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One Sake, Many Cups: A Tasting in Glass, Wood and Pewter in Sapporo

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Activity provider: Japanese Modern N6 Kita Maruyama
One Sake, Many Cups: A Tasting in Glass, Wood and Pewter in Sapporo
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The same sake poured into Otaru cut glass, bentwood and pewter — an unusually precise ninety minutes on how the vessel changes the drink.

One Sake, Many Cups: A Tasting in Glass, Wood and Pewter in Sapporo: Key Facts

PriceFrom $48 per person
Duration1.5 hours
Group sizeUp to 4 people
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeMini Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 1 available option

Sake and Cup Tasting

Ninety minutes tasting one sake through a series of handmade traditional cups, with snacks and craft commentary included...
1.5 hours
English
$48
Free cancellation

Full description

Most sake tastings compare sakes. This one does the opposite, and it is far more instructive: a single carefully chosen sake, served to you in a succession of different traditional cups, so the only variable is what you are drinking it from.

The difference is not subtle. Otaru kiriko, the cut glass made along the Hokkaido coast, is cold and hard-edged and sharpens the aroma. Magewappa, cups bent from thin cedar or cypress, add the smell of the wood itself and soften everything. Pewter conducts heat unusually fast and is traditionally credited with rounding off harshness. Drinking the same liquid through all three in an hour is the clearest possible demonstration of why the vessel is treated as part of Japanese drinking culture rather than a container for it.

Each cup is a handmade craft object with a maker and a background, and the host tells you about both — where the technique comes from, who still practises it, and how the piece in your hand was made. That turns the session into something closer to a craft appreciation class that happens to involve alcohol.

Light snacks are served alongside, and you have access to the traditional crafts store attached to the space, where the cups themselves and other artisan pieces are for sale. Several people leave having bought the one that worked best for them, which is a considerably better way to choose a sake cup than guessing in a department store.

Groups cap at four, the host works in English, and the venue is about ten minutes on foot from Nishi 28-chome Station.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Arrive at the craft showroom

Introduction to the sake you will be tasting

Taste it from Otaru kiriko cut glass

Taste it from magewappa bentwood

Taste it from pewter

Hear the story behind each cup and its maker

Includes

  • Sake tasting session
  • A variety of traditional handmade sake cups
  • Light snacks
  • Introduction to the craftsmanship behind each cup
  • Access to the traditional crafts store

Excludes

  • Additional sake beyond the tasting
  • Transport to the venue
  • Purchases from the craft store

Important information

Meeting point

Japanese Modern N6 Kita-Maruyama, 2F, Kita 6 Jonishi 23-chome 1-14, Chuo Ward, Sapporo 060-0006 — look for the N6 sign on the facade.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 1.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $48
$48
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Japanese Modern N6 Kita-Maruyama, 2F, Kita 6 Jonishi 23-chome 1-14, Chuo Ward, Sapporo 060-0006 — look for the N6 sign on the facade.
The price does not cover additional sake beyond the tasting, transport to the venue and purchases from the craft store. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Yes, if you tell us when you book rather than on the day. Vegetarian and vegan are routine; allergies need naming specifically so the host can shop differently.
Japanese Modern N6 Kita Maruyama. We book with them directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can confirm your place with the operator before taking it as final.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice outside India. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Sake tasting session, A variety of traditional handmade sake cups, Light snacks, Introduction to the craftsmanship behind each cup, Access to the traditional crafts store
The duration of the One Sake, Many Cups: A Tasting in Glass, Wood and Pewter in Sapporo is typically 1.5 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
February for deep snow and the Snow Festival, or late June to mid-July for Furano's lavender. Note that Sapporo's cumulative snowfall of 4.7–5 m is often misread — actual ground depth peaks around 80–100 cm in February. Full month-by-month detail in our best time to visit Sapporo guide.
The 2027 festival runs 4–11 February across Odori, Susukino and Tsudome, and entry to all three sites is free. Hotels sell out 6–9 months ahead and rates run 2–3× normal — our Snow Festival guide covers whether that premium is worth paying.
The subway covers most of the city at ¥210–380 a ride, and the weekend Donichika pass is just ¥520 — far better value than the ¥830 weekday version. The airport train is ¥1,230 (33–37 min). See getting around Sapporo.
Yes — it's 30 minutes and ¥800 by JR, making it the easiest day trip in Hokkaido. The canal, glassworks and sushi street fill a comfortable day. Timing tips and the Snow Light Path dates are in our Otaru day trip guide.
Miso ramen (invented here around 1954), jingisukan lamb BBQ, soup curry, and Nijo Market seafood. Bowls run ¥900–1,500. Where locals actually eat — and which famous spots to skip — is in our Sapporo food guide.
Niseko has the deepest snow (~15 m a season) but the highest prices — a 2026-27 peak day pass is ¥13,500. Rusutsu, Kiroro and Sapporo Teine (¥8,400 online) offer similar powder for less. Honest comparison in our Niseko and Hokkaido ski guide.
Three days works well: one for the city, one for Otaru, and one for a day trip or ski day. Our Sapporo 3-day itinerary has winter and summer variants with realistic timings.
Starting from$48