Nada Sake Brewery District — Five Village Sake Tour

**Tasting strategy:** Sake tastings are small pours (30–50ml) of 3–5 varieties (junmai, ginjo, daiginjo, aged sake). Progression moves from light/clean to rich/aromatic. Breweries provide palate cleansers (water, pickles). Tastings cost ¥300–500 with souvenir cup. Purchasing a bottle (¥1,500–5,000) often includes free multi-sake tasting. Ask staff for recommendations in broken English/gesture — they're enthusiastic about sharing. **Brewery tour highlights:** The brewing season (October–March) offers active fermentation viewing — tanks bubbling with yeast activity, koji rooms at 30°C humidity, and the complex sweet-sour aroma of fermenting rice. Off-season tours (April–September) show facilities but miss active production. However, tasting quality is consistent year-round, and summer's lower crowds may offset the lack of active brewing scenes. **Hidden gem brewery:** Sawanotsuru Sake Museum (沢の鶴資料館, 10-min walk from Oishi Station, free entry) is less touristy than Hakutsuru but equally informative. The museum displays Edo-period brewing tools and has excellent English signage. Their tasting bar offers 10+ varieties (¥100–200 per pour), allowing custom tasting flights. The attached shop sells brewery-only limited editions.