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2025 Niigata ‘Sake no Jin’ Annual Sake Festival Tour Gallery

The 2025 Niigata “Sake No Jin” Annual Sake Festival Tour was part of our Affordable Luxury – Small Group Tours, offering a premium Japan experience with a limited group of 24 travelers. Guests enjoyed upgraded hotels, gourmet meals, and “Green Car” seats on the Shinkansen. Highlights included Tokyo’s Plum Blossom Festival, sake tastings in Niigata, exploring Sado Island’s gold mines and tarai-bune boat rides, and cultural experiences like senbei making and a Geiko performance. With guided sightseeing, exceptional service, and exclusive experiences, this tour delivered a truly affordable first-class journey through Japan.

Tour Manager: Sharon Miyashiro

Travel Photo Gallery

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First full day of touring in Tokyo. Gene and Colleen at Yushima Tenjin Shrine for the Plum Blossom Festival.

The annual festival showcases the 300+ plum trees – most of them 70–80 years old – that grow in the shrine’s orchard.

Cute monkey show at the shrine.

Yatai Matsuri food stalls

Beautiful, blooming plum Bonsai.

Getting ready to take in the view of the city from the observation deck of the Tokyo Skytree.

Headed to Niigata on the Shinkansen Bullet Train! Plus, we were lucky to get upgraded to the GranClass seats, which is the premium level of seats and one level above the first-class Green seats.

Georgia stretching out in first class accomodations.

Taking a group shot before boarding the jet foil to Sado Island.

Sado Kisen Jet Foil

Our warm welcome to Sado Island!

Our private open-air onsen in our room at Hotel Azuma. Look at the view!

The room at Hotel Azuma.

During our kaiseki dinner at Hotel Azuma, we enjoyed a Oni Daiko (Demon Drums) performance.

About to enjoy a a full day of sake tasting at the Sake No Jin Festival!

A lot of tasting going on!

Arthur having steak for lunch at the festival.

More lunch options, chicken and potato on a stick.

Takoyaki and steak!

Ending the day with dinner on the 30th floor of Hotel Nikko Niigata!

Visiting the Northern Culture Museum in Niigata with our guide, Mr. Ito.

Explaining the history of the Ito family.

Watching the masters pound mochi.

Marsha. Rylan, and Debbie try their hand at mochi pounding.

It's harder than it looks!

Time to enjoy the fresh mochi with some tea.

Smooth, warm mochi goodness covered in delicious red bean paste.

A stop at a nearby miso store.

Senbei (rice cracker) making experience

Showing off their senbei designs!

Ending the day with dinner and authentic Geiko entertainment.

The performance included music, dancing, and playing fun games.

A Geiko is a highly trained entertainer, specifically in Kyoto, who performs in the arena of singing, dancing, and music.

Starting the day with some strawberry picking!

After lunch, we learned how to make kites.

Debbie and Gerald

Clifford and Marsha

Debbie and Georgia testing out their kites indoors.

Others took their kites outdoors.

Our stay for the next two nights at Shiratama-no-Yu Kahou Hotel.

Enjoying our kaiseki dinner at the hotel.

Side trip to onsen drinking water near the hotel.

The foot bath at Ashiyu Yu Ashi Tabi...oh so good!

Dinner at Zoshunkaku in Shibata City.

Shibata City Mayor Nikaido joined us along with Mr Sato (Northern Culture Museum) and Mr Sase (Shibata City Organic Rice Farmer).

Starting the day exploring Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai, a shopping complex that recreates an Edo period neighborhood.

Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai offers fresh food from the neighboring Toyosu Market and serves to showcase the best foods in Tokyo.

Marsha enjoying an ice cream cone.

Hands-on sushi making activity with chef Dennis.

Chef Melissa

And Colleen’s new job

Find more tours like this one on our Japan Spring Break Tours page.

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2025 Niigata ‘Sake no Jin’ Annual Sake Festival Tour Gallery

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