Suntory Yamazaki Distillery

This was a dream come true experience. The staff couldn't have been any nicer, and the whiskey offerings were really top notch. Unfortunately, a few months back they increased all of the prices of their higher age statement offerings, but there is still a set that consists of the Yamazaki NAS, Yamazaki 12, and Yamazaki 18(10ml each) that is affordable. The rest of the spirit offerings come in 30ml drams. The gift shop, located on the second floor, had lots of various items for sale. I have photographed nearly every item in the shop that they had, so that people can plan ahead of time and have an idea exactly how much everything is and what they actually have for sale.

We were able to get a tour of the Yamazaki distillery in English via their lottery system. Getting there early, we explored the museum which is open to guests in general. Shortly our tour was called and it was suggested that we use the app for info. We didn’t need to do that as our guide spoke English very well. Heading into the distillery, we got to see the mash tank area, fermentation and then the pot stills. The whole place was spotless and beautifully built. Afterwards we were brought to a room where we were able to taste the individual components of Yamazaki 12 and then do some blending. They also taught us how to make the perfect whiskey highball. Next we went to the general tasting room where you can buy additional tastes. We tried some of the unaged spirit which, after diluting was delicious. Finally we went to the shop and bought the distillery only edition, some glassware and some food items. Having visited lots of distilleries, this one was definitely in the top 5. Very impressive both in terms of product but also the quality of the tour.

This was a really fun experience. The self-guided tour was well-designed (and free), and it’s definitely worth making a reservation to try high-end whiskeys at an affordable price. That said, reservations are tough to get—you’ll need to check their website for release dates. They open spots a month in advance for the following month.

One of our favorite places in Kyoto. The tour teaches you the history of this groundbreaking brand, maybe our favorite in the whisky world. You get to the see the fermentation room and barrel room where they keep hundreds and hundreds of 20-50 yr old varieties. Then the tasting and bar room is the peak of this experience, where you can sample Yamazaki 25 and hibiki 30 at a fraction of the price of any normal bar. Next level

The question always comes up, is it worth it? Is it worth the hassle of waiting online and hoping for a chance in their lottery just for tickets…is it worth it to travel back to Kyoto and deal with all the tourists…is it worth the side trip from an already packed vacation schedule…all answers point to a definite yes. Studying the history of whisky in Japan, one has to make the pilgrimage to the Suntory Yamazaki distillery and take the tasting tour. There are just some things in life you can’t describe in words, pictures or videos. The smell of the production and aging rooms alone will make an imprint on your life. But what changed my whole viewpoint was the Yamazaki tasting. Holy cow was this an incredible event. Truly mind blowing and something to carry with you in your whisky education and experience. The other thing I really looked forward to was the chance to taste the rarer age statements. So to ask, is it worth it? The answer is a resounding YES every single time!

Recently reopened for tours and visits to commemorate their 100 year anniversary following an important upgrade of the visitable areas, this is a must when in Japan’s Kansai region. Situated in between Osaka and Kyoto prefectural border and well connected by rail, the only challenge is to find availability. Very different to whisky distilleries in Scotland, where the landscape is almost as important to the visit, here the distillery is the centre of attention except for the beautiful small Japanese garden, a tribute to the key role that water plays in Yamazaki.

They have increased tasting fee 10x over the last few years and no longer made any good whisky available for purchase at the gift shop. You can only buy 180ml bottles of no age statement whisky. A tasting of Yamazaki 25 used to cost $20 now it’s $200.

Best place to find the limited whiskey you hardly find outside market. You pay the price for 30ml and also need to book the tour only able to visit. I get the ticket from klook. You can try it if can’t get from official website.

We were able to get a tour of the Yamazaki distillery in English via their lottery system. Getting there early, we explored the museum which is open to guests in general. Shortly our tour was called and it was suggested that we use the app for info. We didn't need to do that as our guide spoke English very well. Heading into the distillery, we got to see the mash tank area, fermentation and then the pot stills. The whole place was spotless and beautifully built. Afterwards we were brought to a room where we were able to taste the individual components of Yamazaki 12 and then do some blending. They also taught us how to make the perfect whiskey highball. Next we went to the general tasting room where you can buy additional tastes. We tried some of the unaged spirit which, after diluting was delicious. Finally we went to the shop and bought the distillery only edition, some glassware and some food items. Having visited lots of distilleries, this one was definitely in the top 5. Very impressive both in terms of product but also the quality of the tour.

While we weren't lucky enough to score a tour spot, we still deeply enjoyed going through the museum and the tasting room. The ambience of the distillery as a whole is fantastic and the ability to sip some of the best Japanese whiskeys next to where they're made is very cool. Would highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in whiskey, just make sure you check out the website ahead of time to secure a tour spot or tasting room spot.

The question always comes up, is it worth it? Is it worth the hassle of waiting online and hoping for a chance in their lottery just for tickets...is it worth it to travel back to Kyoto and deal with all the tourists...is it worth the side trip from an already packed vacation schedule...all answers point to a definite yes. Studying the history of whisky in Japan, one has to make the pilgrimage to the Suntory Yamazaki distillery and take the tasting tour. There are just some things in life you can't describe in words, pictures or videos. The smell of the production and aging rooms alone will make an imprint on your life. But what changed my whole viewpoint was the Yamazaki tasting. Holy cow was this an incredible event. Truly mind blowing and something to carry with you in your whisky education and experience. The other thing I really looked forward to was the chance to taste the rarer age statements. So to ask, is it worth it? The answer is a resounding YES every single time!

The Suntory Yamazaki Distillery was a blast to visit. I highly recommend visiting if you are a fan of Japanese whiskey or whiskey in general. The museum was informative, the staff was friendly and the tasting room was the best way to end the tour. They have different whiskeys depending on your pallet so had to try different flights. I do recommend though to get reservations way out in advance since they do fill out quickly. The distillery is not too far away from the stations by walking but I recommend grabbing a taxi from the station if you have a timed appointment. They do have parking but recommend using a taxi or the trains as your main transportation. This was one of the highlights of my trip, definitely check this place out if you are by the area.

