The World’s 5 Best Sake Tastings

1.Ramen and Sushi Cooking Class with Sake Pairing Set in Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · from $79Our pick

At Sushi Making Tokyo in Tsukishima, you’ll spend about three hours making sushi, preparing ramen broth from scratch, and tasting sake with an English-speaking instructor. Sato, Ryushi, Alex, Taka, and Kaori are among the teaching team named in class details. The small group setting keeps the instruction personal, with the class ending at its starting point.

“The sushi making experience and sake tasting was wonderful. There were only 5 in our group, so instructions on sushi making were up close and personal and very helpful. The setting was great, overlooking the river, and the sushi we got to eat after making it was delicious. Also, the sake was top notch and very smooth.”

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2.Osaka Sake Tasting with Takoyaki Cooking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 156 reviews · 2 hours · from $70Best value

At MOMO to SAKE near Osaka Namba, Momo, a sake sommelier and former brewer, guides you through sake history, production, tasting, and food pairing. You will make takoyaki from scratch, with fillings such as octopus, wagyu beef, cheese, kimchi, and corn, then sample more than 10 Japanese sakes or choose soft drinks.

“Excellent Sake Tasting and Takoyaki. Mamo is so friendly and knowledgeable. We had a great time making some very tasty takoyaki and tasting many different types of sake. Would highly recommend to anybody visiting Osaka!”

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3.Sushi and Ramen Cooking Class with Sake Pairing Set

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · 3 hours · from $129

At a small Tsukishima cooking studio, English-speaking instructors such as Sato, Haruko, Risa, and Alex guide you through ramen, chashu pork, and nigiri sushi. You will learn the food traditions behind each dish, taste three selected sakes, eat what you make, and take home recipes plus souvenir chopsticks.

“Absolutely amazing experience!! The cooking venue was cozy, but very welcoming. Some aspects of cooking were completed ahead of time to accommodate the timeframe. However, we never felt rushed and the facilities are immaculate. It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Japan with my family. We all raved about the experience after the class and everyone agreed that they would do it again.”

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4.Sushi Cooking Class with Sake Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 55 reviews · from $112

Meet your English-speaking guide near Iriya Station, shop for Japanese ingredients, and cook sushi, miso soup, eggplant dengaku, and dashimaki tamago. You will eat your meal with four sake samples, receive recipes, and finish near Asakusa and Kappabashi. Guides including Tiger, Suzy, Taka, Fuji, and Mihori are praised for patient instruction.

“We had such a fun time with Taka! The experience was so fun and educational! Would highly recommend because we really enjoyed it!”

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5.Cooking Class & Sake Tasting with Local Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 31 reviews · 4 hours · from $90

Meet an English-speaking guide near Minami Morimachi Station, shop for ingredients at a local supermarket, then cook niku-sui, okonomiyaki, and gyoza in a small studio. Guides such as Chie, Eri, Emi, Akko, and Ayu lead the class. Lunch, three canned drinks, tea, recipes, and tour photos are included.

“It was super good. Such a cool experience. ERI was super friendly and helpful.”

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