Suntory Kyoto Brewery — Restaurant in Nagaokakyo

Discovering Kyoto's gem: Suntory Brewery!

Having caught wind of the acclaim for Suntory's beer tour online, I promptly secured a reservation, and our journey commenced with a gracious shuttle service and a warm reception from the attentive staff. Surprisingly, this beer tour comes at no cost.

The tour process is very organized, they provided a foreign language app and manual, making it accessible even for non-Japanese speakers. For the ultimate tasting experience, I found the second beer, 香るエール, to be a standout, though most opted for the third beer, Masters Dream. The initial Premium Melts beer is a common find in stores, and there's an on-site shop for beer enthusiasts.

Initially hesitant to purchase on the spot, I later regretted not buying the second and third beers, as they weren't readily available in most stores. A valuable tip: seize the opportunity to buy on-site, particularly if you fancy the second and third beer varieties.

In conclusion, Suntory's commitment to customer satisfaction shone through in their detailed explanations and a flawless final tasting. I'm left longing for the...

Well-worth the time to get out here. If taking their shuttle bus from one of the train stations it services, make sure you get there early. The shuttle leaves exactly on time. Sadly, our JR train ran a minute late (almost unheard or for Japan) and we just missed the shuttle. We still had 30 minutes, so we spent 25 minutes walking there through residential streets. (If you're new to Japan, you might enjoy this. Alternatively, there'll be a taxi waiting at the station that won't cost much.) The Suntory Premium Malts was delicious. 3 big schooners of it in quick succession and you'll be enjoying the train trip back. Take the Hankyu train towards Osaka and if you're lucky, you'll run for a short period alongside a speedy Shinkansen on a section where both tracks come parallel and VERY CLOSE to each other for a good stretch of the way. Can't experience that with a light head anywhere...

Free tour and free beer tasting? Yes please.

Suntory is a well-known beer company for their complex and lengthy process in producing their drinks. That is why I prefer theirs over any American beers I've tried. They have a very smooth taste, with less fuzz. My personal favourite is the light blue Malts. The free tour lasts an hour, and runs with one lead guide and a 2nd backup staff who ensures everyone is sticking together. Very big and clean factory, with a gift shop. It's an easy to understand process with the English audio guide and booklet provided. I recommend it to anyone who's a fan of beer, within the Osaka and Kyoto area to book...