3000 ¥ admission fee, very modern comfortable environment, lots of whiskey on display, but cannot be purchase at distillery. Only small gift size single malt whiskey and gift size distillery exclusive are allowed for purchase.

What's up: We're here for the whisky! Unfortunately, we weren't able to get a spot to tour the factory, but we're still excited to visit the museum and taste some whisky! Access: A 11 minute walk from JR Yamazaki Station. There are plenty of signs pointing you in the right direction as soon as you exit the station. Environment: As soon as you walk up to the location, you'll see the check in building on the left. Staff members were friendly and after they gave us our badges (coasters we get to keep) to the museum viewing, we were directed towards the building. Inside, you'll get to walk around the exhibits and learn about the history of Suntory and their whisky-making journey. There is a gift store as well as a tasting counter where you get to purchase samples to taste. What was ordered: - Museum Viewing (free! We registered on their website prior to our visit) - Hibiki Blossom Harmony - Hibiki 21 Years Old - Hibiki 30 Years Old - AO Whisky - Yamazaki Single Malt Limited Edition Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. Although we didn't get to tour the factory, we still were able to learn a lot by walking through the exhibits on our own. The real fun is getting to taste the different whiskies they have available. Credit cards are accepted.

A few years ago, I stopped by Suntory to see if I can score a last minute tour. No luck, all was reserved. I told myself if I was ever in Japan again, I would try. This time, I made sure to make a reservation online. They have a set time that opens up for the month, so I would definitely check the website few weeks in advance. I actually had to wait about an hour in the virtual queue to make a reservation. On the day of, I was a little bit late. I called ahead and they were super nice about it. They met us at the gate and escorted us to the tour that was ongoing. Just as a note, the tour is in Japanese, but they give you an iPhone that you can follow along with. I will say, I really wished I could speak Japanese. The tour guide seemed fun and engaged and I could not catch what was said. It was cool to see the behind the scenes and take some cool photos. At the end, they had a tasting, which was great to taste. I would also recommend stopping by the tasting room. They sell tastings of the hard to find whiskeys for a decent price. I am not sure if I would come back here, but if it's your first time, I would recommend checking it out. A few things to add, if you score a tour, it's relatively cheap (less than $10 per person). If you don't score a tour, you can come to tasting room. They have some cool information (this used to be walk in but I believe you still need to make a reservation now due to covid). Lastly, they do not sell any of the rare whiskeys at the gift store. I was hoping they would the first time I got there, but they only have these for tastings. They do have some cool glassware that I did pick up, so it was nice to look around.

Calling all Japanese whiskey connoisseur, this is the place to visit if you want to sample hard-to-find Suntory whiskies at reasonable prices. You can find Yamazaki 12/18/25, Hibiki 21/30, etc at the bar area. The menu selection is quite vast. There's a limit of 3 samples per person. Definitely make reservations for the distillery tour well in advance because they sell out fast. You also need too make reservation just to go to the sample bar too if you can't snag a distillery tour. The latter is free. The gift shop only had Yamazaki 12 for sale and some other souvenirs. Still worth checking out.

Make your reservations early!! The tours gets booked quite easily. You don't want to be like me and have to check daily for any openings from cancellations. We got lucky and scored a reservation. For 10 in the morning. Not necessarily the ideal whisky drinking time, but I booked it anyway. The tour starts from the building that houses the museum. The tour was given in Japanese, but audio guides in English (and other languages) are available. It's one of those handheld devices where you choose the corresponding number to the part of the tour you're on. The tour covered the whiskey making process including seeing the large cellar filled with hundreds of oak casks of aging whisky. Your tour finishes with a tasting. The tasting allowed us to sample different whiskys and had us dilute our whisky so the alcohol content wasn't as potent. We also made our own high ball cocktail to drink using specific premium mineral water. Sampling a whisky that is 50% alcohol content at 10 am is a pretty surefire way to get tipsy. Other than the tour, the museum has free admission and some interesting tidbits you can read about. There is also the tasting counter where you can purchase tastings. I remember prior to our trip to Japan seeing my friends come here on their honeymoon. I watched as they documented their experience with full glasses to empty glasses with drunken giggles. When we got here, I understood how exactly that happened. The list is extensive and varies in price range, and you kinda want to try them all. Especially bottles that you may never again have access to. Last is the souvenir shop, which has bottles available for purchase that you wouldn't be able to find elsewhere. These also tend to run out throughout the day, and I wish we had checked out the shop before going on our tour. A worthwhile experience for those who already enjoy whisky or want to learn more about it.

I'm a vodka drinker so I stepped out of my comfort zone to learn about Suntory whiskey with my whiskey friends. Life changing experience.. Distillery Tour and displays: We self toured and it was absolutely fine. They gave us a guide in English and all the displays had English signage so that made things easy. This history of the distillery from the beginning to present day is amazing. Entertaining with lots to see and learn about the Suntory Whiskey process. I learned so much just the exhibitions alone. The gift shop is well stocked with souvenirs, whiskey and whiskey drinking accessories that make for great souvenirs. The Whiskey Library: This is where the fun really begins. Strolling through the awesome collection of aged whiskey through the years was informative and fun. Then we started sampling and took it to another level because the price was such a bargain. The Yamazaki 12, 18 and 25 were my favorites. I bonded hard with the 18. After reading and learning all day, the sampling is the perfect way to end the day. They provide water to cleanse palate between the great whiskeys As a complete Whiskey rookie, I was able to try Whiskeys that are extremely rare back home. The Yamazaki 18 is $599, Yamazaki 25 was around $6K based off current internet prices. Whiskey drinking friends back home were extremely envious. We sampled so many more and I'm a Suntory Whiskey guy for life. This is one of the best parts of my Japan vacation. I hope you visit and enjoy this distillery as well. Arigato!

