Saijo Sake Brewery Tour: Visiting Hiroshima’s Historic Rice Wine Town (2026)

Just 40 kilometers east of Hiroshima, tucked into the gentle hills of Higashihiroshima City, lies one of Japan’s best-kept culinary secrets: Saijo, a compact sake brewery town where eight traditional breweries line a single historic street, their distinctive red-brick chimneys and white-washed kura (storehouse) walls rising above the station approach. Known as one of Japan’s three great sake-brewing regions alongside Fushimi in Kyoto and Nada in Kobe, Saijo has been producing rice wine for over 300 years—and unlike its more famous counterparts, it remains refreshingly under the tourist radar.

For travelers making a base in Hiroshima, a half-day sake tasting excursion to Saijo is one of the most rewarding add-on experiences available in the region. You get authentic cultural immersion, outstanding sake tasting, beautiful Meiji-era architecture, and a genuinely warm welcome from breweries that now offer English tours. This guide covers everything you need to plan your visit.

If you haven’t covered the basics of visiting Hiroshima yet, our Hiroshima Travel Guide is the perfect starting point.

🎦 Watch Before You Go

What Makes Saijo Sake Special?

The Trifecta of Sake Geography

Japan recognizes three cities as its premier sake-producing centers: Fushimi (Kyoto), Nada (Kobe), and Saijo (Hiroshima). Each region produces sake with a distinct character that reflects its local water, microclimate, and brewing traditions. Saijo’s sake is particularly renowned for its tanrei quality—a term describing sake that is light, elegant, and delicate, with a refinement that Japanese drinkers sometimes describe as onna-zake (women’s sake) due to its smooth and approachable flavor profile. The key is Saijo’s water, drawn from deep underground wells fed by the nearby Mt. Ryuo (575 meters), which is medium-hard with just the right mineral balance to encourage healthy yeast fermentation without imparting harsh flavors.

A Living Heritage Town

Saijo Sake Brewery Street (Saijo Shuzo Dori) is a living, working district where actual production continues year-round. Walking from the station to the breweries takes about 5 minutes and immediately transports you: red brick chimneys, traditional namako wall tiles, wooden signboards, and the faint yeasty fragrance of active fermentation fill the air. Seven of the eight breweries along the street offer public tastings, and several offer brewery tours with English language support.

Top Sake Breweries in Saijo Worth Visiting

1. Kamotsuru Sake Brewing

One of Saijo’s most celebrated breweries, Kamotsuru has been producing sake since 1873. Their flagship sake has been served at state banquets and is widely regarded as one of Japan’s finest junmai daiginjo expressions. Visitors can enter their attractive shop and tasting room (free) or book a brewery tour through the kura cellars and production areas. Their special reserve sake runs from about 1,200 to 3,500 yen per bottle—excellent value for the quality. Look for their limited seasonal releases if visiting between January and March.

2. Hakubotan Sake Brewing

Founded in 1675, Hakubotan (White Peony) is Saijo’s oldest sake producer and a fascinating place to understand the evolution of Japanese sake culture over four centuries. The brewery runs guided tours on weekends (approximately 1,000 yen per person) that take you through the traditional wooden kura and explain the different stages of sake production. Their tasting room offers free tastings of several grades, with the sweet nigori cloudy sake being particularly popular with first-time visitors exploring Japan’s rice wine tradition.

3. Kamokinshu Sake Brewing

A smaller boutique operation, Kamokinshu has developed a cult following for their experimental approaches and small-batch junmai ginjo expressions. Their sake tends toward the fruity, aromatic end of the spectrum—refreshing and approachable for beginners, yet nuanced enough to impress seasoned enthusiasts. The tasting room has a friendly, informal atmosphere and staff are particularly welcoming to foreign visitors, making it an ideal introduction to Hiroshima’s sake culture.

4. Saijotsuru Sake Brewing

Known locally as the brewery most committed to traditional natural brewing methods, Saijotsuru produces sake using yamahai and kimoto techniques that allow natural lactic acid bacteria to develop without commercial additives. The result is sake with a deep umami character and earthy complexity that pairs exceptionally well with food. Their shop offers generous tastings and purchase prices start at around 1,300 yen for a 720ml bottle.

5. Saijo Sake Festival

If you can time your visit to coincide with the annual Sake Matsuri, held each October, you’re in for a remarkable experience. All seven breweries open simultaneously, offering unlimited tasting glasses for a single ticket price (approximately 2,500 yen per person). The festival draws 200,000 visitors over two days—arrive early to beat the crowds. Hotel rooms in Hiroshima fill up fast during this period; book at least two to three months in advance.

For more on Hiroshima’s food scene, our Hiroshima Okonomiyaki Guide covers the city’s most iconic culinary experience.

