Rural Brewery Town Walk: Half-Day Private Tour Near Kyoto
Kinomoto is a charming old brewery town blessed by an abundant source of fresh water. As a former post station town of Edo era kaido routes, the town has retained much of its historical charm, without heavily catering to tourism, but rather sustaining its natural community and identity of local family businesses that have thrived here for centuries.
After meeting up at JR Maibara Station (shinkansen stops here), our guide will lead you on the 24-minute train ride north to JR Kinomoto Station. Here we will give a walking tour around traditional sake breweries and soy sauce breweries, as well as the local Buddhist temple, and local shops such as confectioneries and bakeries.
We value real local culture. So, we rely on guides who are from the area and have strong local knowledge to guide you. Rather than simply introducing sightseeing spots, guides involved in the community can act as mediators and create opportunities to experience the values and communal ties of this small town.
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Rural Brewery Town Walk: Half-Day Private Tour Near Kyoto
What's included in Rural Brewery Town Walk: Half-Day Private Tour Near Kyoto
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Our guide will bring you to Daiko Shoyu, a local family-run soy sauce brewery that has been in business for over 100 years. Soy sauce is also made with fermented mash, so production is actually quite similar to that of sake. Explore the varieties and uses of quality Japanese soy sauce. Aside from the active winter brewing season, visitors can usually also get a private look at the brewing area too.
Tomita Shuzo
The Tomita family sake brewery has been here in Kinomoto for about 400 years and is one of the region's top brands winning awards in Japan and abroad. Our guide will show you around the traditional storefront, explaining some of the sake types and helping you interact with the friendly staff.
Kinomoto Jizoin Temple
This interesting local temple has a long history and is central to the Kinomoto Village community and traditions. Our guide will show you around the grounds and main hall while explaining its significance in local culture. People visit the main Jizo deity of this temple with prayers for vision care, using votive ceramic frog statuettes to leave as offerings. There is also a pitch dark maze for meditation underneath the main hall!
Inclusions
- All Fees and Taxes
- Professional Guide
- All train fares
- Complementary tasting often provided, but other drinks should be purchased.
- We don't provide snacks, but there are many spots to buy along the way.
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting Points
- Our guide will meet you in JR Maibara Station by the main ticket gates. To get to JR Maibara Station from JR Kyoto Station, please take the bullet train eastbound. Please note that some Hikari and all Nozomi do not stop at Maibara. We will inform you of the train schedule once confirmed.