I don't even like whiskey but my fiancé likes it so I told him we had to go. I had heard tons of great things about the tour so this was one of the first things I booked for our four day trip to Osaka. You can book up to 3 months in advance. I highly recommend making a reservation as soon as you can because it fills up fast. We booked the 10:00am tour. Yes, it was a little early to be drinking but we wanted to make sure we could get there so we made it the first thing we did that day. The distillery is located in a less touristy spot but there were signs right outside of the station that directed us to the distillery which was nice. The tour started right on time with the tour guide first telling us the process of making whiskey. We then walked through the distillery and saw some of the steps that she had talked about. After that we got to go in the room that had all the barrels that were aging. The smell was so strong! At the end of the tour we got to do a tasting. We tried 3 different whiskeys and made our last one into a highball which I enjoyed. While tasting each whiskey the tour guide explained what each one was supposed to taste like. I had more fun than I was expecting and learned a lot of stuff about Yamazaki whiskey.

Wish we had time to stay longer, but this place is a must go for anyone who loves whisky. In order to get in for their tour, you will need to make reservations (¥1000) in advance, and when I looked, it was completed booked out for at least a month. Luckily you can just get into their tasting room with a simple reservation online or at the front reception area. My friends and I came at 4:10pm with no reservations, and luckily for us, we were able to get in before last call at 4:30. They gave us a badge and we went over to the tasting room. I got 3 whiskys for tasting, a Yamazaki 18, Hibiki 21 and Hibiki 30. The Hibiki 30 is a $3000 USD bottle and for ¥2900 a tasting, that's a steal. My buddy got the Yamazaki 25, a $4000+ USD bottle, for also ¥2900 a tasting. Those were by far, my favorite tastings of all time. Upstairs from the tasting room is the gift shop. They sell odds and ends like cups and souvenirs and of course, whisky. The stuff that they have here cannot be found anywhere outside of Japan. We each picked up a bottle of Yamazaki Limited. Can't wait to crack that one!

We reserved a museum viewing a couple weeks in advance since the tours had been booked like months in advance. If you're a whiskey Lover and need a tour, book in advance!! Our museum reservation was at 12. We got there at 11am, we checked in, got a necklace tag to identify us as museum guests, and then viewed the museum. It leads you into the tasting and gift shop eventually. The museum is small but nice to walk through. The tasting room is great! We ended up chatting w random strangers who appreciated whiskey. :) But the gift shop is a total let down. The selection is so woefully limited, it was honestly sad. You're better off going to a liquor store in japan or a BevMo in the states to find suntory whiskey. :(

I was so happy to be able to reserve a spot for the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery after constantly checking the website for an opening. Despite having to drag our luggage to our tour, I thought the location was easy to get to via train with clear signs. Unfortunately, my bf and I missed our initial reservation due to hopping on a wrong train, but we were lucky to be able to go on the next tour. Even though the tour was in Japanese, we were given headsets to follow along. It was fine. The distillery tour was educational and I was thrilled to see the entire process from start to finish. My favorite part was visiting the warehouse where all the aging barrels were stored because of the intense whiskey aroma. Lol talk about aroma therapy at its finest! We ended the tour with a tasting and got to sample three different types of in-house whiskey and snacks. There was an additional fourth one where we mixed it with soda water to make our own high ball. The experience was really fun because we got to chit chat with other tourists sitting next to us. Overall, I didn't expect to have as much fun as I did on the tour. The experience was so much better than all the distilleries I've visited in the past. Definitely worth the money! My bf ended up buying two bottles to bring back with us (one bottle per person).

What a fantastic experience! If you know you are planning on visiting Kyoto in advance (2-3 months) you definitely need to try to get a reservation for a distillery tour (which only costs around $10-20 USD). Get there about 30 minutes before your scheduled tour so you can scope out the gift shop and check out the museum, which is free to do if you couldn't make a tour reservation. The tour is in Japanese, but they have headsets for the language of your preference and the English one is pretty good. It was amazing to see the whole production, especially all of the casks, some dating back a long time! The tour ends in a tasting of 4 whiskey - sadly not the aged ones, but still good nonetheless. The fun continues after the tour, this is where you need to just dedicate a whole day to Yamazaki. Go to the tasting room and you will be able to buy tastings of some of the rarest Japanese whiskies. I mean the 30 year was maybe $20-25 USD for a tasting. If you can buddy up with another group and then you'll be able to share your purchases to sample more. I think I tried upwards of 15-16! Warning, there is no food in the vicinity, so eat beforehand or else expect to be nice and toasty coming out.

I'm not a whiskey or hard alcohol drinker, but after learning and tasting the different years that Yamazaki offers made me have an appreciation for whiskey. Book tours online before your arrival. They don't book there. The $10 tour is totally worth the price as at the end you get to taste 4 of their whiskey, along with some snacks. It was super organized, clean and informational. The hostess spoke very good English too. After the tour we went to their tasting room and continue to taste more aged whiskey. One complaint though was their gift shop ran out of all Yamazaki whiskey. We were like wtf? You guys make it here!

To start one of my biggest pet peeves are people that can't behave. So I wish that we wouldn't have had the group of 10 douchebag frat guys and their gf's who wouldn't stop interrupting the tour woman and mocking her with Japanese words. Act your age A-holes. Now, the tour itself. Get your tickets ahead of time. Tickets are reasonable, $10-20. You receive your remote, tags and map. Everything in japan is prompt, so do not be late. The train station is about a 10 minute walk (out of the train station you will walk to the left towards the 7-eleven. Heading on that road will get you to the train tracks where TaDah, Whiskey!) They start with a small crowd of no more than 20 people. They also have umbrellas for the rain which was needed!! Cut to one of the douchebags getting soaked because he didn't grab a umbrella and wore his boat shoes. Getting mad while soaked because the tour guide wouldn't let him move forward without the group. (I'm sorry what did you expect guy?!). :) The tour explains how the whiskey goes through steps before barreled. From the grains, the humid room and the super cold barrel room. The tour itself is probably about 20minutes. At the end of the tour, you are provided a flight of whiskey along with snacks. They teach you how to make your own drink and you can then take your time with your flights and inside the museum. My friend and I never once felt rushed. Once the tour ends, you can also buy liquor and hang out if you wish which is pretty awesome. They also have a store- which I will say stock up. You can't really find any of the treats or "souvenir" glasses anywhere else. They also sell the whiskey but my regret was the treats.

