Is there any trick to getting a reservation? Is it possible to get it at the regular price? Limited edition whisky only available at Yamazaki Distillery Shop

If you are a fan of Yamazaki whiskey, we highly recommend a distillery tour. The Yamazaki Distillery holds tours by reservation only , and if you participate, you can sample rare whiskeys and purchase souvenirs.

In this article, we will introduce the appeal of the Yamazaki Distillery tour, how to apply, and the limited edition whiskeys that can be purchased at the shop.

Souvenirs you can buy at the shop! Can you buy whiskey at the regular price?

After the tour and tasting is over, you can purchase souvenirs at the attached shop. Taking advantage of this rare opportunity, why not buy some whiskey or limited edition goods to make a great memory?
The lineup of souvenirs available in the shop changes regularly depending on stock, but some of the items available include:

Yamazaki Distillery Limited Edition Whisky

The second cup is the same 🤭
Yamazaki Distillery limited edition whiskey!
This will disappear in no time 🥺 pic.twitter.com/DVMQA75jai

— Ryoga (@i_am_ryooga) October 14, 2022

At Yamazaki Distillery, you can purchase limited edition whiskey that is not available on the general market. This is the "Yamazaki Distillery Limited Edition Whisky."
The Yamazaki Distillery limited edition whiskey has a taste that allows you to fully enjoy the flavor of Yamazaki malt . It has a refreshing taste, is easy to drink, and is popular with everyone. It comes in a 300ml bottle, and the label also has a number on it.
At one point, Yamazaki Distillery's limited edition whiskey was out of stock even at the distillery's shop. As of March 2023, it was sold in a set with other goods, which is a so-called "bundled sale." The whiskey itself is priced at about 1,500 yen, but if it is sold as a set, the price will be slightly higher depending on the contents, so be sure to check the details when purchasing.

Single Malt Yamazaki

Single Malt Yamazaki is a non-vintage product of the Yamazaki series. It is a standard Yamazaki bottle and is recommended as an introductory product. The list price is 4,950 yen (tax included) for 700 ml, and it can be purchased at the list price at the distillery's shop, so it is a good target.
However, please note that sales may be suspended or the product may be out of stock depending on the time of year. Also, you may have to apply for a lottery to purchase the product.

Yamazaki Distillery Limited Edition Original Half Rocks Glass

The half rocks glass from Yamazaki Distillery is also easy to hold and makes it easy to smell the aroma!
I'll take one of the few remaining Naked Grouse! #NakedGrouse #TWLC pic.twitter.com/pGQPk2WRIG

— Malt Fan (@daisuki__whisky) January 28, 2024

In addition to whiskey, Yamazaki Distillery also sells limited edition items and various goods. The Yamazaki Distillery limited edition original half rock glass has a distinctive bulging shape and is the perfect size for mixing whiskey with water or soda in a 1:1 ratio .
The glasses have the "YAMAZAKI DISTILLERY" logo on them, and are recommended as souvenirs or mementos. They cost 570 yen each, but they are sold for several thousand yen online, so you can see that they are limited edition items with a premium price.

The appeal of the popular Yamazaki Distillery tour

About Yamazaki Distillery

A friend invited me to go on a tour of the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery factory!
Drinking whiskey in the daytime is nice (*´ω｀*) pic.twitter.com/QalAErFUh7

— Kuronoa @ General Account (@Klonoa1006) March 12, 2023

Yamazaki Distillery is a Suntory malt whisky distillery located at the foot of Mount Tenno, southwest of Kyoto. Its address is Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka Prefecture.
Yamazaki produces a variety of whiskeys, including the famous "Single Malt Yamazaki." The Yamazaki Distillery, which was founded as the oldest malt whiskey in Japan, is known for using famous water and producing a wide variety of raw liquors.
Yamazaki Distillery offers tours of the distillery for tourists and whiskey fans , so if you like whiskey, it's definitely worth a visit.

What you can do on a tour of Yamazaki's distillery

At Yamazaki Distillery, there are two plans available : you can tour the distillery at your own pace , or you can sign up for a "distillery tour." Both require reservations, and the content differs, so be sure to check in advance.