How to Book Sake Tours and Tastings in Saijo

Walk-In Tastings

Most breweries welcome walk-in visitors during opening hours (typically 9 AM to 5 PM, closed some Sundays and public holidays). Walk-in tastings are usually free or cost 200 to 500 yen for a set of three to five sake samples. Simply present yourself at the shop entrance. No reservation needed, though English support varies by brewery.

Guided Group Tours

For a more structured experience with English commentary, guided tours are available through several operators and provide an excellent introduction to sake production and Saijo’s heritage. Group tours run approximately 2 to 3 hours covering two to four breweries with tasting included, costing approximately 3,000 to 5,000 yen per person.

Browse Saijo sake tours on Klook →

Where to Stay Near Saijo

Saijo is easily visited as a half-day trip from Hiroshima city. If you prefer to base yourself closer, Higashihiroshima City has several business hotels within walking distance of the station.

Compare hotels near Saijo on Booking.com →

Practical Tips and Getting There

Getting to Saijo from Hiroshima

Take the JR Sanyo Main Line from Hiroshima Station. The journey to Saijo Station takes approximately 35 to 40 minutes and costs around 510 yen one way. Trains run every 30 minutes throughout the day. The ride is covered by the JR Pass. From Saijo Station, Sake Brewery Street begins immediately from the north exit—you can see the brick chimneys from the platform. If planning to taste sake extensively, take the train rather than driving.

Best Time to Visit Saijo

Saijo can be visited year-round. Spring (March to May) brings pleasant temperatures and cherry blossoms in nearby parks. Autumn (September to November) is arguably the best season, culminating in the October Sake Festival. Winter (November to February) is peak brewing season—the most atmospheric time, when you might see actual sake production in process and the air carries rich, complex aromas of active fermentation throughout Brewery Street.

What to Buy in Saijo

Beyond drinking sake on-site, Saijo is an excellent place to purchase high-quality sake to take home. Most breweries sell at retail prices equivalent to or slightly lower than Tokyo department stores. Some also offer tobingakoi (sake in traditional Japanese bottles), sake cups, and sake-related foods. Quality sake is sold in glass bottles and can be heavy—factor this into your travel plans if flying from Japan.

Food Options Near the Breweries

Several small restaurants near Brewery Street serve local Hiroshima Prefecture cuisine, including excellent seafood from the Seto Inland Sea (just 30 kilometers south) and grilled meats. The specialty of the area is a hearty local nabemono (hot pot) featuring pork, mountain vegetables, and tofu. After an afternoon of sake tasting, a warming bowl is the perfect counterbalance before returning to Hiroshima.

FAQ: Saijo Sake Brewery Tour

How many breweries are in Saijo?

There are eight sake breweries along and near Saijo Sake Brewery Street, seven of which welcome visitors with tastings and tours. They range in size from large nationally known brands to smaller artisanal operations focused on premium expressions.

Do you need to book a sake tour in advance?

Walk-in tastings at most breweries don’t require advance booking. However, English-language guided brewery tours should be booked in advance through operators. During the October Sake Festival, book everything as far in advance as possible.

How much sake can I drink on a tour?

Walk-in tastings typically offer three to five 30ml sample pours per brewery. A full day on Brewery Street visiting multiple breweries could mean tasting 15 to 30 samples in total. Keep pace, drink water between sessions, and eat before you visit. Sake averages 15 to 16% alcohol, comparable to a strong wine.

Is Saijo sake different from Fushimi sake?

Yes, noticeably. Fushimi sake (Kyoto) tends to be soft, mellow, and slightly sweet due to very soft water. Saijo sake (Hiroshima) uses medium-hard water producing a lighter, more elegant style with finer acidity. Nada sake (Kobe) uses harder water, resulting in a drier, bolder character. Visiting Saijo after Kyoto and comparing sake is a fascinating sensory exercise.

Can I visit Saijo as a day trip from Hiroshima?

Absolutely. A half-day trip is more than sufficient to visit three or four breweries, enjoy tastings, and explore Brewery Street. Leave Hiroshima mid-morning, spend 3 to 4 hours in Saijo, and return in time for dinner in Hiroshima city.

Is the Saijo Sake Festival worth visiting?

If you can plan your visit around the October festival, absolutely. Tickets are excellent value for unlimited tastings across all breweries, the atmosphere is festive, and the limited edition releases available only at the festival are genuinely special. Arrive early (before 10 AM) for the best experience.

