Go behind the scenes of a rare and hard-to-find sake with a hands-on brewing experience led by the brewery.
Houraisen Sake Lab is a facility where you can experience the process of making Japanese sake. Using locally harvested rice, you'll take part in different brewing steps depending on the day. These include things such as washing the rice, steaming it, preparing ingredients for brewing, and pressing. Since these steps follow the same precision and procedures as an actual brewery, you'll be able to feel the depth and delicacy of sake brewing firsthand. Through the this experience, you'll also gain insights into the traditions of Sekiya Brewery and the nature and culture of Shitara-cho in Aichi Prefecture. At the end, you'll receive a bottle (720ml) of sake of the same type you brewed.
Following the hands-on session, you'll be guided to Sekiya Brewery's main shop. With a deeper appreciation of sake, enjoy browsing and shopping--perhaps discovering limited-edition or freshly pressed bottles only available at the store.
This plan includes English-guided transportation from JR Hamamatsu Station (Tokaido Shinkansen), making it simple and easy to add to your trip itinerary.
Following the hands-on session, you'll be guided to Sekiya Brewery's main shop. With a deeper appreciation of sake, enjoy browsing and shopping--perhaps discovering limited-edition or freshly pressed bottles only available at the store.
This plan includes English-guided transportation from JR Hamamatsu Station (Tokaido Shinkansen), making it simple and easy to add to your trip itinerary.
| Availability | Thursday, Saturday and Sunday |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Up to 7 days in advance |
| Duration | Approx. 7 hours and 45 minutes |
| Start Time | 8:45am/ 10:00am ※It depends on the plan. |
| Place | 17-7 Nakada, Kiyosaki, Shitara-cho, Kitashitara-gun, Aichi |
| Meeting Place | JR Hamamatsu Sta. ※Consult us if you wish to meet directly at the site. |
| Language | Japanese with English interpreter |
| Capacity | 2〜8 people |
| Eligibility | Ages 20 and up ※ID may be required for age verification on the day of the tour |
Brewing Menu
Japanese sake is brewed in three stages: "Soe", "Naka" and "Tome" in a single tank. Once the process is complete, the mixture becomes moromi (fermenting mash), which is left to ferment for about three weeks before the shibori (pressing) stage. With this plan, you can experience each process on different days of the week.
| Itinerary | Availability | Capacity | |
| ① | SOE（添） Rice washing, steaming, and first brewing preparation |
Thursday | 4 people |
| ② | NAKA（仲） Addition of more koji and water to the tank used in "SOE," followed by another round of rice washing, steaming, and brewing |
Saturday | 8 people |
| ③ | TOME（留） Final addition of steamed rice, koji, and water to the "NAKA" tank for the final brewing stage |
Sunday | 8 people |
| ④ | SHIBORI.1 (搾り1） After three weeks, the fermented moromi is pressed |
Saturday | 8 people |
| ⑤ | SHIBORI.2（搾り2） A second pressing of the remaining mash not fully extracted in SHIBORI.1 |
Sunday | 8 people |
Fee
①SOE ②NAKA
| 2 people | ¥55,000／person |
| 3〜8 people | ¥44,000／person |
③TOME ④SHIBORI.1 ⑤SHIBORI.2
| 2 people | ¥49,500／person |
| 3〜8 people | ¥38,500／person |
Included in Cost／Brewing experience fee (includes one 720ml bottle of sake*), interpreter, roundtrip transport from Hamamatsu Station
※You'll receive a bottle of sake (720ml) of the same type as you brewed
※You'll receive a bottle of sake (720ml) of the same type as you brewed
Method of Payment
Advance payment/ PayPal
Cancellation Charges
7 Days to 3 Days Notice: ¥3,000
2 days to 1 Day Notice: 50%
Cancel on the day of the tour or fail to show: 100%
2 days to 1 Day Notice: 50%
Cancel on the day of the tour or fail to show: 100%
How to reserve
Please book at least 7 days before.
Tour Schedule
Click to enlarge
ADDRESS 17-7 Nakada, Kiyosaki, Shitara-cho, Kitashitara-gun, Aichi
TRANSPORT
[CAR] Around 25 minutes from the Shin-Tomei Expressway Shinshiro I.C./ Around 50 minutes from the Tomei Expressway Toyokawa I.C.
TRANSPORT
[CAR] Around 25 minutes from the Shin-Tomei Expressway Shinshiro I.C./ Around 50 minutes from the Tomei Expressway Toyokawa I.C.
2025.8.22 update
Content may be subject to change after publication. Please also note that we are not accountable for loses and damages that may occur as a result of said changes.
Content may be subject to change after publication. Please also note that we are not accountable for loses and damages that may occur as a result of said changes.