Japan sake tour

Planet

• A key motivational aspect behind the construction of our tours is protecting and preserving traditional Japanese architecture. In recent decades especially, many traditional houses and buildings have been torn down due to the expenses required to maintain them and keep them in a safe and functional condition for visitors and residents alike. We go out of our way to support businesses and restaurants that have chosen to renovate and refurbish traditional houses, to maintain the spirit of Japanese architecture through to the future.

• This tour uses public transportation (bullet train) whenever possible and encourages able-bodied customers to explore destinations within the tour on foot. At multiple destinations, while use of private car is necessary in rural areas, hiking and walking tours are a key feature of this tour. Northern Japan is filled with stunning scenery, so we encourage all of our visitors to enjoy the sights without leaving a deep carbon footprint behind.

People

• Sake can be enjoyed all over the world, but the experience of seeing the sake breweries where this globally-beloved beverage are produced is one not to be missed. In Niigata and Yamagata specifically, communities supported by this industry are proud to have a role in the production of sake. Supporting these local economies ensures that the people who practice this craft are able to care for their local community.

• On this tour, you'll have the rare experience of seeing professionally trained geisha practice their craft. These iconic artists have become famous around the world, recognizable immediately by their traditional clothes and painted faces. The process of becoming a geisha is demanding work, and the people who succeed in this profession are charming and gregarious and highly skilled. In our efforts to support Japan's precious cultural heritages, geisha performers are an integral part of that heritage, and we're proud to see that their craft is appreciated by visitors from around the world.