Very cool distillery to check out with plenty of history behind it. The only thing that kind of sucked was that due to maintenance, the distillery tour was closed to us. The good thing is that at the very least, we had the chance to go and check out their museum and whiskey tasting. You have to pay for the whiskey tasting but after having tried three of the more popular whiskeys, I walked out only having spent 1400 yen(not too bad). Next time I come back I really hope we get the chance to do the tour. I would still recommend this place though, even if just for the museum.

For someone who loves Whiskey, this was a must do on my list. The Suntory Yamazki Distillery was an hour away from our hotel, but worth every step, stair and train. I loved reading about the history and looking at their displays. First of all, make sure you make a reservation whether you're walking around yourself or booking a tour. You need a reservation to get in and it is cash only. I tried booking the tour at a very reasonable price of 1000 yen, but it was sold out. Luckily the self guided visit was still a wonderful experience and I'd go back on my next visit. The tastings are a steal at their prices. I finally tried the Hibiki 30 and it was amazing.

100% yes. Make reservations. We unfortunately were running late because we got on the wrong train, and my bf was stressing the fuuuck out. We got there 15 minutes late, but it wasn't a problem whatsoever. We didn't get the tour, just the tasting room..which in my opinion was pretty cool on its own. The place is beautiful. You can walk around on your own to get an idea of everything that's happened within the company, but the first thing we did is get some whisky. We tried the most popular flight which I believe was 1600 yen. Yamazaki 18, hands down...the best. They have fresh water available to drink whenever you need it, but lawd almighty were the tastes of the whisky amazing! We sat outside, and it was the most perfect day. Once we finished our first round, we did another round of flights..but with our choices. It was about 1800 yen altogether, which is super affordable for the quality of whisky that you're getting. I got the Yamazaki 18 again..had to. Their pours are precise, and they know how to give you the perfect angles for pictures lol. Once finished, we went upstairs to the store area and they only sell a select amount of whisky bottles a day. My bf was lucky enough to snag the verrrry last one of the day (and this was at like...12:30pm?)..so he was pretty happy about that. I definitely recommend checking this spot out. It's easy to find with flags that guide you once you get out of the train station, and as mentioned..make reservations!

I thought I was just participating in a tour of a whisky facility for my love...oh man!...Did I ever enjoy our time at Suntory Yamazaki Distillery!!! Maybe it was my love bringing me here? You must make a reservation for a tour in advance. It will cost 1,000 yen (about $10) for a 90 min tour of the world famous Suntory Yamazaki Distillery. All tours were fully booked when my love tried to make a reservation for a tour a month before we went, but we were advised to cross our fingers that someone would cancel their reservation and to show up early...and as fate would have it, we arrived early to find that there was space available for us at the last tour of the day at 14:50. We booked it immediately, visited the free museum, and then went on a quick site seeing adventure of our own, to fill some time, finishing our waiting time off with an amazing lunch at Sanshotei, a lovely tempura restaurant nearby. We made our way back in time to taste some whisky before the tour...we were told we would be tasting a few different whiskys at the end of the tour, but wanted to try some more exclusive options that were available at a fraction of the cost you will pay in the U.S...as such, we enjoyed Hibiki 21, Hakushu 18, and the rarely available in the U.S.,Yamazaki 18. The tour is given in Japanese but they offer an audio guide in English, French and Chinese for free, just check at the front desk. During the tour, they took us to the inside of distillery explaining the process of making some of the world's finest Whisky. After the tour, you get to enjoy 4 different single malt whiskys as they educate you in their blending process. I'd go again, and I'd recommend the tour to those with and without the acquired taste for whisky. -2018 review #24-

SUNTORY YAMAZAKI DISTILLERY My fifth and probably favorite stop in Kyoto. The roommate and I had never planned on going to the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery. But when we found out it was only about a half hour train ride away from Kyoto, we HAD to stop by! We got here on Tuesday, April 12th around 1:15pm via the Oyamazaki Train Station. We had reservations at 2pm, but we arrived early. Thankfully, they let us in! There is a small reception building out front before you enter the actual distillery. Once you check in, you get a guest pass and you can walk around the building. We didn't do a real tour, but they have informational exhibits about the factory (founded in 1923). And you get to see their whisky library with bottles of all kinds of different whisky and scotch. Super fun for a drinker like me. Though, I wanted to grab all the bottles and drink them! I did refrain from doing so. :P You end in their tasting room. Here's where the fun begins! You are only allowed to pick three whiskys per person. This part of the distillery is cash only, so make sure to bring enough cash. The roommate and I ordered the following between the both of us. Each pour was 15ml, though it seemed like a was a little more. *The Yamazaki 25 Years Old (¥2,900) *The Yamazaki 18 Years Old (¥600) *Hibiki 30 Years Old (¥2,900) *Hibiki 21 Years Old (¥600) *The Hakushu 25 Years Old (¥2,900) *The Macallan 25 Years Old (¥2,800) I have an ongoing joke with my friends. I only like them single and legal. Single malt, 18 years and up. Though this is a joke, there's some truth to it. I really enjoyed the macallan 25. This was the first time I've had it and it was super smooth. (I'm a big fan of macallan 18.) I actually liked the yamazaki 18 more than the 25, but I think that's just my palate. I tend to like a smoother drink. The roommate's brother also got his own tasting of Yamazaki: 12 (¥200), 18 & 25. He also preferred the 18. There is a gift shop upstairs. Make sure to check it out before you leave. We ended up getting 3 bottles of Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki: Distiller's Reserve (¥4,536 for 700ml bottle). We had only intended to buy two, but you are only allowed to buy one bottle per person and this was a gift shop limited label, so I thought why not?! Let's get that extra bottle! We also walked away with a bag of Cask-Smoked Bacon. Unlike the tasting area, the gift shop takes credit cards. On a beautiful day, I'd recommend sitting outside for your tasting like we did. You might as well enjoy the weather along with your drinks. After a whole morning of running around, the distillery was a welcome change in pace. Nice and relaxing. For an fan of Japanese whisky, you must visit the distillery if you make your way to Kyoto!

