There are lots of different varieties of alcohol, but Japan is known for sake, or as it’s called here, nihonshu. Nihonshu is normally refined using rice and a distinct Japanese brewing method. Generally, Japanese sake has a relatively high alcohol percentage, of 15-20%.

If you love to drink and you’re in Japan, then you definitely have to try the sake!

You could get sake pretty much anywhere in the city, but with all the different producers, varieties, and flavors, it’s hard to figure out which is the one for you, isn’t it?
If you want to learn more about nihonshu, then this is the tour for you.

If you’ve come to Osaka, then you can’t miss a visit to Tennoji. It’s got entertainment, hot springs, food, and a night view. Somewhere in that is also a fairly hidden shop. This place is the star of this tour.

Before stopping off for drinks, how about a quick tour of the city?

▼Shooting gallery. Hit the targets and take home the prizes that you knock down.

▼Said to be the predecessor of pachinko, give smart ball a try. Collect a certain number of balls, and you can exchange them for a prize.

▼Take some pics in front of the iconic Tsutenkaku tower!

After walking around the Tennoji/Shinsekai area, we’ll have worked up an appetite. So by that time, we’ll head over to the restaurant〜

▼The entrance. At first glance, it almost looks like a regular house.

▼Once inside, you’ll notice the tatami flooring. In typical Japanese fashion, you’ll need to take off your shoes as you enter! The place has a great atmosphere, and you can really relax here.

▼The main event, the sake tasting set.

▼The photo below is a set of 5 different nihonshu, carefully selected by the store owner.

The refrigerators in the store are full of different types of sake, with the selection changing with each passing season. The owner will be happy to recommend the best drink to fit the occasion, be it as an aperitif, dessert, or to accompany a meal.

Before each cup, your guide will explain the features of the sake. You’ll get to learn about what exactly you’re drinking so you can appreciate it even more.

▼This tour includes not just sake but also meals that go well with it so you can enjoy sake even more than ever before!

▼Treat yourself to the famous gluten-free takoyaki of Isshouan, known for the fluffy and soft dough and refreshing taste. Season them to your liking with the traditional sauce and mayonnaise, or try something different like the dashi soy sauce, natural salt, or shichimi spices.

▼Easy to make! Just pour in the dough.

▼Flip them whilst keeping an eye on the temperature and you’re done!

▼Finish your meal with a musubi rice ball and a serving of miso soup.
It is possible to ask for two musubi rice balls to be made on the day of the tour.

▼Take home a lovely souvenir in the form of a cat-shaped coaster!
As a bonus you can also get the takoyaki recipe and a Nihonshu guidebook (English).

If you are interested in nihonshu and takoyaki, this tour is the best choice for you!