Sake TabiA guide to visiting Japan's sake breweries, distilleries, wineries and more
Sake · Shibata, Niigata

Kikusui Brewery Setsugoro Kura & Sake Culture Institute

Kikusui Brewery Setsugoro Kura & Sake Culture Institute (Shibata, Niigata) is a place to visit for sake. Booking: Reservation required. Guidance in English: Not available. Fee: 500 yen (tax incl.) for ages 20+; free for under 20.

Sake
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A paid tour along glass-walled corridors overlooking the Setsugoro Kura brewing floor, plus a guided look at the Sake Culture Institute's archive of sake vessels and over 16,000 documents.

Exterior of the Kikusui Sake brewery

Kikusui Sake Brewery (Shibata, Niigata)

Photo: Ebiebi2 / CC BY-SA 4.0 ・ Photo source ・ Resized and cropped

How to visit

Location
Shibata, Niigata
Address
新潟県新発田市島潟750
Booking
Reservation required
Guidance in English
Not available
Fee
500 yen (tax incl.) for ages 20+; free for under 20
By season
Year-round (closed Mondays)

Good to know

  • About 60 minutes. Four tours daily (10:00, 10:30, 14:00, 14:30 start), up to 7 people each.
  • Book on the official reservation site by 16:00 the day before. Groups of 8-40 consult via the inquiry form. No cancellation fee.
  • Guidance is in Japanese only. Closed Mondays (if Monday is a holiday, the tour runs and the next day is closed).
  • Tasting is not included; tasting at the shop costs 500 yen. Check-in is at the shop in KIKUSUI Kura Garden.
  • Cobblestones and stairs are involved; comfortable shoes are recommended. The site notes that underage drinking and drunk driving are prohibited.
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Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book a visit to Kikusui Brewery Setsugoro Kura & Sake Culture Institute?

Yes, a reservation is required.

Is guidance in English available at Kikusui Brewery Setsugoro Kura & Sake Culture Institute?

No, guidance in English is not available.

How much does a visit to Kikusui Brewery Setsugoro Kura & Sake Culture Institute cost?

Fee: 500 yen (tax incl.) for ages 20+; free for under 20.

When should I visit Kikusui Brewery Setsugoro Kura & Sake Culture Institute?

Year-round (closed Mondays)

Can I take part in a tasting if I'm driving?

The legal drinking age in Japan is 20. If you are driving you cannot taste. Use public transport or a taxi, or let someone who is not drinking drive.

Information sources

Information checked against official sources, such as the facility's website.

Checked 2026-10-27

Sources

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Opening days, fees and booking methods change. If you notice a difference, please tell us and we will check and fix it promptly.

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