If you are a whiskey fan, the Suntory Whisky Distillery should be your number one tourist attraction in Osaka / Kyoto. Reservations are strongly recommended as there are very limited positions available for The Distillery tour for 1000 yen. However, if you are just interested in seeing a museum and the whiskey tasting, which is what we did, it is free to go to the museum and just pay as you go for whiskey tasting starting at only 100 yen for 15 mil tastings. That's less than a dollar each to sample whiskeys from around the world! It's an easy 10-minute walk from the train station to the whiskey Distillery and once there you simply check in and walk around the museum at your leisure. Then take your time and enjoy all types of whiskeys. Personally I tried the yamazaki regular, 12 year, and 18 year for 100, 200 and 600 Yen respectively. I guess I'm a cheap date because I like the regular stuff. My friend was really into it and had 6 + tastings plus some of mine. Really a fantastic experience and strongly recommended!

I am not a whiskey drinker AT ALL, but couldn't pass up the chance to see this operation. The useful shows how Suntory began in the 1920's and to be honest, if you are an entrepreneur of any sort it's quite encouraging! The also have a tasting station, which while I did partake in, I couldn't truly enjoy the experience as I said before... not a whisky fan. The gift shop has some cool items as well. Chop sticks, pocky and other items that you would expect. I'd give them a 5 if they had some of their new suntory vodka for me to try!!

Where else can you get the good stuff at reasonable prices? I really enjoyed the Hibiki 30. Too bad they don't sell by the bottle.

The best decision I made during my trip to Japan, second to coming to Japan for vacation, was to come to this distillery. The tour itself was okay (I've been on plenty of distillery and brewery tours before), but whiskey library was whiskey heaven! The tour guide only speaks Japanese, but the foreigners were given headseats in their native tongue to follow along throughout. At the end of the tour, there is a free tasting when you're able to see what the whiskeys taste like before they're blended. The whiskey bar after the tour was the star of the show and the most memorable for me as they have a plethora of selections. They had a full list of foreign whiskeys from other countries in addition to their beautiful selections of whiskeys that they distill on their own. Each tasting was on average 100-300 Yen which was more than reasonable considering that you can even taste their Hibiki 25 year old for that price! They even had their Hibiki 30 and Yamazaki 25 (although these were a bit pricier since they were the creme of the crop)! Needless to say, I was an extremely happy camper by the time I left. My only regret was not being able to stay longer to try everything. Pro-tip! Take it easy on the free tasting to save room for the whiskey library afterwards!

No tour for me, just cruised up, NO Reservation needed to do tasting room and free museum, plus bought whiskey at the giftshop. I was really impressed with the selection and care of the tasting menu, each were very reasonably priced, and 15ml pours. Great value. Got to enjoy some whiskey I'll never afford otherwise. Great outdoor seating. Loved me time here, definitely a must do. If you do want to do the tour, apparently you need to reserve a time slot online. Make sure to be there on time. Cheers!

If I could give this 6 or 7 stars I would...if you're a Japanese whisky fan this place is a must if your out in Kyoto. Know that if you're interested in the museum or distillery tour you have to book on the website a few months prior. That being said, I did the basic museum tour which I booked a couple months back and walked thru the museum before heading in for some whisky tasting. The tasting room was really cool and showed all the different blends that they used in the distillery and features a nice bar with exceptional offerings... here you can basically get out of stock / date bottles such as Yamazaki 18, 25 or Hibiki 21 or 30 for for pours to sample...granted there is a fee for each the pricing is super cheap...a yam 18 for $6 ? A Hibiki 30 for $29 for a pour?! Yes please!!! I basically ran the gambit ...your limited to 3 per order but can hop on for more once finished...lastly would say you can also go upstairs and buy something's at the gift store...keep in mind they don't sell any of these high end bottles (as they aren't really in circulation anymore)...but some nice souvenirs - flasks, glasses, etc....would highly recommend!!!

We checked in to get our guest passes and then put our luggage in a locker. The facility area was gorgeous as it was in the middle of a lot of greenery. There was the actually distillery and next to it was the museum and tasting room. The museum itself wasn't that big and you can simply walk through to find out more about the history. Most of the signs were in English and we also tried to follow the brochure as well. It was interesting how each generation thought of their own whiskies and the kind of purification systems they use. The facility wasn't that big so after we walked around and took a few pictures, it was time to taste. The tasting room was right in the center of everything so it was easy to find. Since we weren't whiskey experts, we asked what we should try and she recommended the ones that you can only taste on site. We wanted to go for the one that they discontinued but it was at a very hefty price and we kept debating but eventually settled on 3 that were different from each other. As soon as I took a sip of the first one, I was taken aback by how strong and bitter it was. Whiskey is definitely not my forte so I tried a sip of each just to say I tried them and let my travel buddy take care of the rest. After taking our time finishing the drinks, we headed back upstairs where we spent a good chunk of time in the gift shop debating on what to get.

My family has always had a few different go to liquors/beers that we usually stick to. For beer, we almost exclusively drink Blue Moon (except one aunt that has to have Stella...). For spirits we usually stick to Blue Label, however for my grandfathers most recent birthday we decided to switch to Yamazaki 12 year and it was well loved all round. That's why during my 2020 Japan trip, I decided to swing by the distillery in Osaka. Unfortunately for me, I did not have the foresight to make the proper planning for this visit and I didn't get to do the factory tour. Fortunately there was still a self guided option through their Museum. It was quite enlightening to see the growth of the brand and how it was built from the ground up. There are a few English sections but unlike the Asahi Brewery, you're kind of left to your own devices. It would have been nice to have them offer a short translation or self tour, even through an app. Besides the slight language barrier, the museum is pretty nice to tour. As most other reviews suggest, the gift shop is a bit lacking. I thought I could find some special edition bottle or something but they didn't have anything really of note. They didn't even have Yamazaki on the shelves. I know it would've been overpriced but how often do you get a bottle directly from the source! They did have a pretty nice tasting bar, which lets you try out different whiskeys across their lines (which you can't buy there for some reason). I got a nice flight for about 18$ USD. If you're a whiskey lover and you also happen to be going to Japan, I definitely recommend that you get a factory tour (despite the fact I didn't do one). It comes with a tasting flight as well! If you're like me and miss your chance to reserve, come and visit the museum anyways. It's still a fun daytime experience!