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You might also like:

• Hiroshima Travel Guide: Peace Park, Miyajima and Local Food
• Hiroshima Okonomiyaki: Where to Eat Japan’s Best Pancake
• Best Things to Do in Hiroshima: Top 12 Sights
• Best Sake Brewery Tours in Japan: Fushimi, Nada and Beyond

Final Thoughts on Saijo Sake Brewery Tour

Saijo represents everything that makes regional Japanese food culture so compelling—centuries of craft, a deep connection to local geography, and genuine hospitality toward visitors who take the time to seek it out. As one of Japan’s great sake-producing towns that remains pleasantly off the main tourist circuit, it offers an authenticity that’s increasingly hard to find in Japan’s most visited destinations.

Three key takeaways for your Saijo visit: Take the JR train from Hiroshima— 35 minutes, covered by JR Pass, and leaves you right at Brewery Street. Plan for morning to early afternoon—breweries are at their quietest and most atmospheric before lunch on weekdays. Buy a bottle or two to take home—the selection and prices at Saijo breweries are excellent.

Browse Hiroshima sake experiences on Klook →, and find the perfect hotel in Hiroshima on Booking.com →.

The Saijo Sake Festival and Seasonal Events

Saijo Sake Festival (October)

Held annually in mid-October, the Saijo Sake Festival (Saijo Sake Matsuri) is one of the largest sake events in Japan, drawing 200,000 to 250,000 visitors over a weekend. All of the breweries open their doors simultaneously, offering free or discounted tastings, special limited-edition releases, and festival food stalls throughout the quarter. If your Japan trip coincides with the second weekend of October, planning your visit to Hiroshima around the Saijo Sake Festival is strongly recommended — it is one of the most atmospherically rewarding food-and-drink events in the entire country. Book accommodation in Hiroshima well in advance as nearby hotels fill quickly.

Sake Varieties to Look For in Saijo

Saijo sake tends toward the tanrei karakuchi (light and dry) style that pairs well with the region’s seafood-forward Hiroshima cuisine. Among the most celebrated expressions you’ll encounter in the brewery tasting rooms: Kamotsuru’s Tokusei Gold is a rich junmai daiginjo frequently cited as one of Japan’s top premium sake releases. Fukubijin’s Junmai from Imada Shuzo is made entirely with locally grown rice and soft Saijo water — clean, elegant, and an excellent introduction to the regional style. Hakubotan’s Daiginjo represents the most delicate end of the Saijo spectrum: exceptionally fragrant with a long, dry finish. Most breweries offer tasting flights (usually 3 to 5 pours for 500 to 800 yen) that allow you to compare styles side by side.

Pairing Saijo Sake with Hiroshima Food

Hiroshima’s regional cuisine makes a natural partner for Saijo sake. The prefecture is famous for its oysters — among the finest in Japan — which pair beautifully with the light, mineral-driven sake produced here. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (the layered, noodle-including version distinct from Osaka’s mixed style) is another natural pairing, with the umami depth of the pancake finding a complement in dry junmai. If you are combining your Saijo visit with an evening in Hiroshima, the izakayas of the Nagarekawa entertainment district offer excellent local sake selections alongside seasonal Hiroshima dishes.

Getting to Saijo from Hiroshima City

Saijo Station is served directly by the JR Sanyo Main Line from Hiroshima Station. The journey takes approximately 40 to 45 minutes and costs around 590 yen each way — and is fully covered by the JR Pass. Trains run frequently throughout the day, typically two to four per hour depending on time of day. The brewery quarter is a short 5-minute walk from Saijo Station following signs for the sake breweries (doburoku signs in both English and Japanese guide you from the station exit). Arriving before noon gives you a full afternoon of brewery visits; most tasting rooms close between 4:30 and 5:30 PM. A recommended approach for combining Saijo with other Hiroshima sights: visit the Peace Memorial Museum and park in the morning, take the 1 PM or 2 PM JR train to Saijo for the afternoon brewery tours, and return to Hiroshima for dinner at Okonomimura in the evening. This structure keeps your day efficiently organized without feeling rushed at any individual site.

Practical Tips for Your Saijo Visit

Most brewery tasting rooms open at 9:00 or 10:00 AM and close between 4:30 and 5:30 PM; confirm hours in advance for any brewery you particularly want to visit, as some close earlier on weekdays or require advance reservation for guided tours. Designated drivers and non-drinkers are fully welcome — many tasting rooms sell beautifully packaged sake for takeaway, and the Saijo quarter has good shops selling sake-related food products including sake lees (kasu) cookies and sake-flavored soft serve ice cream, popular with non-drinking visitors. Lockers are available at Saijo Station if you want to store luggage while walking the brewery quarter. For purchasing sake to take home, note that whole bottles of premium sake can be purchased and carefully wrapped at most brewery shops; airline policies on liquids vary, so check carry-on limits or plan for checked luggage when bringing bottles back.