Tour Plan	Contents	Amount and notes
Yamazaki Whisky Museum Tour	Enjoy the exhibits inside the Yamazaki Whisky Museum Shopping at the attached shop Tasting at the tasting counter (fees apply)	Free *No guidance by staff *No tour of manufacturing process
Yamazaki Distillery Tour	Tour of the whiskey production process Tasting of the constituent raw liquors of the single malt whisky "Yamazaki" (not for sale) You can also visit the Yamazaki Whisky Museum, including the shop.	1,000 yen per person (tax included) *Time required: 80 minutes

When touring the Yamazaki Distillery, both plans include a tour of the Yamazaki Whisky Museum. You can also purchase original limited edition whiskeys at the attached shop, so be sure to check it out.
By the way, from March 2023, you can purchase an original gift set of "Yamazaki Distillery Limited Edition Whisky" at the gift shop. Furthermore, if you purchase a paid plan, you can also sample non-saleable whiskey components as part of the distillery tour plan.

Yamazaki Distillery Details

• Address: 5-2-1 Yamazaki, Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka 618-0001
• Business hours: 10:00-16:45 *Last admission 16:30
• Holidays: New Year's holidays, factory holidays

*People under the age of 20 are not allowed to come alone.
* Bringing food and drinks, and bringing pets onto the factory grounds is prohibited.
Check out the Yamazaki Distillery page

Can't make a reservation for a distillery tour?! How to make a reservation

Reservation process

I can't get a reservation for the tour at Suntory Yamazaki Distillery 😭
I try it every week, but it sells out as soon as I get online.
I want to go‼️ #Suntory #Yamazaki Distillery #Whiskey #Tourpic.twitter.com /7ozN3Kdya4

— Yabuchan (@koisanhappy7) May 30, 2022

You can book a tour of the Yamazaki Distillery on Suntory's official website . Select the plan you want to participate in and tap the "Book" button.
If you select the "Reserve" button, you can select a date on the calendar. However, most of the available days are already booked, so you will need to apply on a first-come, first-served basis or wait for cancellations .

Tips for booking a tour of the Yamazaki Distillery, which can be difficult to book

Today's Yamazaki Distillery application is for a one-month reservation.

I waited about 50 minutes and the reservation was completed.

Enjoying the distillery for the first time in a while! pic.twitter.com/3gxk4ldMON

— Benji (@bkkgyosei) June 7, 2022

Beware of temporary distillery closures

I'm happy that Yamazaki Distillery tours have resumed 🥰
A photo from when I went there 3 years ago. pic.twitter.com/XdDIBNs4L8

— Johnny (@johnnie_whisky) April 25, 2022

Learn about the appeal of Yamazaki whiskey through a tour

I'm happy that Yamazaki Distillery tours have resumed 🥰
A photo from when I went there 3 years ago. pic.twitter.com/XdDIBNs4L8

— Johnny (@johnnie_whisky) April 25, 2022

We visited the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery.
The smell of whiskey wafting from the vast storage facility (second photo) was amazing. pic.twitter.com/3D7ympkgCp

— qp (@akarusa) March 12, 2023

<How to get to Yamazaki Distillery>

• From Kyoto Station: 15 minutes on the JR Tokaido Main Line, 10 minutes on foot from JR Yamazaki Station
• From Osaka Station: 26 minutes on the JR Tokaido Main Line, 10 minutes on foot from JR Yamazaki Station
• From Umeda Station: 30 minutes on the Hankyu Kyoto Main Line, then 10 minutes on foot from Oyamazaki Station

*The road from the station is narrow, so be careful not to step onto the road. When you arrive at the distillery, you can first learn about the history of Yamazaki and Suntory on the first floor of the Yamazaki Whisky Museum . Through materials, you can learn about the commitment of Suntory's founder, Shinjiro Torii, and the differences in Yamazaki due to aging.
Those who sign up for the paid tour can then move to the second floor to see the manufacturing process. After receiving an explanation of the ingredients, you can actually experience the brewing, fermentation, distillation, and storage processes .

A tour of the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery and a fun tasting session. We were also treated to the white oak and wine barrels that make up the single malt whiskey Yamazaki.pic.twitter.com/401hFMBZMo

— Miu Miu (@miumiu1216) December 10, 2022

Whisky that you can sample for a fee! Yamazaki 25 Year Old is only 3,700 yen!?

After the tour, you can enjoy more whiskey at the paid tasting counter. This tasting counter has an additional fee, but even those who take the free tour can participate .
At Yamazaki Distillery, you can order rare whiskeys that are hard to find on the market, with a fee for tasting. With a lineup of about 30 types , it is a space that whiskey lovers can feel happy about. They also carry brands other than Yamazaki and whiskeys other than Japanese whiskey, so you can compare whiskeys.
However, there is a limit of three samples allowed here, each of which is 15ml, so think carefully about which whiskey to order.
Among the whiskeys available to order at the tasting counter at Yamazaki Distillery, the most popular are listed below.

