There is a must-visit course for liquor enthusiasts traveling to Kyoto and Osaka: the Yamazaki Distillery.
Located between Osaka and Kyoto, the Yamazaki Distillery is a landmark visited by many tourists traveling to either city. However, entry is impossible without a reservation.
If you follow the steps below Yamazaki Distillery ReservationThis will be completed. You just need to proceed sequentially from the top.
Supplies to prepare before starting
Credit cards that allow international payments (Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, Amex, JCB)
index
STEP 1. Select Course and Check Application Period
There are three reservation courses at the Yamazaki Distillery. Advance reservations are required for all three courses, and on-site registration is not accepted.
| course | charge | hour | Reservation method | detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monozukuri Tour | 3,000 yen | About 80 minutes | drawing | Manufacturing process tour, original liquor tasting, complimentary glass |
| Prestige | 10,000 yen | About 120 minutes | drawing | Tour of the exclusive area, Yamazaki 12-year-old and 3 types of Wonju |
| Whiskey Hall Tour | free | Free admission | First-come, first-served | Exhibition viewing, paid tasting at the lounge |
The paid courses, Monozukuri Tour and Prestige, operate on a lottery system. Instead of selecting a desired date and paying immediately, you must apply within a designated period and wait for the lottery results.
Applications open in the early part of the month about two months before the desired visit month. It starts at 10:00 AM and closes at 4:29 PM on the fifth day.
Example of lottery application schedule
November 2026 Visits: September 4, 10:00 – September 8, 16:29
December 2026 Visits: October 7, 10:00 – October 11, 16:29
The date changes every month, so before applying Official Application Period NoticeCheck .
In other words, if you want to go in December, you must complete your application by early October. If you decide on your travel dates first and then look for reservations, it is often already too late.
Prestige operates only once a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is difficult to win due to limited seats.
Free tours of the whisky museum are on a first-come, first-served basis, not by lottery. Reservations open around the middle of the month, two months before the event, and you can apply until noon the day before your visit.
Since the procedures are different, the free courses have been organized separately. Click here to book a free whiskey tour
STEP 2. Access the reservation page
Reservations are accepted only on the official website.
Reservation Page
Go to English Registration: Reservation waiting room
Japanese site: www.suntory.co.jp/factory/yamazaki
English site: www.suntory.com/factory/yamazaki
STEP 3. Enter date and number of people
Select your desired date, course, and time from the calendar.
Since it is a lottery system, it is fine to apply for multiple available dates and make the payment on the day you win.
Caution regarding headcount input
The number of people selection field is the number of companions excluding the applicant. If two people go, you must select 1.
Up to 5 people are allowed, and it cannot be changed after registration.
STEP 4. Enter Applicant Information and Submit
Enter the name exactly as it appears on the passport. It will be used for identity verification on the day of arrival.
Double-check the email address. Since results are notified only via email, there is no way to verify them if there is a typo.
You will receive a confirmation email upon submission. The application details cannot be modified at all thereafter.
You may apply only once per person. There is no need to rush, as the probability of winning is the same regardless of when you submit your application during the application period.
STEP 6. Check the results email
The results are announced about a week after the application deadline. Both winning and losing results are sent via email.
STEP 7. Final Reservation and Payment
Go to the link in the winning email and proceed with the main reservation. The main reservation period is usually 5 days.
Next, pay with a credit card. The reservation is confirmed only after the payment is completed.
redraw
Once the main reservation period for the first winners ends, a redraw will be held for the unsuccessful winners.
Seats that became available due to missed payments become available. You will be automatically eligible without a separate application.
The results of the redraw are notified only to the winners. You must check your email inbox for about two weeks even after you do not win.
Reservation for a free whiskey tour
If you didn't make the lottery or are pressed for time, you can take the free course. This one is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservation start dates are announced separately for each month. Reservations for November 2026 began at 10:00 on September 17.
On the same reservation page, select the Whiskey House tour, choose the date and time, and enter your information, and you're done.
Online reservations close at noon the day before your visit. It is worth checking right up until the last minute, as cancellations may become available.
Although there is no tour of the manufacturing process, you can view the exhibition and bottle library, and taste Yamazaki 12-year-old in 30ml increments in the lounge.
On the day of the visit
Bring a photo ID. For overseas visitors, a passport is a surefire way.
The applicant's representative must personally accompany the representative. Transfer to a third party, including family members, is prohibited.
It is about a 10-minute walk from JR Yamazaki Station or Hankyu Oyamazaki Station. It takes about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station and about 26 minutes from Osaka Station.
There is no parking available for general visitors. Business hours are from 10:00 to 16:45, and the last entry is at 16:30.
Cancellation and Refund
Cancellations are possible until noon two days prior to the event.
However, for applications submitted after May 1, 2026, refunds will not be provided after payment is completed.
