Luxury Nara Sake Brewery
and Michelin Tour
Insider Sake Tours Japan
15 - 22 November 2026
Luxury Nara Sake Brewery and Michelin Tour
Journey Deep into Japan’s Sake Culture with a Sake Master
Insider Sake Tours Japan invites you to discover the ancient wonders, culture, and sake of Nara Prefecture. Beyond the iconic bowing deer and the Great Buddha of the former capital, Nara holds a profound legacy as the birthplace of refined sake. This exclusive 8-day journey is an invitation into the "Spirit of Nara”, tracing the evolution of brewing from its 15th-century monastic origins at Shoryaku-ji Temple to the cutting-edge, sustainable breweries of today. Far from a typical tour, this is a private key to a world of master artisans and sacred traditions that remain hidden even to most travelers.
Hosted by Sake Samurai Simone Maynard, this unique and engaging tour is designed for sake and food enthusiasts who are keen to explore more of what Japan has to offer and dive deep into the soul of the ancient capital, Nara.
Your journey follows the sacred water and rice of the region, from the foot of Mount Miwa—home to the "God of Sake"—to the historic merchant streets of Gose and the mist-covered forests of Yoshino. Along the way, you will step behind the curtain of some of Japan’s most prestigious breweries to meet the Master Brewers (Toji). These intimate encounters are woven together with other rare cultural experiences, and our journey is as much a culinary pilgrimage as a historical one, with every day a celebration of Nara’s rich terroir.
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Tour Type
Escorted
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Dates
15-22 Nov
2026 -
Destination
Nara,
Japan -
Group Size
11-14 Pax
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Price
AUD
8,400pp~
Why Choose This Tour?
When you travel with Insider Sake Tours Japan, you aren’t just booking a seat on a bus; you are gaining an all-access pass to the guarded heart of Japanese sake brewing. Here is what sets this experience apart:
Hosted by a Sake Samurai
Travel under the guidance of Simone Maynard, one of the select group of individuals globally honoured with the title of Sake Samurai. Simone’s over-a-decade-long relationships with brewery owners and her deep technical expertise as a sake educator, sommelier and judge ensure you aren't just "tasting" sake—you are understanding its soul.
The "Unlisted" Japan
This itinerary is built on personal handshakes, not tourist brochures. From private audiences with Temple Head Priests to visiting a master swordsmith’s forge, we take you into private spaces that are typically closed to the general public.
A Focus on the Birthplace
While many tours visit Kyoto or Nada, we take you to the source. Nara is the documented birthplace of refined sake, and we trace that 1,000-year evolution from ancient monastic brewing to the sustainable, modern techniques of the region’s most prestigious houses.
Curated Culinary Excellence
We believe sake is best understood at the table. Our pairings are meticulously designed, featuring everything from Michelin-starred innovation to rustic, 250-year-old family recipes, ensuring every meal is a masterclass in Nara’s terroir.
Intimate & Intentional
We keep our groups small to ensure every guest has the opportunity to engage directly with the brewers, artisans, and experts we meet along the way.
Tour Host
Simone Maynard
Sake Samurai
Simone Maynard is one of Australia’s most recognised sake professionals. She has been working in the sake industry as an educator, advocate and consultant for over ten years and in 2022 was awarded the honorary title of Sake Samurai.
Simone has travelled and lived in Japan where she developed her love of Japanese culture, cuisine and craftsmanship along with her deep passion and respect for sake and the people who brew it.
Her friendly, engaging personality and unwavering enthusiasm for all things sake make Simone the ideal host for these delightful 'sake-focused' cultural tours. Her personal connections to local brewers and artisans allow guests to enjoy unique experiences and gain valuable insight into the sake world.
Tour Collaborator
N.I. PLANNING CO., LTD.
N.I. PLANNING publishes Nara PAR-PLE, a local lifestyle magazine, and hosts C’festa, one of the largest food events in Nara Prefecture—both deeply rooted in the local community. The company is also expanding its optional tour offerings for international visitors, creating authentic experiences that make Nara a destination worth returning to again and again.
With strong relationships with the local community including restaurants and sake breweries, N.I. PLANNING has played a key role in shaping the itinerary for this tour, offering authentic and locally rooted experiences.
Itinerary
15 - 22 November 2026
Novotel Nara
Nara Park
Nara Park
Uogin
Uogin
Uogin
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HotelNovotel Nara
Arrival and Check-inUpon arrival in Nara, make your own way to the hotel and settle in before meeting as a group in the lobby.
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ActivityMeet and Greet
Begin the tour with a relaxed mid-afternoon gathering. Introduce yourself, meet fellow travellers, the tour host, and your local guide. It’s a perfect chance to connect before the journey begins.
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ActivityGuided Stroll Through Nara Park
Take a leisurely walk through Nara Park, encountering the majestic Great Buddha and the park’s beloved deer, symbols of the city’s rich cultural heritage.
