Matsui Shuzo松井酒造It is a brewery that produces sake in the heart of downtown Kyoto. Located in Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, along the Kamo River, it is within walking distance of Demachiyanagi Station. It ranked first in the Sake Time Kyoto City rankings. Kagura神蔵It is a place where [it] is made.
This brewery offers tours. Rather than being a tourist-oriented brewery with a permanent tour course, visitors enter the actual production site where sake is being made. Kurabito蔵人Since [the guide] provides the guidance personally, you must coordinate the number of people and the date in advance, and, Reservations are required.
The reservation channel is not by phone or a reservation site, but a single inquiry form on the official website. The process itself is simple, but since the form is integrated into the Japanese shopping mall system, it can be confusing at first glance. I have organized the steps from application to confirmation in order.
Supplies to prepare before starting
- Email address to receive a reply (it does not have to be a Japanese email address)
- 2 to 3 preferred dates and times (if you list only one date, you will have to start over from the beginning if it is rejected)
- Admission fee 3,300 yen per person — On-site payment
- Application statement written in English or Japanese
index
STEP 1. Check available tour dates
Shuzo Matsui We rest on Sundays, public holidays, and New Year's holidays.
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| business days | Closed on Sundays, public holidays, and New Year's holidays |
| Business Hours | 10:00~18:00 |
| Admission fee | 3,300 yen per person (includes tasting worth 1,800 yen) |
| time taken | 60~70 minutes |
| Guide language | Japanese or English |
| Minimum number of people | Applications accepted from 1 person |
| How to make a reservation | Official Website Inquiry Form |
Tours of Matsui Shuzo are available for groups of one or more. However, It may be declined depending on the reservation status. During the winter season, which is the peak brewing season, or on days when the work schedule is heavy, there may not be anyone available to guide you, so you may not be able to receive it.
The 3,300 yen tour fee includes a tasting worth 1,800 yen.
STEP 2. Check the inquiry form
Shuzo Matsui did not have a separate reservation page. On the website General Inquiry FormApplications for tours are accepted through...
Tour Information Page
matsuishuzo.com/?mode=f7
This is the original page containing the tour fee, prohibited activities, and precautions. It is recommended to read it once before applying.
Tour Inquiry Form
https://matsuishuzo02.shop-pro.jp/customer/inquiries/new
The input fields consist of Name, Email Address, Inquiry Subject, and Inquiry Content.
STEP 3. Fill out the application details
Write the subject line so that it is immediately clear you are requesting a tour. If using English, simply write "Brewery Tour Reservation Request.".
There are four items that must be included in the main text.
4 things you must write down
- Desired date and time — Write down 2 to 3 items in order of priority. If you write them down for only one day, you have to exchange emails again if that day doesn't work.
- personnel — Write the number clearly.
- Guide language — If you need English instructions, be sure to write them down. If you do not write them down, they will be prepared in Japanese.
- nationality or place of residence If you let them know that you are a guest from overseas, it makes it easier for the brewery to coordinate the language and schedule.
I created example sentences that can be copied exactly and used by simply changing the date and number of people.
English application example
Subject: Brewery Tour Reservation Request
Hello,
I would like to request a brewery tour.
Preferred dates (in order of preference):
1) Tuesday, October 21, around 14:00
2) Wednesday, October 22, around 14:00
3) Thursday, October 23, around 11:00
Number of guests: 2
Language: English guidance, please
We are visiting from South Korea.
We understand the tour fee is 3,300 yen per person, paid on site.
Thank you very much.
The business hours are from 10:00 to 18:00, and the tour takes 60 to 70 minutes, so it is better to avoid writing down times that are too early or close to closing time.
STEP 4. Confirm Reply and Confirmation
If you send the form, the brewery will reply via email. Since it is a handwritten reply rather than an automated one, it does not arrive immediately. It may take a few business days.
so It is best to send it 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If your desired date doesn't work, you have to reschedule, which takes several more days for the round trip. If you apply when your schedule is tight, you will eventually end up giving up.
The reply contains the confirmed date, time, and meeting location. Capture this email or save it offline. You need to be able to show the confirmed details in case there is no local data connection.
The tour fee is not paid in advance. It is an on-site payment. Pay 3,300 yen per person on the day. Check the reply email to see if card payment is accepted, and if it is not listed, it is safer to bring cash.
Things to observe on the day of the field trip
A tour of Matsui Shuzo involves entering the actual manufacturing site rather than touring a tourist exhibition hall. Therefore, there are more restrictions than at other breweries. Failure to comply may result in being denied entry.
Prohibited items on the day of the tour
- Prohibition of fermented foods — Do not eat fermented foods such as natto or yogurt on the day of the tour. Bacteria attached to the body can affect the brewing process.
- Incense prohibited — Do not apply perfume, strong-scented body cream, or skin oil. Since this is a workplace for checking the scent of alcohol, other smells must not mix.
- No smoking — Do not smoke right before a field trip.
- Ban on gum and candy — Cannot enter with it in the mouth.
- Fur clothing is prohibited. — Avoid clothes that shed hair.
At the site Wear a hat and shoe covers. Since it is provided by the brewery, you don't need to prepare anything separately. The production site is maintained at 10–20℃, so it is a good idea to bring a jacket even in summer.
Even if you are late, the tour starts on time. It is within walking distance from Demachiyanagi Station, so there is little chance of getting lost, but it is a good idea to allow about 15 minutes to spare.
There is one limitation. People using wheelchairs or canes cannot enter the brewery. This is due to the condition of the floor and the width of the aisles in the actual workspace. In this case, you will have to wait inside the store, so if you have a companion, it is best to write it down on the inquiry form in advance to discuss it.
How to go without a reservation
Even if you haven't made a tour reservation or the schedule doesn't work out, you can still taste Matsui Shuzo's sake. The tasting bar and retail section attached to the brewery... You can enter without a reservation.
Tasting Bar Schüssen酒中仙
It is a tasting bar operated by a brewery. You can sample about 20 varieties by the glass, and sets allowing you to compare three types start from the 1,000 yen range. It is a great place to check the differences between Kagura grades all in one place.
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Business Hours | 11:00~18:00 (Last order 17:30) |
| reservation | otiosity |
| Types of products handled | About 20 types |
| Comparison set | 3 types starting from the 1,000 yen range |
Retail Department Chitose Store千歳商店
This is the retail section where you can purchase bottles to take away. It is open from 9:00 to 18:00, opening earlier than the tasting bar. Since Kagura focuses on unfiltered, undigested sake, many products require refrigerated distribution. It is safer to stop by and purchase them on the last day of your trip.
Directions
The name of Matsui Shuzo's brewery is Kamogawakura賀茂川蔵It is within walking distance of Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan Railway, and you can simply walk along the Kamo River. Its location makes it easy to incorporate into a sightseeing itinerary in downtown Kyoto.
Matsui Shuzo 松井酒造 Kamogawakura Yoshidakawaramachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City Walking distance of Demachiyanagi Station · Closed on Sundays and public holidaysThings You Should Know
- Founded in 1726 — It is the oldest sake brewery in downtown Kyoto.
- Resumed in 2009 We stopped brewing for a long time due to urban development and have started again.
- Hieizan groundwater — It uses groundwater from the Hieizan side, not water from Fushimi. Even within Kyoto, the water is different.
- The clan head land — The clan head directly owns land杜氏He/She takes charge of it. The person you meet on the field trip is someone who actually brews alcohol.