Museum opens 9:30AM but the gift shop doesn't open unti 10AM. People will wait in line, starting at 9:30AM, to buy liquor in the gift shop. I wouldn't know what they were getting because our tour was at 9:50AM so we were told to go after our tour finished. By that time, there were bottles that had already been sold out. Like other reviewers have complained, I agree..not cool! Anyway, the tour is highly recommended and you do need to book early. I booked 2 months in advance, right after we booked our plane tickets. The tour is 1hr 20 mins. Our tour time was 9:50-11:10AM and cost ¥1000 ($10). From JR Yamazaki Station, you'll be walking roughly 10 minutes to the distillery. There are signs from the station to help you find your way so it was very easy to get there. The tour includes a guided walking tour of the distillery process as well as a whiskey tasting at the end. The tour is in Japanese but there is a hand-held device they give you where you can listen to the English version. I recommend bringing earphones because the volume is very low and you also don't want to hold the thing to your ear like a phone the whole time. For the tasting, you're led into this huge, gorgeous room with tables and benches. Everything is already set up and a host takes you to your seat. In addition to the whiskey tasting, you also get 2 chocolates and 2 packages of snacks - one is a snack mix and the other is nuts (I think)! You will also learn how to make a highball drink correctly which was lots of fun!

Well worth a visit. Suntory is a beautiful distillery, the museum is interesting and visually appealing. Of course the real prize is being able to taste any of the whiskies you'd like in the tasting room. Prices range from Y100 to Y2900 for a 1.5ml taste. Some say there is a limit of 3 tastes per person, but I didn't experience that. I was able to try 7, 4 of which are so rare and expensive, I'm sure I'll never try them again. As others have said, get your reservation for a tour a few months in advance and be sure your reservation goes through. My wife and I actually booked a reservation online but it didn't process, so we couldn't do the tour. If you can't get a tour, be sure to make a reservation for the gift shop! Without it you can't go in to do the tasting! So why 4 and not 5 stars? Well, it probably deserves 5 stars - really, but I've got a couple gripes. First, as others have said, the gift shop is very disappointing. There's really nothing of interest. Do NOT expect to be buying any Suntory whiskey there. I thought some of the whiskey glasses they had would be a good souvenir, but they were priced at around Y13500 each. Folks, that's what a Baccarat glass costs, and what this gift shop had was just simple cut glass with a Suntory label on the bottom. Well, I suppose it's like this with many things. My other slight gripe more of an existential question. Is it better to taste 1.5 ml of a 30 year old Hibiki, or is it better to dream about what a $1000 bottle of whiskey must taste like? Reality is seldom as delicious as our dreams~

This is my heaven without a doubt and while there may be a little bias in there accumulated from all my years of drinking Japanese whiskey it is certainly an amazing distillery. First of all, make reservations as far in advance as possible especially if you want the guided tour. If you are unable to make one, you can still easily make a reservation for the museum tour which leads right to the tasting room which is still worth it as they did a phenomenal job at setting up the history of the distillery and showing all the various whiskey they have bottled up. This joint is easily accessible from either Kyoto or Osaka and is free if you have a JR pass. Once you get off the train, there are plenty of signs showing you were to go and it is a short 15 minute walk from the station itself. Once you cross a set of railroad tracks, you are able to find the building in all of its glory. It is neatly trimmed by the groundskeeper and you have to check in at the security gate at which point they give you a visitor badge. I did not book in advance so was able to make it only through the museum. Even with this, I felt like a little kid at Disney world excited to try all the rides. The museum truly is well developed and there is a gift shop on the top floor which does accept credit cards. There were no bottles available for purchase when I was there except for some of the brands that are easy to find in the US. After you wrap up buying some gifts, you can make your way downstairs to a beautiful open space where they provide tastings. You simply go to the bar, look through the menu, and then stand in line near the register to order your tastings. The tastings themselves do NOT take credit cards so make sure you have enough Yen on hand. The menu has all types of whiskey that are commercial shelf brands all the way to distillery only brands that you will never find outside of the distillery walls. The prices in my opinion are VERY reasonable especially given that the pours are regular single pours at most bars. When you couple this with the rare ones which are find (i.e., Hibiki 21/30 & Yamazaki 18) it is definitely worth it. I highly recommend the non commercial ones also as they have Hibiki 17 Sherry Cask and more importantly the mizunara hibiki 17. It was absolutely the delicious smokey blend I have been searching for all my life. They have a simple and peaceful tasting area set up outside and inside where you can sit and talk about life while enjoying delicious Japanese whiskey. This is a solid joint for any whiskey lovers and literally heaven for any Japanese Whiskey Fans. It is solid a solid agenda item even for those that may not be fans but simply enjoy good adult beverages. My only slight gripe is that they did not have some of the hard to find whiskeys for purchase but it is definitely worth checking out as you will not be disappointed.