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DinnerGokan Uogin
Welcome dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant featuring exquisite cuisine thoughtfully paired with premium sake, setting the tone for the adventure ahead.
Shoryaku-ji Temple
Maruto Shoyu
Shimada Miso
Naramachi
Imanishi Seibei Store (Harushika)
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ActivityShoryaku-ji Temple
(Birthplace of Refined Sake)Join the Head Priest for an insightful talk on the origins of refined sake and the history of sake brewing in Nara.
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LunchMaruto Shoyu
Enjoy a meal where Maruto Shoyu’s signature soy sauce is paired with seasonal local ingredients, crafted by dedicated regional farmers.
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ActivityShimada Miso
Participate in a hands-on miso-making activity at this 280-year-old family-run workshop. Discover Japan’s rich fermentation culture and the close ties between traditional miso-making and sake brewing.
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ActivityNaramachi Stroll (Optional)
Explore the charming historic streets of Naramachi, with traditional merchant houses, artisanal sweet shops, modern art galleries, cafés, and boutique ryokan.
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DinnerHarushika Sake Pairing
Savour dinner paired with premium sake from Harushika, a renowned Nara brewery established in 1884. Taste a range of sake celebrated both in Japan and internationally.
Kunizane Japanese Sword Works_©masahiko miyata
Kunizane Japanese Sword Works_©masahiko miyata
Uekubo Tea Farm
Uekubo Tea Farm
Kubo Honke Brewery
Candeo Hotels Nara Kashihara
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HotelNovotel Nara
Check-out -
ActivityKunizane Japanese Sword Works
Visit the workshop of a Master Swordsmith and witness the creation of world-renowned blades. Personalised Tantō (short swords) with engraving are available for international shipping (additional cost).
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ActivityTea Uekubo
Enjoy a hand-rolled tea experience and tasting with Japan Grand Tea Master Uekubo, known for his exceptional, one-of-a-kind tea leaves. Enjoy tasting exceptional teas grown in a serene mountain plantation with fresh air, clear water, and scenic waterfalls.
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LunchDetails Coming Soon
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SakeKubo Honke Brewery
Step into a historic, family-run brewery founded in 1702 and now in its 11th generation. Meet brewery President, Mr. Kubo to learn about their traditional sake-making techniques and enjoy a tasting of their signature styles, including kimoto and aged sake.
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HotelCandeo Hotels Nara Kashihara
Arrival and Check-in -
DinnerDetails Coming Soon
Yucho Rice Field
Yucho Rice Field
Yucho Sake Brewery
à plus
Katakami Shoyu
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SakeYucho Sake Brewery & Rice Field
Explore Yucho Sake Brewery, (makers of Kaze no Mori sake), and its sustainable approach to rice cultivation in the Satoyama landscape — the traditional Japanese rural landscape where mountains, forests, and farmland coexist in harmony. Learn how mountains, forests, and farmland coexist and contribute to local sake production.
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LunchYoshokuya Kemuri
Dine in a renovated old tobacco shop with nostalgic Japanese-style Western dishes, all made from local ingredients.
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ActivityKatakami Shoyu (Soy Sauce Brewery)
Visit this traditional soy sauce brewery nestled at the foot of the mountains in Gose. Learn how soy sauce is crafted using locally grown Nara soybeans, naturally fermented and aged in large cedar barrels following time-honoured seasonal methods.
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Dinnerà plus
Savour a Michelin-starred sake-pairing dinner in collaboration with Yucho Brewery, (visited earlier in the day). The menu showcases Nara’s terroir, featuring local ingredients such as Yamato beef, and seasonal local produce, with Akitsuho sake rice transformed into dishes like risotto, perfectly paired with the brewery’s sake.
Miyoshino Jozo Brewery
Da terra
Imanishi Sake Brewery
Omiwa Shrine
Morison Fountain Pen & Cafe
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SakeMiyoshino Jozo Brewery
Take a tour of Miyoshino Brewery, famous for their Hanatomoe brand. Taste sake crafted from rice and water nurtured by the local terroir and fermented with the natural yeasts unique to the Yoshino region.
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LunchDa terra
Dine at a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in Asuka Village, where vegetables from its own garden are the stars. Housed in a traditional Japanese-style building, the name Da terra means “from the earth” in Italian.
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SakeImanishi Sake Brewery
Visit the historic brewery, dating back to 1660, at the foot of Omiwa Shrine — the oldest shrine dedicated to the “god of sake”. Taste sake made from local rice and water from the sacred spring, continuing a 14-generation family tradition.
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ActivityOmiwa Shrine
Visit the “God of Sake Brewing” and Japan’s oldest shrine, located at the base of Mount Miwa. Learn from the priest about the shrine and discover the rich history of sake brewing in the region.
