Japan: Sake, Sushi, Whisky, Craft Beer

Description

October 26 – November 11, 2026
(Depart North America Saturday, October 24)

Trip Price (Land-only, Based on double occupancy)
$7,250 per person | Single Room add extra $1,740

Join us for a small-group BeerTrip running north to south through Japan: from the seafood-and-whisky coast of Hokkaidō, through alpine Takayama and temple-rich Kyoto, to the warm, easygoing streets of Fukuoka. Along the way we taste our way through beer halls and tiny bars, meet Japan’s whisky heritage in Yoichi and Yamazaki, walk historic neighborhoods, ride some of the world’s best trains, and leave space for quiet markets, river walks, and small discoveries.

Beer, Food, History & Local Flavor — From Otaru to Fukuoka
—Kaleidoscope • Climate & Culture Arc • Fermentation & Spirituality • Craft Traditions—

This journey through Japan is a kaleidoscope of color, cuisine, craft, and culture—stretching from the northern latitudes of Hokkaidō to the subtropical warmth of Kyūshū. As we travel southward across islands, altitudes, and ancient fault lines, the landscape shifts in slow, beautiful gradients: coastal towns give way to alpine valleys, cedar forests open to temple-lined cities, and volcanic plains dip toward warm southern seas. This north–south arc is more than geography—it’s a passage through Japan’s layered climatic zones and cultural dialects, each region shaped by centuries of craftsmanship, devotion, and ingenuity.

By the time we reach Fukuoka, we’ve followed a cultural and climatic arc that mirrors Japan’s diversity: cold northern winds to southern breezes, alpine sake breweries to coastal shōchū houses, minimalist temples to neon cities, seafood-rich markets to mountain taverns. It’s a journey of contrast and connection, discovery and delight.

Why We’re BeerTripping Here

Japan’s rich world of fermented spirits attracts our attention —beer, sake, shōchū, whisky—each born of local water, grain, climate, and craftsmanship. Fermentation has long bridged Japan’s spiritual and material realms, connecting daily life, ritual, and regional identity. When you raise a glass in Japan, you’re not just drinking—you’re participating in a living tradition that has shaped village life, ceremony, and the Japanese palate for over a thousand years.

Japan’s artistic traditions ground the journey as well. Carpentry refined by shrine builders, ikebana shaped by Zen aesthetics, tapestries and textiles rooted in regional identity, calligraphy brushed with centuries of practice—each city has its own creative vocabulary. We encounter these crafts naturally, through architecture, markets, temples, meals, and quiet moments in old streets.

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Trip Snapshot

Duration: 17 days / 16 nights in Japan (plus 2 travel days)
Group Size: 7–14 travelers
Travel Style: Small-group, beer, whisky & food-focused cultural journey
Start / End: Starts in Otaru, ends in Fukuoka
Transport: High-speed and local trains, one domestic flight and private transportation

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Beer Highlights & Brewery Visits*

• Japan’s lager history and contemporary craft beer in Sapporo’s Susukino district—from classic beer halls to neighborhood taprooms.

• Takayama’s sake breweries marked with cedar balls (杉玉), where we taste soft, mountain-water styles and learn how climate shapes flavor.

• Small-batch brewers and beer bars in Nagoya, Kyoto, and Fukuoka, pouring everything from balanced pilsners to hop-forward IPAs.

• Guided beer stops woven into city walks, with time to linger and talk.

• Plenty of free evenings in cities rich with beer bars and izakaya.

Wine & Spirits Highlights

• Nikka Yoichi Distillery (Hokkaidō): coastal, coal-fired stills, and elegant smoke.

• Suntory Yamazaki: Japan’s first single malt distillery, tied deeply to local water and climate.

• Sake experiences in Takayama and Kyoto.

• Shōchū and regional liqueurs in Kyūshū.

• Quiet, well-curated whisky and cocktail bars in Kyoto and Fukuoka.

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Included Tours

• Guided city walks in Sapporo, Takayama, Kyoto, and Fukuoka.

• Yoichi day trip from Otaru with Nikka Whisky visit.

• Takayama morning markets and old town.

• Kyoto’s markets, lanes, and viewpoints.

• A half-day in Hiroshima at the Peace Park and A-Bomb Dome.

• Optional excursions on free days.

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Included Meals

16 Breakfasts | 5 Lunches | 8 Dinners

Breakfast every day; lunches on travel or food-focused days; dinners combining curated BeerTrips meals and open evenings.