Better than the Wonka Factory. Getting a reservation on the ONE day we had to spend traveling from Kyoto to Osaka was like finding that golden ticket! I had a wonderful time at the paid tour with free tasting at the end. The aromas were a sweet treat for the nostrils. They differ from room to room while they show you the different stages on how they process this liquid gold. Afterwards we paid for an additional tasting. $6 for a shot of 21 year old Hakushu tasted like sweet caramel. 18 year olds were only $3!!! Wished we could've bought some at the gift shop, but that was a pretty weak gift shop with nothing to sell except for Maker's Mark and plum wine.....cmon.....we didn't come here for Maker's Mark... -_-;

If you are a fan of Japanese Whisky, this is HEAVEN! You have to make a reservation online in order to do the tour. Tour cost 1000 yen. Yen only! Lasts roughly 1 hour with the tasting. Once you exit the train, it is roughly a 10-15 minute walk to get to the distillery building. The streets were empty, like walking through a ghost town. You check in at the entrance, then you go to the museum where the tour waiting area is. Tour is like any other whisky distillery tour. Process is the same just different kettles and boils and stuff. It is in Japanese so listening to the tour guide was useless. The audio guide is your only guide. Seeing all the barrels was pretty awesome. I love looking at whisky barrels and the smell of the room is awesome. Seeing barrel 1 from 1922 still resting was pretty awesome. I wonder how that will taste. Tasting was totally worth the price of admission. You get 4 decent size pours of their whiskys. First 2 were cask pours and the last 2 were the same Yamazaki Single Malts, one to taste and one to make a Highball. And you get snacks! Gift shop at the end had some bottles, stuff you can get at duty free when you leave. They did have one distillery only bottle, limit 1 per person. Get that if you like collecting whisky. Like I said, great if your a fan of Japanese whisky. Makes me sad to see their stock pile though, going to be years before they have any 12, 15, 18 year olds available again!

This place is pretty rad, it's Japan's oldest whiskey distillery, it's coming up on 100 years. Very cool and great whiskey!

Yes, you must visit this distillery if you get a chance. You don't have to go on the tour but you should definitely plan on visiting and spending at least a couple of hours here. The paid tours include tastings where the staff really do their best to educate you on how to really taste the flavors in Suntory's single malt whisky. If you opt not to go on a tour, then spend your time in the whisky library and the tasting room (of course!). There are so many whiskys you are able to buy a taste of that you otherwise might not be able to afford (Hakushu 25 yr old is typically $2500 + for a bottle but you can get a taste for $50.) I learned that I like whisky that's been aged in sherry barrels and that you really can taste the difference between a 18 yr and a 21 yr whisky. The one thing I suggest is not to come here on a completely empty stomach because...yeah it's easy to drink more than you planned to. And being drunk on the train back doesn't sound like a fun time.

Whisky tour and tasting for only 1,000 yen?!?! This place is a must visit, whisky drinker or not. The tour is very organized and interesting. For those of us who don't understand Japanese, they do provide those units that tells the tour in english. As part of the tour, we got to see and hear how their whisky is produced, and then do a tasting of 3 different kinds if their yamazaki whisky, and 1 additional tasting where they teach you how to make highball. They also have a gift shop and tasting room, where we got to try Japanese whisky we haven't been able to find (or afford) in the states! It was a great experience, tour was totally worth it! Btw, when you get off the train, there are signs to direct you where the distillery is, also the distillery is huge, when you are close, you can't miss it. We passed it on the train, so knew which direction to go in general as soon as we got off. About 10-15 min walk.

Great place to visit if you're interested at all in whiskey, the history of it, differences between whiskeys from different parts of the world, or just like to try new spirits. Museum had detailed history of how the distillery started along with models depicting the production process, a large gift shop where you can purchase special tasting and rocks glasses as well as great prices on some limited production spirits. Tasting room had a large variety of whiskeys to choose from, at very reasonable prices (started at 100円 for the cheaper stuff for 15ml). The prices to taste each whiskey amazes me as someone who works as a bartender! Tasting room also contained whiskeys from other parts of the world so that you could compare the complexity of each spirit right in their tasting room. Reservations in advance are a necessity, especially if you want to tour the distillery, but if you can't get into a tour, visiting the museum is more than worth the trip.

The distillery is amazing. So many whisky to choose from for tasting, even special reserve whisky that can only be tasted at the distillery. I am a big fan of Japanese whiskey so this is a must place to see. They have a gift shop with some special alcohol to purchase and snacks. Reservation is required and you must arrive before 4:30PM to enter. The tasting ends at 4:30 too. The gift shop closes at 4:45PM and the distillery officially closes at 5PM. This place is accessible by subway and it is right between Kyoto and Osaka.

I was in Lalaland, tried Yamazaki 25, Hibiki 30, and Hakushu 25. Loved them all but Hibiki 30 was my favorite . Wished I could of stayed longer for more tasting.

Great tour! We also went to the Hakushu distillery (which was not as centrally located as Yamazaki). Yamazaki's distillery tour is definitely made for a larger volume of visitors. The tour is in Japanese (of course) but there are audio guides in a variety of languages. We start on the floor above the tasting room and make our way through the whiskey distillery process. We walked through the giant wooden fermentation tubs, the stills, and the room filled with barrels! Very cool sights. Then, comes the delicious tasting. Two classes of whiskey and a third class to create a high ball with. There's smoked raisins and branded chocolate. The tour + tasting is 1000 Yen (about 10 USD) per person and you need reservations! After the tour and tasting ends, we went to enjoy even MORE tastings (of course)! And I must say, the tasting room here at Yamazaki is beautiful. Walls and walls of whiskey gorgeously backlit. It's quite a sight.

