Gekkeikan Ōkura Sake Museum

this is the most worth it museum i’ve been to so far! For only Y 600, you have the exhibit itself, a free sake glass, and 3 chances to taste test a sake of ur choosing! Or u can just exchange those 3 coins to a small sake bottle! Or if you’re short on coins then u can just buy 1 coin for Y 100. All in all, for Y 600 ticket, I brought home a sake glass & a small sake bottle!

Fun and educational museum for sake! After paying the admission fee you get to keep a sake cup as a souvenir and use it for tasting at the end of the tour. Their gift shop has lots of different sake. A nice museum if you are in the area. It closes a bit early and it is based on time slots so don’t plan to go too late in the afternoon.

If you’ve ever wanted a crash course in sake without the crash, get yourself to here in Kyoto. It costs you 600 yen — which in travel math is roughly the price of a coffee back home, but way more intoxicating (literally and spiritually). After entering what looks like a perfectly preserved Edo-period brewery meets samurai Airbnb, you’re greeted by a short but expertly made film. It’s the kind of video that makes you whisper, “Who edited this and how can I hire them to do my wedding slideshow?” Narrated in that gentle Japanese cadence that feels like a bow made of sound, it gives just enough context to make you feel worldly without frying your brain. The museum itself is self-guided — in other words, no one’s watching you awkwardly mispronounce “junmai daiginjo.” You’re free to wander among the barrels (which are roughly the size of a studio apartment in Tokyo), admire century-old tools, and nod sagely as if you understand how koji mold works. But let’s be honest — we’re here for the tasting. You’re handed a small, clear plastic square of a cup (yours to keep — mine’s now a desk ornament / emergency shot glass) and three tasting tokens. Think of them as Willy Wonka’s golden tickets for grown-ups who appreciate rice alcohol. The tasting bar offers a spread from dry, delicate sake that whispers “pair me with sashimi” to rich, fruity numbers that say “I’ll go with yakitori or your regrets.” But the star of the show for me? The Plum Wine — labeled as “Mindfully Brewed, Deliciously Sweet.” Which is basically what I hope they write on my tombstone. This plum wine doesn’t mess around. It’s full-bodied, unapologetically sweet, and dangerously drinkable. You taste it, smile, then wonder how many bottles you can fit in your suitcase without violating customs or physics. I left with one — then promptly shared it with locals at an izakaya that evening. Because nothing forges international friendship faster than a plum-scented buzz and broken English. Bonus points: The water fountain outside the tasting room is borderline divine. If reincarnation exists, I want to come back as a plum soaking in that water. If you’re even sake-curious, this museum is a must. Educational, low-key beautiful, and you leave tipsy, hydrated, and holding a cup you didn’t know you needed. Also: who knew 600 yen could buy knowledge, friendship, and a solid pre-lunch buzz? Rating: 5 out of 5 umeboshi. Would sip again.

This is a great visitor experience from a large corporation. Definitely worth your time to learn a bit of history and the production process. You get to try 3 types of sake from a selection of about 10. You do have the option to purchase more tokens to try more. We just stuck with the basic three. Some of the staff speak English so nothing to be intimidated about if you don’t speak the language.

Great museum with lots of information on sake and the brewing process. Ticket comes with a sake boxcup and coins to try sake at the end. The sake selection to try is very extensive and very good.

I think the highlight of this museum is sake testing at the end. I mean, at the ticketing you’ll be given a small cup to be used for sake testing. The museum itself is a basic story of the brand gekkeikan, also showing a video of sake making. The tour finished in 15 minute. There is also a museum store where you can buy your favorite sake after tasting it.

Liked the short video presentation and also the museum. You can taste 3 types of Sake out of 10. I took 1,4 and 9 and I liked all of those.

If you’re a history buff and love sake, this is the place to check out. A quick train ride from the heart of the city, this historical museum gives you the full history of sake production and how it was made. You can also see original equipment used, the commercial history and you receive a free tasting at the end of the tour. You get to taste three different flavors and any additional tasting are just 100 yen. A really cool experience.