Musubi: Curating unique Japan experiences for sophisticated travellers

Private Guided Tour Itinerary

Day 1

• 18:00 You will be met at JR Koga Station by your guide and escorted to Hotel Sansui.

• 19:00 Gokeiji Bar at a very nice Japanese room with garden view – Welcome dinner for 2 hours

This traditional, elegant kaiseki meal is paired with five Aoki sakes by Chisa Aoki, the brewery’s senior managing director, who will expertly guide your tasting experience. Their Gokeiji sakes, named in celebration of the Taisho Emperor’s accession to the throne in 1912, have recently won multiple awards.

Day 2

• 7:30 You will be met at hotel lobby by your guide and escorted to Aoki Sake Brewery.

• 7:45 Exclusive Sake Brewing Experience

We meet early at Aoki Sake Brewery to experience the morning work of processing the brewery’s freshly steamed rice. Joining the brewery staff, we learn the technique of cooling and separating the highly polished rice grains to create the day’s Gokeiji sake. Our exclusive access includes a peek inside the koji muro, the large temperature- and humidity-controlled room where the rice is inoculated with koji, and the fermentation process begins.

• 9:00 Brewery Visit and Guided Sake Tasting

Learn about the sake brewing process during an intimate guided tour of the historic Aoki Sake Brewery before trying three seasonal Gokeiji sakes in a bespoke tasting experience.

A tasting of three specially selected sakes led by Chisa Aoki, the brewery’s senior managing director and an eighth-generation member of the Aoki family.The Aoki Brewery relies on locally grown rice, which is one of many factors that affect the flavor of each sake. Several Gokeiji sakes have recently won international and national awards, and we will have the unique opportunity to try some of these in the brewery’s atmospheric tasting room.

• 10:30 End of the tour

You will be escorted to Koga Station. If you would like to see more and experience more, we have many options prepared for you. Please ask Musubi for lunch and activities options in the afternoon.

• Sample Options

11:00 – 15:30 Farm and Dining

• *Sake brewing is a seasonal process. Musubi Travel is delighted to be able to offer these tours during the brewing season from January to March.
• *Sake is easily contaminated by outside yeasts. If you choose to join this program after breakfast, we require that you abstain from eating or drinking any fermented foods before coming to the brewery.

How to book

Inquiries  :  megumi@musubi-travel.jp

The Aoki Sake Brewery Tour is by reservation only.

We are happy to respond to individual requests concerning your desired date, the content of the tour, your transportation needs, and any other details, so please feel free to inquire. Please send us an e-mail with following information.

1. Name
2. Number of guests
3. Tour date
4. E-mail address
5. Mobile number
6. Transportation needs
7. Dietary requirement

Please read our  Terms and Condition of a travel agency authorized by the Governor of Ibaraki Prefecture (No. 656, Type 2)

Private Guided Tour Itinerary

Day 1

• 7:30 You will be met at Koga Station by your guide and escorted to Aoki Sake Brewery.

• 7:45 Exclusive Sake Brewing Experience

We meet early at Aoki Sake Brewery to experience the morning work of processing the brewery’s freshly steamed rice. Joining the brewery staff, we learn the technique of cooling and separating the highly polished rice grains to create the day’s Gokeiji sake. Our exclusive access includes a peek inside the koji muro, the large temperature- and humidity-controlled room where the rice is inoculated with koji, and the fermentation process begins.

• 9:00 Brewery Visit and Guided Sake Tasting

Learn about the sake brewing process during an intimate guided tour of the historic Aoki Sake Brewery before trying three seasonal Gokeiji sakes in a bespoke tasting experience.

A tasting of three specially selected sakes led by Chisa Aoki, the brewery’s senior managing director and an eighth-generation member of the Aoki family.The Aoki Brewery relies on locally grown rice, which is one of many factors that affect the flavor of each sake. Several Gokeiji sakes have recently won international and national awards, and we will have the unique opportunity to try some of these in the brewery’s atmospheric tasting room.

• 10:30 End of the tour

You will be escorted to Koga Station. If you would like to see more and experience more, we have many options prepared for you. Please ask Musubi for lunch and activities options in the afternoon.

• Sample Options

11:00 – 15:30 Farm and Dining

• *Sake brewing is a seasonal process. Musubi Travel is delighted to be able to offer these tours during the brewing season from January to March.
• *Sake is easily contaminated by outside yeasts. If you choose to join this program after breakfast, we require that you abstain from eating or drinking any fermented foods before coming to the brewery.

How to book

Inquiries  :  megumi@musubi-travel.jp

The Aoki Sake Brewery Tour is by reservation only.

We are happy to respond to individual requests concerning your desired date, the content of the tour, your transportation needs, and any other details, so please feel free to inquire. Please send us an e-mail with following information.

1. Name
2. Number of guests
3. Tour date
4. E-mail address
5. Mobile number
6. Transportation needs
7. Dietary requirement

Please read our  Terms and Condition of a travel agency authorized by the Governor of Ibaraki Prefecture (No. 656, Type 2)

Experience contemporary Japan as it blends history and tradition with skill and innovation in Ibaraki’s Sashima region.