This is a gorgeous distillery. I've been to distilleries around the world and Suntory is among the prettiest I've seen. Set up on a hill outside Kyoto, this distillery is absolutely picturesque. There are gardens to admire and the distillery's various buildings while large, are still somehow unassuming and pleasant to look at. It might be related to just knowing that inside they're making some of the world's best whisky? Just a thought! The main entrance to the distillery leads you up a well groomed garden path and into a reception center. This room has expansive glass windows, tall ceilings, a mock still (perhaps a retired one?) that you can walk into, and walls upon walls of sample product on display. It's essentially a whisky library - one that holds whisky no longer available anywhere else in the world. Suntory has done an excellent job at cataloging and saving small portions of their famous inventory and here you can see it in all its amber-shaded glory along the walls. This room is also a tasting room for guests upon the exit of the guided tours. The tour itself is brief - which is kinda cool if you're familiar with the distillation process already. If you're not, you might want to learn a bit before you go as some of the process is covered quickly and glossed over. What's great though is that in addition to the spoken/guided tour -provided in Japanese- there are headsets available for non-native speakers. I believe they're also available in more than just English! You simply hold up the device like a giant phone and listen along to the tour. There are numbered signs along the tour that you match to buttons on the device and it'll connect you with what's being said in Japanese. After the grounds tour (which last about 20 mins) you'll be escorted to a tasting room where there's a small presentation and offering of two complimentary high balls. There are also small sweets and snacks offered to pair. Once you're done with your drinks you can visit the gift shop and then head back down to the original welcome area/library. The gift shop has all kinds of fun items to peep at. Glassware, barware, bottles of Suntory/Beam products, cocktail books, and more. A lot of people come here hoping to buy rare whisky and bring it back to their home country. This can't really be done. The distillery has products you can taste, but they're not bottled for resale. Everything available for sale is something you can find back in the US - so don't get your hopes up! But if there are things you want to sample and taste, almost everything can be sold in a dram in their library/tasting area. It's cash only, so make sure to bring $20-100 or more. With $50 you can get quite an amazing variety of samples and try things that will make friends at home jealous.

We visited during a trip to Kyoto. Apparently reservations for the tour take 3 months to get, so we opted to visit the museum and the tasting room. You do not need a reservation for those, only for the tour. The museum was self guided and similar to many breweries and distilleries. At the end of the small museum there is a large area with excellent decor. Here you can wait on line and taste various whiskey from Yamazaki brands and scotch from abroad. You are limited to 3 tastings per person. We tried flights from the Yamazaki label and Hibiki. They were sold out of the older 25 year. The experience was excellent. The price was very reasonable for the 15mL tasters. Overall this was well worth the 40 minute trip from Kyoto, especially if you enjoy whiskey. English is not a strong point here in case that is a concern for some. PS: there is a gift store where you can purchase the Suntory label whiskey. The selection unfortunately is rather limited but this is because it is currently in high demand.

A definite must visit for any whisky lover when visiting Osaka/Kyoto! Unfortunately, by the time my wife and I had our Japan trip planned out, I was too late to book a reservation for the tour, but was still able to book entry to the museum (which is FREE!) The museum itself is pretty awesome. It showcases the history of Suntory as well as the various types of whisky that have been developed over time. The museum ends in the gift shop where you can purchase brand items and, if you're lucky, a small bottle (only 1 per customer) of the new batch of Yamazaki. 1 bottle was about 1400yen, so I picked up 2. Downstairs from the gift shop, you'll enter a room full of whisky used for blends. There are hundreds of bottles and pretty awesome to see. The most exciting part of the museum is also there, the tasting bar. There you can try some distillery only whisky as well as some age statement ones that are nearly impossible to find. Best part of all is that they're SUPER affordable. I was able to try a 15ml (.5 oz) pour of of Yamazaki 25 year for 2900yen. Definitely a steal! Hibiki 30 year and Hakushu 25 year were also 2900yen each to try so of course I did them all in addition to a few distillery only ones. Getting here by train is super easy, just make sure you're train stops in Yamazaki and don't be like us and end up in Kyoto first. Staff was super friendly and spoke pretty good English. This was definitely the highlight of my trip.

Japan's first single malt whisky distillery! And it is AMAZING. I highly suggest booking a tour asap because I've heard sometimes it can take weeks or even months before being able to make a reservation. I was very lucky to have my Japanese teacher take us here as he used to work here before retirement. The distillery is absolutely beautiful and incredibly clean. The tour guides' speak Japanese only but they offer headsets that have the full tour in various languages. It was such a great learning experience and tastings were only $1-3 USD. Even the train ride is beautiful. Also, while walking here from the station, you will cross the border of Osaka Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture! Pretty cool. Look for the signs! It crosses through a neighborhood.

Fun place to visit! Right off the Yamazaki Station, it's a short 8 min walk to the distillery. There are tons of signs that will direct you straight to the distillery. You have the option of doing a paid tour or just visiting the free museum. Either one requires a reservation that can be done online at the Yamazaki website. Once you arrive at the location, you check in up front and make your way to the building. The paid tour consists of visiting different parts of the distillery, learning about the distilling process, etc; it ends with a tasting. You can also visit the museum and the bar for more tastings. The giftshop has a collection of Yamazaki products such as cups, coasters, snacks, and alcohol. Unfortunately, they are going through a whisky shortage and as a result, they have a very limited supply of products for sale. Overall, it's a nice place to visit if you're interested in learning and tasting whisky.

Make reservations, pretty exclusive on the entry. Easily located off the JR line. Worth it for the tasting room and gift shop!

First thing is first: if you want to do a tour, make sure to book it well in advance. We were there in October (by no means the height of tourist season), and we couldn't get a reservation for a tour for four days. Learn from my mistake and make your reservations well in advance so that you don't have to rearrange your trip. Fortunately, it is located between Kyoto and Osaka, and so we found we could visit it from either of those cities, giving us more flexibility in reservations. We enjoyed the tour, and were glad we brought our own earbuds with us to listen to the English Audioguide (it would have been a pain in the butt to hold the guide up to our ears throughout the tour). My only regret is that we opted for the 3pm tour instead of the 10am tour. The reason being is that the 3pm tour ends around 4pm, but their tasting room only stays open until 4:30pm or 4:45pm.... As Suntory is not only a large producer of whiskeys, but they are also a major importer of whiskeys, their tasting room has a gargantuan selection of whiskeys which one can taste for a very reasonable price (about $1.50-$2 for a sizeable taste of a 12 year, and the price goes up for whiskeys aged longer). I could have easily spent many hours tasting their whiskeys in their tasting room, for which they had both indoor and outdoor seating. If I had it to do over again, I would reserve a 10am tour well in advance, follow it up with some whiskey tastings, find a place for lunch, and then come back for some more whiskey tastings before hopping on the train back to Kyoto or Osaka. Oh well, live and learn. :)