Bizen Ware Pottery Lesson with a Craftsman in Okayama

Bizen Ware Pottery Lesson with a Craftsman in Okayama

Book this private tour and visit the famous sake brewery Nada Sake to learn A to Z about sake! In addition to the brewery, you will also visit brewer's rice farm, sake barrel artisan for "Komo" Barrels for sake, and the Japanese-style sake storehouse. Learn the best way to appreciate the sophisticated taste of sake from your local guide and enjoy sake tasting. This tour also includes the service of making a reservation for one of the most popular local restaurants for you to enjoy the local food by the end of the tour.

You will be picked up by your friendly guide at your hotel in Kobe in the morning or afternoon and start your adventure of learning everything about sake brewing in the famous Nada Gogo area.

Nada Gogo is a perfect place for sake production. To produce high quality sake, there are 4 important elements: 1) Hard water with high minerals (called "Miya-mizu" in Japanese), 2) High quality rice called "Yamada-Nishiki", 3) Master sake brewer (called "To-ji"), and 4) Cold wind from mountain. Especially local people called the wind "Rokko Oroshi" and, in the winter, cold "Rokko Oroshi"  wind blows from Mt. Rokko nearby Nada area. This cold wind brings the temperature down and is vital for sake brewing. Many storehouses are constructed in order to accomodate the cold wind. This tour will take you to the rice fields that is making "Yamada-nishiki", the high quality rice made specifically for sake production and farmers who are making "Komo" Barrels for sake. Also visit the Japanese-style sake storehouse. Later witness the conscientious skills of artisans making sake in Nada Gogo followed by the sake tasting. Learn the best way to appreciate the sophisticated taste of sake from your guide.

After learning everything about sake, it's time to enjoy some good food. You will be dropped off at one of the most popular local restaurants in the "izakaya (tavern)" style called "Sennin Daikan". The reservation will be made for you in advance and all you need to do is to enjoy the sake and delicious food (at your own expense) (Lunch starts from JPY 1,000 per person and dinner starts from JPY 4,000 per person).