Inspired by the slow food movement and our passion for unique experiences, our remarkable tours are designed to connect travelers with local makers. These curated programs foster a first-hand understanding of Sashima’s award-winning wakocha black teas; some itineraries include visits to Kengo Kuma’s six inspired local designs. Collaborate with a master tea blender, enjoy a contemporary vegetarian meal, or explore modern Japanese architecture.

Experience contemporary Japan as it blends history and tradition with skill and innovation in Ibaraki’s Sashima region.

Inspired by the slow food movement and our passion for unique experiences, our remarkable tours are designed to connect travelers with local makers. These curated programs foster a first-hand understanding of Sashima’s award-winning wakocha black teas; some itineraries include visits to Kengo Kuma’s six inspired local designs. Collaborate with a master tea blender, enjoy a contemporary vegetarian meal, or explore modern Japanese architecture.

Experience contemporary Japan as it blends history and tradition with skill and innovation in Ibaraki’s Sashima region.

Inspired by the slow food movement and our passion for unique experiences, our remarkable tours are designed to connect travelers with local makers. These curated programs foster a first-hand understanding of Sashima’s award-winning wakocha black teas; some itineraries include visits to Kengo Kuma’s six inspired local designs. Collaborate with a master tea blender, enjoy a contemporary vegetarian meal, or explore modern Japanese architecture.

Go deep into Japan’s rich and delicious coffee history by partaking in a workshop with barista at Hario café in Tokyo.

Located in Tokyo, HARIO Co., Ltd has been dedicated to the design, production, and sale of heatproof glass since 1921 and is the only heat proof glass manufacturer in Japan to have a factory in Koga, Ibaraki.

The company began as a manufacturer of laboratory glassware and expanded their production to household items in 1948, starting with the coffee syphon. Their V60 coffee dripper is recognized and beloved by baristas around the world.

The experience is a private workshop organized only for you before the HARIO café opened from 11:00am and after 18:30pm.

3 type workshops
a) Hand dripper and filtered coffee – twice brewing experience with Hario’s original shallow coffee beans and deep roasted coffee beans (90mins)
b) Syphon Coffee – twice brewing experience (90mins)
c) Two ways of brewing good coffee using the items below. (90mins)
1) Hand dripper and filtered coffee – Once brewing experience
2) Syphon Coffee (prepared by a syphonist)

We hope you will have relaxing morning and evening with good coffee at comfortable Hario cafe in Tokyo.

Private Guided Tour Itinerary

Day 1

• 10:30 You will be met at Koga Station by your guide and transported to Aoki Sake Brewery Visit and Guided Sake Tasting

Learn about the sake brewing process during an intimate guided tour of the historic Aoki Sake Brewery before trying three seasonal Gokeiji sakes in a bespoke tasting experience.

Option A:

A tasting of three specially selected sakes led by Chisa Aoki, the brewery’s senior managing director and an eighth-generation member of the Aoki family. The Aoki Brewery relies on locally grown rice, which is one of many factors that a ect the flavor of each sake. Several Gokeiji sakes have recently won international and national awards, and we will have the unique opportunity to try some of these in the brewery’s atmospheric tasting room.

Option B:

This exclusive tasting experience is held in the traditional reception room of the Aoki family’s historic Edo-period home. Looking out over the Japanese koi pond and garden, we relax in the elegant space where generations of the Aoki family have entertained their guests. Chisa Aoki, the brewery’s senior managing director, will expertly lead our private tasting of three different Gokeiji sakes, served in elegant HARIO tulip glasses that enhance the tasting experience even further.

Choose to taste the sake on its own or in a surprisingly delicious pairing with the traditional Japanese sweet dumplings known as dango.

*Due to room size, Option B is available to groups of fewer than eight guests.

• 12:00 End of the tour

You will be escorted to Koga Station. If you would like to see more and experience more, we have many options prepared for you. Please ask Musubi for lunch and activities in the afternoon.

• Sample Options

12:30 – 15:30 Farm and Dining

• *Sake brewing is a seasonal process. Musubi Travel is delighted to be able to offer these tours during the brewing season from January to March.
• *Sake is easily contaminated by outside yeasts. If you choose to join this program after breakfast, we require that you abstain from eating or drinking any fermented foods before coming to the brewery.

How to book

Inquiries  :  megumi@musubi-travel.jp

The Aoki Sake Brewery Tour is by reservation only.

We are happy to respond to individual requests concerning your desired date, the content of the tour, your transportation needs, and any other details, so please feel free to inquire. Please send us an e-mail with following information.

1. Name
2. Number of guests
3. Tour date
4. E-mail address
5. Mobile number
6. Transportation needs
7. Dietary requirement

Please read our  Terms and Condition of a travel agency authorized by the Governor of Ibaraki Prefecture (No. 656, Type 2)