If you are looking to dive deeper into Japanese culture, there is no better way than through the art of sake brewing. In 2025, Japan will offer two exclusive hands-on sake brewing programs beyond traditional tours, allowing you to step into the role of a kurabito (sake brewer) and experience the craft firsthand.
Whether you choose the serene surroundings of Sado Island’s School Brewery or the historic setting of KURABITO STAY in Nagano, these programs offer a rare opportunity to engage with centuries-old brewing traditions, local ingredients, and the cultural essence of Japan. Discover the spirit of sake making while creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Dive Into Tradition at Sado Island’s School Brewery
Source: 尾畑酒造株式会社のストーリー｜PR TIMES STORY
https://prtimes.jp/story/detail/AxM31NF7EbK
Experience the heart of Japanese sake brewing on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture. Once a school, the Gakkōgura (School Brewery) has been transformed by Obata Shuzo, a sake brewery founded in 1892, into a unique facility where visitors from around the world can learn the art of sake making.
The brewery uses only locally grown rice from Sado Island and operates during the summer months. One of the main attractions is a week-long sake brewing experience, where participants work alongside professional brewers. This hands-on program was designed by CEO Mr. Hirashima, who wanted to turn the former school into a fun and educational space.
One-Week Sake Brewing Program
Participants learn the core steps of sake production, including koji making, rice steaming, and fermentation. The program also includes a rice field tour to explore local agriculture and a sake tasting session to develop sensory skills.
● Program Schedule:
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Day 1 |
Orientation, rice steaming, and koji making |
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Day 2 |
Koji making, rice washing, soaking, and a rice field tour (overnight koji making) |
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Day 3 |
Rice steaming, koji making, rice washing, soaking |
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Day 4 |
Rice steaming, soe-shikomi (first-stage fermentation), koji making |
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Day 5 |
Odori (a sake brewing step), rice washing, soaking, sake tasting |
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Day 6 |
Rice steaming, naka-jikomi (second-stage fermentation), washing, soaking |
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Day 7 |
Rice steaming, soe-shikomi, and graduation ceremony |
The 2025 program runs from May to September, offering a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Japanese sake.
More info.
《One-Week Course》Sake Brewing Program
https://www.obata-shuzo.com/home/gakkogura/experience2024.asp
Immerse Yourself in Tradition at Nagano’s KURABITO STAY
Nestled in the Saku region of Nagano Prefecture, known for its pure water from the Chikuma River, lies a hidden gem for sake lovers. The area is rich in sake-brewing history, with 13 breweries still active today. Among them is Tachibana Shuzo, a brewery with over 300 years of history. In 2020, they launched KURABITO STAY, a sake-brewing experience facility and hotel where guests can not only stay but also become part of the brewing process.
At KURABITO STAY, you will experience more than just a typical brewery tour. Guests are invited to join as kurabito (sake brewers) and engage in hands-on sake-making activities in a real, working brewery. The experience is available as either a one-night or two-night stay, offering a truly immersive journey into the world of sake. The facility itself is a renovated 100-year-old farmhouse, originally used to house seasonal brewers during the winter months.
Kurabito Experience: 2 Nights, 3 Days
This exclusive program takes place during the cold-brewing season, allowing participants to engage in the key stages of sake production, from rice washing to fermentation.
● Program Schedule:
|
Day 1 |
- 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. | Orientation - 6:00 p.m. | Dinner |
|
Day 2 |
- 7:00 – 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast - 8:00 – 8:15 a.m. | Traditional purification ritual before entering the brewery - 8:15 – 10:45 a.m. | Sake brewing experience - 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Sake tasting seminar - 2:30 – 5:15 p.m. | Additional brewing tasks, including rice washing |
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Day 3 |
- 7:00 – 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast - 8:00 – 10:45 a.m. | Final sake brewing session - 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. | Final examination and wrap-up |
● 2025 Program Dates:
The 2-night, 3-day kurabito experience will be held on the following dates in 2025:
- February 14–16
- February 28–March 2
- March 14–16
- March 21–23
- March 28–30
If you are passionate about sake or curious to dive deeper into Japanese culture, KURABITO STAY offers an unforgettable, hands-on brewing experience in a historic and scenic setting.
More info.
Feb. to Mar. 2025 2-night, 3-day Kurabito Experience (Sake Brewing Experience / “Shubo” making)
https://kurabitostay.com/en/booking-info/experience-info/2025febmarexperience/
Experience the Spirit of Japan Through Sake Brewing
Sake brewing is not just a craft—it is a gateway to understanding the heart of Japan’s regional culture and deep-rooted traditions. Both the School Brewery on Sado Island and KURABITO STAY in Nagano offer more than just the mechanics of brewing; they provide participants with an authentic cultural immersion.
These unique programs go beyond tourism, allowing visitors to engage with local history, the natural environment, and the centuries-old methods that continue to shape the world of sake.
By stepping into the role of a sake brewer, participants gain hands-on experience that fosters a deeper connection to Japan’s heritage. Whether it is learning the intricacies of fermentation or understanding the significance of local ingredients, both programs create lasting memories and offer a rare opportunity to feel the essence of Japan through one of its most celebrated traditions—sake making.
