Showing posts with label Osaka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Osaka. Show all posts

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

OSAKA: HOW TO BOOK THE DOTON YOUTOURBUS

May 22, 2019

Photo from Doton bus Facebook page

OSAKA: HOW TO BOOK THE DOTON YOUTOURBUS


Going to Dotonbori and nearby Kuromon market from Kansai airport is now very easy. There's a new direct bus that can take you from Kansai airport to Doton Plaza, which is around 3 minute walk from the entrance of Dotonbori.

WHERE IS DOTON PLAZA LOCATED

Doton Plaza is 190 meters or about 3 minute walk to the entrance of Dotonbori.










This sumo wrestler statue is the landmark from the ground.
The entrance is at the back of the statue.

BUS SCHEDULE



RATES

Starting May 1, 2019, rates will be as follows:

Adult: 1500 yen per way

Child (more than 6 years old and less than 12 years old): 1000 yen per way

Toddler (more than 2 years old and less than 6 years old): 500 yen





Cancellation fees


HOW TO BUY TICKETS

Payment is not available at the airport and at Doton Plaza. So the only way to get a ticket is by making a reservation online and paying for it after receiving an invoice via email with payment instructions. 

1. Decide what time to board the bus. 

Doton bus recommends that you take the schedule 1 hour after your plane arrives. From my experience, it took us 1 hour to pass through immigration, claim our luggage and get to the bus stop. 

Take note: If you miss the bus, you forfeit your ticket. 

2. Reserve your ticket at www.dotonyoutourbus.com

3. After making a reservation online, wait for an email acknowledging receipt of your reservation. 

4. Next day, you will receive an invoice by email with instructions on how to pay for the ticket by credit card. Below is the invoice I received by email. Click "View Invoice" then click "Pay Invoice" .







MEETING PLACE AT THE AIRPORT


Terminal 1 Floor 1 South Exit Guide Meeting Place
  • A guide wearing a yellow uniform will be waiting with a meeting board labeled “DOTON YOUTOURBUS”.
※ Meeting time: 10 ~ 20 minutes before departure (source: dotonyoutourbus.com)






MEETING PLACE AT DOTON PLAZA

DOTON PLAZA boarding and exit lot
  • Doton Plaza Floor 1 Entrance, “DOTON YOUTOURBUS” Meeting place: The area where the bus is boarded and exited (source: doton youtour bus.com)






Baggage restrictions 

OSAKA: DIRECT BUS FROM KANSAI AIRPORT TO DOTONBORI

Photo from Doton bus Facebook page

OSAKA: DIRECT BUS FROM KANSAI AIRPORT TO DOTONBORI

Going to Dotonbori and nearby Kuromon market from Kansai airport is now very easy. There's a new direct bus that can take you from Kansai airport to Doton Plaza, which is around 3 minute walk from the entrance of Dotonbori.

WHERE IS DOTON PLAZA LOCATED

Doton Plaza is 190 meters or about 3 minute walk to the entrance of Dotonbori.










This sumo wrestler statue is the landmark from the ground.
The entrance is at the back of the statue.

BUS SCHEDULE



RATES

Starting May 1, 2019, rates will be as follows:

Adult: 1500 yen per way

Child (more than 6 years old and less than 12 years old): 1000 yen per way

Toddler (more than 2 years old and less than 6 years old): 500 yen





Cancellation fees


HOW TO BUY TICKETS

Payment is not available at the airport and at Doton Plaza. So the only way to get a ticket is by making a reservation online and paying for it after receiving an invoice via email with payment instructions. 

1. Decide what time to board the bus. 

Doton bus recommends that you take the schedule 1 hour after your plane arrives. From my experience, it took us 1 hour to pass through immigration, claim our luggage and get to the bus stop. 

Take note: If you miss the bus, you forfeit your ticket. 

2. Reserve your ticket at www.dotonyoutourbus.com

3. After making a reservation online, wait for an email acknowledging receipt of your reservation. 

4. Next day, you will receive an invoice by email with instructions on how to pay for the ticket by credit card. Below is the invoice I received by email. Click "View Invoice" then click "Pay Invoice" .







MEETING PLACE AT THE AIRPORT


Terminal 1 Floor 1 South Exit Guide Meeting Place
  • A guide wearing a yellow uniform will be waiting with a meeting board labeled “DOTON YOUTOURBUS”.
※ Meeting time: 10 ~ 20 minutes before departure (source: dotonyoutourbus.com)






MEETING PLACE AT DOTON PLAZA

DOTON PLAZA boarding and exit lot
  • Doton Plaza Floor 1 Entrance, “DOTON YOUTOURBUS” Meeting place: The area where the bus is boarded and exited (source: doton youtour bus.com)






Baggage restrictions 
























OSAKA: 2019 Prices of Matsuya

May 19, 2019




OSAKA: 2019 Prices of Matsuya

Since we visited Japan last year, we noticed an increase in price of Matsuya. To help you budget your meals, below are the updated prices of Matsuya:




Gyumeshi with grated radish and ponzu sauce, regular size (420 yen)
Additional salad and egg (160 yen)
Free miso soup if you dine in

Grilled ginger pork set meal

Gyumeshi with spicy sauce, regular (430 yen)Additional salad and egg (160 yen)
Free miso soup if you dine in