Daily Itinerary*

Day 0 – Saturday, October 24 – Fly to Japan

Your Japan adventure starts in the air. Enjoy a meal, sip something nice, stretch, and settle in—tomorrow will be a strange but wonderful travel day.

Overnight: Airplane

Day 1 – Sunday, October 25 – Crossing the International Date Line

Today slips through your fingers as you cross the Date Line, trading it for a smooth landing tomorrow on the northern island of Hokkaidō. Think of it as stepping through a portal: one moment North America, the next moment Japan.

Overnight: Nowhere and Everywhere

Day 2 – Monday, October 26 – Arrival in Hokkaidō → Otaru

Arrive in Hokkaidō, then continue to Otaru, a former financial and shipping hub turned atmospheric canal town. Check in, freshen up, and stroll the canal past stone warehouses and glass shops. In the evening we gather for a welcome dinner featuring Hokkaidō seafood and a first kanpai—an easy, grounded start after the journey.

Overnight: Otaru  |  Meals: D

Day 3 – Tuesday, October 27 – Yoichi & Nikka Whisky

After breakfast, we head to Yoichi, where Masataka Taketsuru built Nikka Distillery in a cool, coastal microclimate. We tour the grounds, see the coal-fired stills, and enjoy a guided tasting that explores how ocean air and seasonality shape the whisky. Returning to Otaru, you’ll have time to explore glass studios or canal paths before dinner at a local spot.

Overnight: Otaru  |  Meals: B, L

Day 4 – Wednesday, October 28 – Otaru → Sapporo (札幌)

Enjoy a relaxed Otaru morning before traveling to Sapporo. After checking into our hotel in Susukino, we get oriented with a neighborhood walk through ramen alleys and side streets, ending at a local craft-beer bar. Dinner focuses on Sapporo comfort dishes; the rest of the night is yours.

Overnight: Sapporo  |  Meals: B, D

Day 5 – Thursday, October 29 – Sapporo City & Beer Culture

Today we explore Sapporo on foot and by tram: markets, parks, cafés, and stories of how German-style brewing and Hokkaidō barley shaped Japan’s lager tradition. The afternoon is free for museum visits, city viewpoints, or more neighborhood wandering. Dinner is open, with suggestions from simple counter meals to casual izakaya.

Overnight: Sapporo  |  Meals: B

Day 6 – Friday, October 30 – Sapporo → Takayama (高山)

Our one bigger travel day brings us south to the Japanese Alps and Takayama. Upon arrival, we settle into our machiya townhouses—shared living spaces in restored traditional homes—and gather for a group dinner featuring Hida beef and local dishes.

Overnight: Takayama  |  Meals: B, L, D

Day 7 – Saturday, October 31 – Takayama Markets, Old Town & Sake

We start at the morning markets along the river, then wander through Takayama’s old-town streets, where wooden facades and narrow lanes recall the Edo period. Along the way we visit several sake breweries, sampling soft, mountain-water styles and learning how climate and craft shape flavor. The afternoon is free for exploring shops or the Takayama Jinya.

Overnight: Takayama  |  Meals: B, D

Day 8 – Sunday, November 1 – Takayama Optional Excursions & Slow Time

A flexible day to explore deeper: visit Shirakawa-go, seek alpine views, soak in an onsen village, or enjoy slow wandering in Takayama’s cozy streets and cafés. We regroup in town for dinner and perhaps a final sake stop.

Overnight: Takayama  |  Meals: B

Day 9 – Monday, November 2 – Takayama → Nagoya (名古屋)

Travel to Nagoya and check into our centrally located hotel. We dive into the city’s food culture with hitsumabushi eel, miso-rich dishes, and tebasaki chicken wings. In the evening, explore the Sakae district’s bars, cafés, and urban glow.

Overnight: Nagoya  |  Meals: B

Day 10 – Tuesday, November 3 – Nagoya → Kyoto (京都)

After an easy morning, we continue to Kyoto. We settle in and head out on foot to get a feel for the city—perhaps starting with Nishiki Market or a river walk. Evening is a relaxed dinner at a neighborhood spot, keeping things light for deeper days ahead.