Yamazaki 12 years

Yamazaki 12 Year is an aged Yamazaki whiskey made by vatting only malt whiskeys that are aged 12 years or more. The malt whiskeys aged in white oak barrels give it a sweet vanilla-like aroma and ripe fruit aroma .
The elegant and delicate nuances will captivate anyone who drinks it. The list price for a 700ml bottle is 11,000 yen (tax included), but the retail price will be over 20,000 yen.

Yamazaki 18 years

Yamazaki 18 uses malt aged for over 18 years. It is mainly made from sherry cask aged malt , and you can enjoy a full-bodied, rich flavor and aroma. It has nuances like dried fruit and fragrant chocolate.
Yamazaki 18 Year Old costs 35,200 yen (tax included) for a 700ml bottle at the regular price, but it is very rare to be able to buy it at that price. It is traded at a price of over 100,000 yen on the market, so being able to enjoy tasting it is a big attraction.

Yamazaki 25 years

Yamazaki 25 Year Old is an extremely rare malt whiskey, released in only a few thousand bottles per year. In addition to the rare Mizunara casks , the whiskey is also aged in Spanish oak and American oak in the perfect balance.
The regular price of a 700ml bottle is 176,000 yen (tax included), but prices have risen sharply and are now close to 2 million yen per bottle. There are reports of people being able to sample a 15ml bottle for 3,700 yen , so you can enjoy it at a reasonable price.

Yamazaki Distillery New Pot

I'm drinking new pot (freshly distilled uncasked raw liquor) at the paid tasting corner of Yamazaki Distillery. It has an alcohol content of 58%, a slightly peculiar smell, and is sweet but hard to drink! (Left: It's colorless and transparent because it's not casked) pic.twitter.com/EDbplJD77s

— Asami (@a_chang_0322) February 2, 2015

New pot refers to freshly made malt whiskey before it is aged in a barrel. It looks colorless and transparent, and you can tell the difference from aged whiskey.
Yamazaki Distillery New Pot is a limited edition product only available at the distillery, and allows you to experience the basic taste and aroma of Yamazaki. The alcohol content is high at 58%, and it is stronger than regular whiskey, so taste preferences vary, but if you sample it together with other Yamazakis, you will be able to enjoy the depth of aging and the charm of the malt even more .

Hakushu 25 years

At Yamazaki Distillery you can not only drink Yamazaki, but also Hakushu and Chita, also made by Suntory, as well as various other brands of Suntory whiskey .
Hakushu 25 Year Old is a malt whiskey produced at the Hakushu Distillery, and has a very different character from Yamazaki. It is a highly aromatic whiskey with smoky and peaty nuances , and the creamy, woody taste that comes from 25 years of aging is also appealing.

Hibiki 30 Years

Hibiki is said to be the pinnacle of blended whiskey. It is made from a blend of whiskeys over 30 years old selected from Suntory's diverse range of raw spirits, and has a graceful floral aroma and a long aftertaste.
Of course, Yamazaki malt is used in the whiskey, so you can enjoy the sweetness that comes from the malt . It will be interesting to experience how it tastes different from Yamazaki single malt.

Yamazaki Distillery's rare whiskeys are also popular for purchase appraisals and sales

The limited edition whiskeys and single malt Yamazaki that can be purchased at the Yamazaki Distillery shop are also popular in the alcohol buying market. This is because Yamazaki is highly rated for its taste and is recognized not only in Japan but also around the world. As it is a brand that has been in short supply for many years, Yamazaki whiskey is highly valued .
Linksus also accepts consultations regarding the purchase and appraisal of Yamazaki Distillery whiskey. If you have a rare Yamazaki whiskey and would like to have it appraised, please contact Linksus.
Buy whiskey here

summary

The tour of the Yamazaki Distillery is very popular and often fully booked, but it's worth a visit as you can drink whiskey at a great price. You can also purchase limited edition whiskeys and merchandise at the distillery shop.
It's also recommended as part of your sightseeing trip to Osaka and Kyoto, so be sure to check it out. Yamazaki Distillery generally accepts reservations up to two months in advance . Check the next reservation start date and start time and aim to apply as soon as it starts. Please make sure you have an internet connection ready so that you can access it by 10:00 on the reservation start date .
However, even if you successfully access the reservation page, you will usually be forced to wait on a waiting screen. Please note that if you leave the waiting screen for more than 10 minutes, your access will be invalidated .

