Yamazaki Whisky Museum — Attraction in Shimamoto

I was really looking forward to visiting the famous Yamazaki Distillery south of Kyoto. Unfortunately, we could only secure tickets for the museum, as the normal tours were sold out. These tours are a marketing show, so I was expecting a bit more substance. The museum offered only brief captions—just one sentence per picture, which left me wanting more in terms of depth and insight, if not on Whisky then on their product portfolio to make me understand the differences and buy the one right for me. There are so many possibilities to enhance the experience for those who travel far to visit, like QR codes for audio guides or more detailed handouts in multiple languages. Sadly, the experience fell short.

The tasting room offered three 10ml samples for 1500 yen, which was fine, though I was surprised that I couldn’t swap one whisky in the set for another from the same category. Despite that, I really enjoyed the tasting and was excited to check out the shop afterward.

However, this excitement quickly turned into disappointment. The shop only sold glasses, souvenirs, and small bottles of their most basic whisky. It wasn't possible to buy a standard bottle from their range, and there was no help in finding where I could get one either.

I was genuinely hoping to buy a bottle from the distillery to remember the trip by, and this left me feeling really let down. In fact, the experience didn’t just stop me from purchasing a bottle that day—it actually made me hesitant to buy one in the future. I had even considered exploring their higher-end options, but now I feel a bit soured on the brand. So in terms of marketing, this is counterproductive and not really understandable. In the end, I just bought a small bottle for my stepdad and left with mixed feelings.

If you've been to other distilleries, like in Scotland or elsewhere, you might not find this visit worthwhile unless you can secure a full tour. If you're still interested, I recommend doing some research to see if it’s worth it for you. I hope they rethink their approach in the future to better accommodate...

Highly recommended to book ahead(!!), depending on time of the year, it may need to be quite a while ahead, particularly if online, may not be as many days ahead if booking in person at the reception desk, as we got lucky booking 2 days ahead (😬), in person (this is 1 of the only 2 Suntory distilleries in Japan that have a tasting room &/or museum attached - the site does still ldo production too) 😳😬🤷‍♂️😅

Due to the driving laws in Japan (the staff will remind you upon arrival) you can only do a tasting if you are not driving (Japan has a 0% blood alcohol content driving law), they are a little above average on safety here 🤷‍♂️😅

But, if you can get through enough planning and preparation steps, you'll get in upon attendance, be able to make your way through the primary visitor building and display room, to the tasting room, where you can pay (yes pay, as tastings are not free, they take credit cards and their cash register can use tap, chip or magnetic swipe - no cash, just electronic payment methods [maybe IC cards but I can't confirm]) 😳🤷‍♂️😅

The official tour, is apparently a separate booking, that we missed out on, so I can only emphasise preparation 🤷‍♂️😕

But, nonetheless, I utterly thoroughly enjoyed tasting a wide variety of the whiskeys that Suntory produce and do recommend that the bit of effort is...

The Yamazaki Distillery, nestled between Kyoto and Osaka, is a must-visit for whisky lovers and anyone interested in Japanese craftsmanship. As the birthplace of Japanese whisky, it carries a rich history dating back to 1923, when Shinjiro Torii founded it as Suntory’s first distillery. The location was carefully chosen for its pure water and unique climate, and you can truly feel that connection to nature as you walk through the grounds surrounded by lush greenery and misty hills. The guided tour is exceptional. It takes you through the whisky-making process step by step, from the smell of the mash in the fermentation tanks to the impressive sight of the rows of copper pot stills gleaming under the lights. The warehouse, with its endless racks of aging barrels, is particularly atmospheric and offers a glimpse into the patience and artistry behind each bottle. The highlight for many visitors is the tasting session at the end, where you can sample a range of Yamazaki whiskies, including rare and distillery-exclusive varieties. While tickets can be difficult to secure due to high demand, the experience is well worth planning ahead. The Yamazaki Distillery beautifully blends tradition, innovation, and hospitality, making it a truly unforgettable...