Overnight: Kyoto  |  Meals: B, D

Day 11 – Wednesday, November 4 – Kyoto Markets, Lanes & Viewpoints

We spend the day getting under Kyoto’s skin: grazing through Nishiki Market, strolling historic lanes toward temple viewpoints, and exploring how daily life, craftsmanship, and centuries of tradition blend across the city. Dinner may be an optional kaiseki experience or a carefully selected local spot.

Overnight: Kyoto  |  Meals: B, L

Day 12 – Thursday, November 5 – Arashiyama & Yamazaki Distillery

In the morning, we head to Arashiyama for gardens, bamboo, and riverside paths that reveal a calmer side of Kyoto. In the afternoon, we visit the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery for a tour and tasting that highlights the role of local water and climate in Japan’s first single malt. Evening is open.

Overnight: Kyoto  |  Meals: B

Day 13 – Friday, November 6 – Kyoto Your Way

A full, flexible Kyoto day: explore Fushimi Inari, visit tea towns like Uji, wander Nara, sip coffee in quiet lanes, or chase your personal Kyoto food goals. We keep one evening free so you can choose exactly the dinner you want.

Overnight: Kyoto  |  Meals: B, D

Day 14 – Saturday, November 7 – Kyoto → Hiroshima (½ Day) → Fukuoka (福岡)

We travel to Hiroshima for a powerful half-day visit to the Peace Park, A-Bomb Dome, and, for those who choose, the museum. After time for lunch or a quiet garden, we continue onward to Fukuoka and settle in for the final stretch of the journey.

Overnight: Fukuoka  |  Meals: B, L

Day 15 – Sunday, November 8 – Fukuoka & Yatai Night

Fukuoka’s warmth and food culture make it an ideal finale city. Enjoy a day exploring neighborhoods, seaside areas, cafés, or department store food halls. In the evening, we gather at the riverfront yatai stalls—casual open-air eateries serving ramen, yakitori, oden, and more.

Overnight: Fukuoka  |  Meals: B, D

Day 16 – Monday, November 9 – Fukuoka Your Way

Another flexible day in Fukuoka: visit Dazaifu shrine, stroll the seaside, wander bookshops and cafés, or follow a craft-beer trail. Evening dinner may be a group reservation or open by preference.

Overnight: Fukuoka  |  Meals: B

Day 17 – Tuesday, November 10 – Final Feast & Last Night in Fukuoka

A relaxed final day—shopping, photo walks, favorite repeats—ending with a final group dinner where we raise glasses, share highlights, and toast the journey.

Overnight: Fukuoka  |  Meals: B, D

Day 18 – Wednesday, November 11 – Depart Fukuoka / Japan

Easy departure day with time for a final coffee or bowl of ramen, depending on your flight. We say mata ne—not goodbye, just “until next time.”

Meals: B

Where We Stay

• Otaru (Oct 26–28): OMO5 Otaru by Hoshino Resorts — Canal-side port town with Meiji-era warehouses, glass shops, and great seafood. Perfect soft landing.
• Sapporo (Oct 28–30): Vessel Hotel Campana Susukino — In the heart of ramen alleys and nightlife, with a comfy public bath and easy tram/subway access.
• Takayama (Oct 30–Nov 2): IORI Stay townhouses — Traditional machiya homes in the old town; shared bathrooms per house; atmospheric, warm, and memorable.
• Nagoya (Nov 2–3): Nikko Style Nagoya — Modern, friendly base near Sakae with a good lobby beer program and quick access to food and nightlife.
• Kyoto (Nov 3–7): Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto — Elegant, centrally located: walkable to Nishiki Market, river paths, and Gion.
• Fukuoka (Nov 7–11): Hotel Okura Fukuoka — Refined finish in lively Hakata; direct subway access and easy walks to river, yatai stalls, and bars.

Cities & Regions

Otaru — Harbor Light & Canal Reflections

Otaru feels like a small, cinematic city: stone warehouses along a quiet canal, sloping streets with sea views, and an easygoing pace that makes it a perfect first stop in Japan. Once a major herring and trading port, it still carries echoes of international trade in its architecture, food, and glasswork. We use Otaru to adjust to the time zone, taste our first Japanese seafood, and ease into the rhythms of local bars and eateries.

Sapporo — Beer, Ramen & Northern Urban Life

Sapporo is Hokkaidō’s capital and one of Japan’s most livable cities. Known worldwide for its beer and snow festival, it also has vibrant neighborhoods, parks, and backstreets where daily life unfolds at a relaxed pace. Susukino brings neon, ramen, and nightlife; Odori Park cuts a green swath through the center. For beer travelers, Sapporo bridges classic lager history and a contemporary craft scene, with plenty of taprooms and beer bars.

