Inuyama Sweet Sake Tasting & Custom Bottling From Nagoya

Step into a 1597 brewery—a Registered Tangible Cultural Property—and discover Nindoshu, a naturally sweet, liqueur-like sake crafted without any added sugar. As the only remaining Nindoshu brewery in Japan, its 430-year-old recipe is fiercely protected by the "Isshi Soden" tradition, passed orally to just one heir per generation. Beyond exploring this untouched samurai-era heritage, you will personalize two bottles with custom hand-written labels. Take one home as a unique souvenir, and leave the second to age in the cellar—waiting to be poured upon your return visit, or shipped to you in the future.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   1.5 hours

   Your host meets you at the entrance to Kojima Jozo and takes you through the working and historic cellars of a merchant house that has made Nindoshu since 1597. You will see the traditional rice press, the ceramic jars sunk into the earthen floor that held an even temperature before refrigeration, and the cast-iron hand press still used to cap every bottle. You then taste four to five pours, including unfiltered Nindoshu drawn before filtering and the family's fruit-infused expressions. Guests aged 20 and over take part in the tasting, in accordance with Japanese law. Finally you seal two bottles yourself on the hand press and write your own labels. One bottle comes home with you the same day. The second is laid down in the cellar under your name to mature for at least two years, and can be collected on a return visit to Inuyama or shipped to you once it is ready.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.