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DinnerMorison Fountain Pen & Cafe
In the historic town of Gose, Morison Cafe is a unique restaurant set in a former fountain pen workshop. Enjoy seasonal dishes made with local ingredients, paired with Nara sake in a nostalgic retro atmosphere. The restaurant is especially known for its local Yamato duck dish.
Pilgrimage Walk
Meditation
Ouindou
Gojo Gembei
Gojo Gembei
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ActivityMeditation and Pilgrimage Walk
Experience a peaceful meditation session at a historic temple in Gojo, guided by a Buddhist monk. Enjoy a short walk along part of the ancient pilgrimage trail once used by monks for spiritual training.
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LunchOindo
Enjoy a special set meal featuring dishes made with locally grown persimmons at a restaurant renovated from a historic house built in the late Edo period. Most of the ingredients are homegrown or locally produced.
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ActivitySutra Copying Experience
Immerse yourself in a centuries-old tradition and find a moment of calm through the art of sutra copying. Guided by a skilled monk, you’ll carefully copy Buddhist scriptures by hand, a practice that cultivates focus, mindfulness, and inner peace.
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DinnerGojo Gembei
Dine in a beautifully preserved 250‑year‑old merchant house. Enjoy a seasonal course menu featuring local vegetables, meats, fish, and regional specialties that showcase the natural flavours of Nara.
Akahada Ware Pottery
Akahada Ware Pottery
Akahada Ware Pottery
Nara Hotel
Horyu-ji Temple
Okura Honke Brewery
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HotelCandeo Hotels Nara Kashihara
Check-out -
SakeOkura Honke Brewery
Using traditional Yamahai methods known for producing rich and complex flavours, discover their locally crafted sake, including Dakushu — a cloudy, unfiltered variety with a creamy texture and naturally sweet taste.
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ActivityHoryu-ji Temple
Step into one of Japan’s most historic temples and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore its ancient wooden structures, including some of the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world, and admire priceless Buddhist statues and artworks.
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LunchDetails Coming Soon
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ActivityAkahada Ware Pottery
Experience the traditional art of Akahada-yaki pottery, one of Nara’s oldest ceramic styles. Participate in a hands-on pottery workshop, learn about its history and techniques through an informative talk, and explore the kiln and studio to see the craftsmanship up close.
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HotelNara Hotel
Arrival and Check-in -
DinnerFarewell Dinner
Celebrate your last night together by sharing stories and reflections from the tour over a delicious local meal paired with carefully selected Nara sake.
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HotelNara Hotel
Check-out
*All transport within Nara Prefecture during the tour is included.
*Breakfast at the accommodation from Day 2 to Day 8 is included.
*Lunch is included from Day 2 to Day 7.
*Dinner is included from Day 1 to Day 7.
Tour Price
Early Bird Offer - Limited Time
Book by 30 June to enjoy exclusive savings
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Twin Share
$8,400pp
Early Bird $7,900pp
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Twin Room (Single Use)
$9,000pp
Early Bird $8,500pp
*All prices are listed in AUD. *Prices shown are per person. *Prices exclude airfares and transport to/from Nara City.
Breweries We Visit
Imanishi Seibei Store
Kubo Honke Brewery
Yucho Sake Brewery
Miyoshino Jozo
Imanishi Sake Brewery
Okura Honke Brewery
Accommodation
Novotel Nara
Opened in 2024, Novotel Nara combines contemporary European design with an eco-centered tribute to Nara’s traditions and natural beauty. Interiors feature motifs inspired by local culture, creating a serene and stylish environment that reflects the region’s heritage. Spacious, elegantly furnished rooms provide premium comfort, while thoughtfully designed communal areas—including Japanese baths, a rooftop terrace bar, and an indoor lounge—offer inviting spaces to relax after a full day of curated experiences.
Candeo Hotels Nara Kashihara
Candeo Hotels Nara Kashihara offers an exceptional stay with its sleek, contemporary design and refined comfort. It is consistently praised for its spacious, impeccably maintained rooms, where modern furnishings create a calm and restorative atmosphere. Its rooftop spa is a highlight, featuring an open-air bath under the stars and an award-winning sauna, providing a true sanctuary for relaxation. Blending modern luxury with subtle Japanese sensibility, Candeo delivers a premium and serene hotel experience.
Nara Hotel
A true icon of hospitality since 1909, Nara Hotel is one of Japan’s most prestigious historic luxury hotels. Designed by famed architect Tatsuno Kingo—the mind behind Tokyo Station—it has welcomed royalty, members of the Imperial Family, and distinguished guests such as Albert Einstein and Audrey Hepburn over its century of operation. Its timelessly classic rooms epitomise refined comfort, while heritage-steeped dining and lounges provide a memorable finale to your journey through Nara.
Step into the story of sake —Reserve your place on our tour.
