a specially curated dinner to open the week featuring Miyagi sake at a local Sendai izakaya.
We visit two breweries, Miyakanbai and Uchigasaki Shuzo, and have lunch at a traditional farmhouse. We then take an excursion to Matsushima Bay, known as one of the three most-scenic views in Japan. Join us for afternoon tea at a teahouse overlooking the bay and then a boat cruise from Matsushima Bay to Shiogama. Dinner will be at restaurant named Otokoyama where we will enjoy an omakase dinner with a special sake pairing from Abekan Shuzo, a local Shiogama brewery.
Natori City, Miyagi - Hachinohe, Aomori
We make a quick visit to Sasaki Shuzo, a brewery that was completely destroyed by an 8 meter tsunami from the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Sasaki Shuzo has rebuilt their brewery and has started brewing again in its own facility for the first time in 8 years.
We then take the shinkansen up to Aomori to visit Hachinohe Shuzo, producers of the Mutsu Otokoyama and Mutsu Hassen brands.
Ninohe & Morioka, Iwate Prefecture
We visit Nanbu Bijin in Iwate and their always-entertaining Kuramoto Kosuke Kuji who has been one of the most active supporters of Japanese sake around the world. For lunch, we venture to try wanko-soba (see the video to learn more about the wanko-soba experience) and spend time sightseeing in Morioka. Morioka is known for Nambu-tekki cast ironware and you will have opportunities to visit and buy some of the finest Nambu-tekki cast ironware.
Akita
From Morioka, we hop on the shinkansen to Akita where we visit two breweries from this region known for light and clean sake.
Final Day
From Akita, we return to Sendai which officially ends our Jizake Tour. Feel free to spend more time in Sendai or return to Tokyo to further your Japan adventure, or return to your home country or wherever your Quest takes you next.
Note: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather or scheduling conflicts with each venue. You will be notified of any changes.