Japanese Whisky Distillery Tours – Full List
Interested in going on a whisky distillery tour in Japan? There are more options than you might think, although many of them are in locations that are somewhat difficult to access! You’ll find below a list of whisky distilleries in Japan that offer tours. But if going to any of these distilleries is too much trouble, why not join me for a Japanese whisky tasting in Kyoto?
Japanese whisky distilleries open to visitors
|
Distillery |
Prefecture |
Tours |
English support |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fukushima |
Guided |
Japanese only |
||
|
Hyogo |
Guided |
English handouts |
||
|
Shizuoka |
Guided |
English audio guide |
||
|
Yamanashi |
Guided |
English audio guide |
Bookings by lottery |
|
|
Gifu |
Guided |
Japanese only |
||
|
Hokkaido |
Guided |
Guided tour in English |
Open seasonally |
|
|
Kagoshima |
Guided |
Guided tour in English |
||
|
Nagano |
Guided |
Guided tour in English |
||
|
Nagano |
Self-guided |
English support unclear |
Museum-style visit (free). Paid tastings available |
|
|
Kagoshima |
Self-guided |
English support unclear |
Museum-style visit (free). Paid tastings available |
|
|
Miyagi |
Guided |
English pamphlets, translation app |
||
|
Shiga |
Guided |
Japanese only |
For safety reasons, the distillery may decline bookings from “individuals for whom sufficient communication in Japanese is difficult” |
|
|
Hokkaido |
Guided |
Guided tour in English |
Must contact the distillery in advance for English tours |
|
|
Hyogo |
Guided |
Japanese only |
Open seasonally |
|
|
Toyama |
Guided |
English subtitles and displays |
||
|
Hiroshima |
Guided |
Guided tour in English |
||
|
Fukuoka |
Guided |
Guided tour in English |
||
|
Okinawa |
Guided |
Guided tour in English |
||
|
Shizuoka |
Guided |
Japanese only |
||
|
Kumamoto |
Guided |
Japanese only |
Tour info (in Japanese only) found on news section of their site |
|
|
Osaka |
Guided |
Guided tour in English |
Bookings by lottery |
|
|
Ibaraki |
Guided |
Japanese only |
||
|
Hokkaido |
Guided |
Japanese only |
* To my knowledge, the information in the table was accurate when I complied it. If you notice any errors, or find any distilleries that should be added to the list, please let me know
* Most of the distilleries above require reservations, and some require advance notice for English tours. Please check each distillery’s tour/reservation page carefully before visiting.
* Distilleries listed as “Japanese only” may or may not have English-language materials, subtitles etc
Or skip the distillery and join a whisky tasting instead
Of course, there’s nothing quite like visiting a whisky distillery. The problem is that most of the ones in Japan are in locations that aren’t particularly easy to get to. So if going to a distillery is too much of a hassle, why not join me for a guided whisky tasting in Kyoto?
Kyoto Whisky Tasting
I run small-group Japanese whisky tastings in the Nishijin area of Kyoto. Each tasting session features a curated selection of 5 Japanese whiskies, and as we compare and contrast them, you’ll be able to learn about each distillery, and also learn more about Japanese whisky in general. See here for more details.
