OSAKA: My Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Yamazaki Distillery

January 31, 2023



OSAKA: My Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Yamazaki Distillery

WHEN TO BOOK

Book Yamazaki distillery tour at least 2 months in advance, when reservation opens to ensure you get your desired date. The tour is always fully booked. For example, if you're going to the distillery in May, they open reservations at 8:00 AM on March 1. For the best chance to get your desired date, especially a weekend date, reserve on the 1st day of the month when reservations open.

Suntory Yamazaki distillery tour reservations: CLICK HERE

PRICE of the distillery tour: 1000 yen per person

My tip: If the Yamazaki distillery tour is fully booked and you want to taste the rare Yamazaki whisky, like the 25 year old Yamazaki, make reservations at the Whisky Museum instead. Entrance is free. You only pay for the tasting fee of the whisky you wish to taste.

Suntory Yamazaki whisky museum reservations: CLICK HERE

PRICE: FREE entrance, but you pay for the drinks you taste.


WHAT TIME TO CHOOSE

We chose the 12:20 PM slot so there will be time to travel to the facility without waking up too early and time to have lunch before starting the tour with tasting. You need a full stomach for proper tasting, so you won't get drunk easily.


HOW TO GET THERE

Use google maps. Arrive at Yamazaki or Oyamazaki Station. Walk 950 meters to 1km to the entrance of the Yamazaki Distillery



WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE DISTILLERY TOUR

1. You tour the facility where they actually make the whisky and where they store to age it. You get to see the different areas of production, from mashing to fermentation to distillation

2. After the tour, there is free tasting where you get to taste both the unblended and blended whisky.

3. They teach you how to make a highball.

4. You have an option to do paid tasting for hard to find. 


MY ITINERARY

8:30 AM
Leave the hotel

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Travel by train to Yamazaki from Nipponbashi station to Oyamazaki station

Weekend

Weekday

11:30 AM -12:00 PM
Sandwich lunch at Daily convenience store, beside JR Yamazaki station


12:20 PM - 1:40 PM
Yamazaki distillery tour













Mashing




 
Fermentation 



Distillation 



Aging in oak barrels 





FREE TASTING














Highball


1:40 PM - 2:30 PM
Tasting room, paid tasting




























3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Travel by train from Oyamazaki station to Nippombashi station

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