Takayama — Mountain Town, Markets & Sake

Takayama sits in the Hida mountains, where cool air, forested slopes, and wooden townscapes speak of centuries of carpentry and trade. Morning markets along the river sell vegetables, pickles, and handcrafts; sake breweries display sugidama to show when the new brew is ready. It’s a place where Japanese crafts—woodworking, textiles, seasonal foods—feel close to daily life. Our open days here give you space to breathe, wander, and soak up the pace of a mountain town.

Nagoya — Sakae, Station Energy & Comfort Food

Nagoya is often overlooked, which makes it fun to visit. It’s a modern city with deep food traditions: hitsumabushi eel, miso-rich dishes, chicken wings, and robust izakaya culture. JR Nagoya Station is a world unto itself, with shops, restaurants, and connections in all directions. Our one night here focuses on food, easy access, and the urban glow of Sakae and its surrounding area.

Kyoto — Culture, Craft & Quiet Corners

Kyoto was Japan’s imperial capital for over a thousand years, and it shows. Temples and shrines anchor the city’s spiritual life; machiya (traditional townhouses) line narrow streets; markets and specialist shops showcase everything from textiles and ceramics to sweets, tea, and calligraphy. At the same time, Kyoto is a living city with cafés, bars, galleries, and students on bikes. We use Kyoto as a hub for exploring both the iconic sights and the everyday moments that make the city so beloved.

Fukuoka — Gateway to Kyūshū & Yatai Nights

Fukuoka is a friendly, food-forward port city on the northern edge of Kyūshū. It’s famous for Hakata ramen, mentaiko, coastal air, and yatai—open-air food stalls that appear at night along rivers and sidewalks. Modern shopping streets sit near temples, parks, and older districts; craft beer bars and casual pubs mix with sake bars and shōchū spots. It’s a fitting final stop: relaxed, welcoming, and full of flavors that reflect both Japan and a slightly more southern, island-influenced world.

Travel Routes, Rail & Beer Connections

• We travel primarily by train,
• with one domestic flight and occasional
• private transfer.
• Luggage forwarding is used strategically to keep travel days easy and comfortable.

Breweries, Medieval Streets & Mobility

Many regions we visit include cobblestones, narrow streets, and stairs. Train stations and airports can be busy and involve walking and escalators. Travelers should be comfortable:

• Walking a few miles over the course of a day at a relaxed pace.
• Standing during tastings and market visits.
• Navigating uneven surfaces and stairs.

If you’re unsure about mobility or have specific concerns, contact us and we’ll talk through the details to help gauge whether this trip is a good fit.

Practical Notes

Group Size & Pace

Small-group travel (7–14 travelers) ensures flexibility, easy logistics, and ample time to enjoy each destination at a relaxed pace. This is not a flag-following bus tour it’s a BeerTrip! We walk, ride trains, and use private coaches, with built-in breathing space and free days that let you rest or go deep, depending on your energy.

What’s Included

• All accommodations listed (or similar), with daily breakfast.
• 8 group dinners and 5 lunches as described, with beer, wine, sake, or soft drinks at included BeerTrips meals.
• All guided city walks and cultural tours listed in the final program.
• Nikka Yoichi and Yamazaki distillery visits (or equivalent-quality experiences if scheduling changes).
• Brewery, bar, and tasting visits as specified.
• All train tickets and domestic flight as outlined, including Green Car where noted.
• Luggage forwarding on designated segments.
• BeerTrips trip leader throughout the journey.

What’s Not Included

• International airfare to and from Japan.
• Airport transfers on arrival and departure (we’ll provide clear, easy options).
• Most lunches and some dinners, so you can follow your own tastes and budget.
• Optional activities and admissions during fully free days or personal time.
• Personal expenses, souvenirs, and any high-end spirits beyond our normal drink inclusions.
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended).

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About BeerTrips

For over 25 years, BeerTrips has crafted small-group cultural adventures built around beer, food, and history. We savor local flavors and travel deeply—from family breweries to iconic cities, village squares to neighborhood bars. Our trips balance structure and spontaneity, combining thoughtfully planned routes and tastings with the freedom to follow your own curiosity.

*Final brewery, bar, and distillery lineup subject to confirmation — substitutions will always be of equal or greater quality.