A new sake experience program called KomoSake Terrace is launching at the Konohana Brewery (木花之醸造所) in Asakusa, Tokyo, on April 1, 2026. Designed with beginners in mind, the program combines a sake lecture, guided tasting of four varieties, and a hands-on craft activity in which participants decorate a mini-sized komodaru (traditional sake barrel) and fill it with their favorite sake to take home.
Key Highlights
- A SAKE GUIDE (sake ambassador) with in-depth knowledge of nihonshu covers the basics — ingredients, the brewing process, and more — in a concise, accessible lecture of approximately one hour
- Participants taste four types of sake selected by program founder Mai Morita, the first-ever Miss SAKE, and choose their favorite to fill into a mini komodaru to take home as a souvenir
- The mini komodaru holds 300 ml and can be freely decorated with illustrations or a personal name, resulting in a completely unique keepsake
- The experience takes place in a working brewery environment where participants can sense the aroma of koji and the atmosphere of active fermentation
- Both Japanese and English guidance are available, making the program accessible to international visitors as an Asakusa activity
Background
Growing interest in Japan among international visitors — alongside a surge in Japanese food culture overseas — has led to increased demand for experiences that go beyond simply drinking sake and instead engage with the people, processes, and culture behind it.
At the same time, many people, both in Japan and abroad, are unfamiliar with sake's history, ingredients, and production methods, and describe sake as feeling "too difficult" or "out of reach." KomoSake Terrace was conceived to create a welcoming hub where these beginners can discover sake's appeal.
Program Features
1. Create a One-of-a-Kind "My Komodaru"
A komodaru is a traditional Japanese sake barrel associated with celebrations and auspicious occasions. In this program, participants paint illustrations or write names on a mini-sized version (300 ml) to make a completely original piece. Once finished, it is filled with the sake of their choice from the tasting session.
The hand-painted barrel makes an ideal gift or travel memento. As the inner vessel is glass, it can be refilled and reused, and also works as decorative interior piece.
2. Learn the Basics of Sake — Beginner-Friendly by Design
SAKE GUIDEs — including Mai Morita, the first Miss SAKE — explain sake ingredients, production methods, and flavor profiles in plain language. The program is structured so that anyone entirely new to sake can feel comfortable and engaged throughout.
3. Experience the Atmosphere of a Real Brewery
The venue is the restaurant space inside Konohana Brewery, Asakusa's first craft sake brewery, which opened in June 2020. Participants can sense the aroma of koji and the feel of active fermentation while the experience unfolds in the actual environment where sake is made. Depending on the timing of the visit, it may even be possible to observe the brewing process in action.
4. Designed for International Guests
The program operates in both Japanese and English, so overseas visitors unfamiliar with sake can participate with confidence. Sessions are held in the afternoon to early evening, making it easy to combine with Asakusa sightseeing or shopping and offering a fresh option for Tokyo visitors looking to fill their time meaningfully.
Program Flow (Approximately 60 Minutes)
Step 1 — Sake Basics Lecture
Starting with a warm welcome, participants receive a concise and accessible introduction to sake history, ingredients, and the brewing process.
Step 2 — Guided Sake Tasting with a SAKE GUIDE
A side-by-side comparison of four sake varieties with different flavor profiles. Sake is broadly categorized into four flavor types, and participants experience for themselves the subtle differences created by aroma, taste, and artisan skill.
Step 3 — Create Your Komodaru
Participants customize a 300 ml mini komodaru (traditional sake vessel) with their own design, turning it into a unique original souvenir.
Step 4 — Fill with Your Favorite Sake and Take a Commemorative Photo
The komodaru is filled with the sake chosen during the tasting session, and participants take a photo together to mark the occasion.
Program Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Experience Brand | KomoSake Terrace |
| Program Name | Beginner-Friendly! Sake Tasting & Original Souvenir Making (Mini Komodaru) |
| Venue | Konohana Brewery (木花之醸造所), Komiya Building B1, 2-5-5 Komagata, Taito-ku, Tokyo |
| Access | 3-minute walk from Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line / Toei Asakusa Line / Tobu Line) Exit A2a; 3-minute walk from Kuramae Station (Toei Oedo Line) Exit A7 |
| Duration | Approximately 60 minutes |
| Price | ¥8,800 per person (tax included) |
| Languages | Japanese / English |
| Reservations | Available via the official website: https://komosake.com/ |
| Minimum Participants | 2 |
About the Founder
Mai Morita, who serves as a SAKE GUIDE for the program, was the inaugural Miss SAKE and has promoted sake culture as an ambassador across Japan and internationally — including events in Monaco, Brazil, the United States, and France, spanning 7 countries and 11 cities. She has also published a sake guidebook for Niigata Prefecture and has been involved in organizing the "AOYAMA SAKE FLEA" held at the United Nations University plaza in Omotesando. More recently, she has been involved in the experiential sake project "sense of SAKE," co-producing sake alongside enthusiasts.
About KomoSake Terrace
KomoSake Terrace is a sake experience brand that combines sake tasting with hands-on craft activities. The program is designed for beginners both in Japan and abroad, offering a single connected flow of learning, tasting, making, and taking home.
The name carries a double meaning: a "terrace" as a pleasant space where light gathers, and the Japanese verb terasu (照らす, "to illuminate"), reflecting a desire to shine a light on sake and the people and regions connected to it.
The goal of the program is to give participants a genuine encounter with sake's appeal, help them find their own favorite, and spark broader curiosity about the breweries and local cultures behind each bottle — starting in Asakusa and reaching outward.