Beware of temporary distillery closures

It seems that factory tours at Yamazaki Distillery will be suspended for a while from May.
I was able to make a reservation for March by waiting from 10am on the opening day, so I have to go. pic.twitter.com/YRkcrPjRhn

— Mimitabi (@kkkmmm1717) February 19, 2023

It seems that factory tours at Yamazaki Distillery will be suspended for a while from May.
I was able to make a reservation for March by waiting from 10am on the opening day, so I have to go. pic.twitter.com/YRkcrPjRhn

— Mimitabi (@kkkmmm1717) February 19, 2023

Learn about the appeal of Yamazaki whiskey through a tour

I'm happy that Yamazaki Distillery tours have resumed 🥰
A photo from when I went there 3 years ago. pic.twitter.com/XdDIBNs4L8

— Johnny (@johnnie_whisky) April 25, 2022

We visited the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery.
The smell of whiskey wafting from the vast storage facility (second photo) was amazing. pic.twitter.com/3D7ympkgCp

— qp (@akarusa) March 12, 2023

<How to get to Yamazaki Distillery>

• From Kyoto Station: 15 minutes on the JR Tokaido Main Line, 10 minutes on foot from JR Yamazaki Station
• From Osaka Station: 26 minutes on the JR Tokaido Main Line, 10 minutes on foot from JR Yamazaki Station
• From Umeda Station: 30 minutes on the Hankyu Kyoto Main Line, then 10 minutes on foot from Oyamazaki Station

*The road from the station is narrow, so be careful not to step onto the road. When you arrive at the distillery, you can first learn about the history of Yamazaki and Suntory on the first floor of the Yamazaki Whisky Museum . Through materials, you can learn about the commitment of Suntory's founder, Shinjiro Torii, and the differences in Yamazaki due to aging.
Those who sign up for the paid tour can then move to the second floor to see the manufacturing process. After receiving an explanation of the ingredients, you can actually experience the brewing, fermentation, distillation, and storage processes .

A tour of the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery and a fun tasting session. We were also treated to the white oak and wine barrels that make up the single malt whiskey Yamazaki.pic.twitter.com/401hFMBZMo

— Miu Miu (@miumiu1216) December 10, 2022

Whisky that you can sample for a fee! Yamazaki 25 Year Old is only 3,700 yen!?

After the tour, you can enjoy more whiskey at the paid tasting counter. This tasting counter has an additional fee, but even those who take the free tour can participate .
At Yamazaki Distillery, you can order rare whiskeys that are hard to find on the market, with a fee for tasting. With a lineup of about 30 types , it is a space that whiskey lovers can feel happy in. They also handle brands other than Yamazaki and whiskeys other than Japanese whiskey, so you can compare whiskeys.
However, there is a limit of three samples allowed here, each of which is 15ml, so think carefully about which whiskey to order.
Among the whiskeys available to order at the tasting counter at Yamazaki Distillery, the most popular are listed below.

Yamazaki 12 years

Yamazaki 12 Year is an aged Yamazaki whiskey made by vatting only malt whiskeys that are aged 12 years or more. The malt whiskeys aged in white oak barrels give it a sweet vanilla-like aroma and ripe fruit aroma .
The elegant and delicate nuances will captivate anyone who drinks it. The list price for a 700ml bottle is 11,000 yen (tax included), but the retail price will be over 20,000 yen.

Yamazaki 18 years

Yamazaki 18 uses malt aged for over 18 years. It is mainly made from sherry cask aged malt , and you can enjoy a full-bodied, rich flavor and aroma. It has nuances like dried fruit and fragrant chocolate.
Yamazaki 18 Year Old costs 35,200 yen (tax included) for a 700ml bottle at the regular price, but it is very rare to be able to buy it at that price. It is traded at a price of over 100,000 yen on the market, so being able to enjoy tasting it is a big attraction.

Yamazaki 25 years

Yamazaki 25 Year Old is an extremely rare malt whiskey, released in only a few thousand bottles per year. In addition to the rare Mizunara casks , the whiskey is also aged in Spanish oak and American oak in the perfect balance.
The regular price of a 700ml bottle is 176,000 yen (tax included), but prices have risen sharply and are now close to 2 million yen per bottle. There are reports of people being able to sample a 15ml bottle for 3,700 yen , so you can enjoy it at a reasonable price.

Yamazaki Distillery New Pot

I'm drinking new pot (freshly distilled uncasked raw liquor) at the paid tasting corner of Yamazaki Distillery. It has an alcohol content of 58%, a slightly peculiar smell, and is sweet but hard to drink! (Left: It's colorless and transparent because it's not casked) pic.twitter.com/EDbplJD77s

— Asami (@a_chang_0322) February 2, 2015

Hakushu 25 years

At Yamazaki Distillery you can not only drink Yamazaki, but also Hakushu and Chita, also made by Suntory, as well as various other brands of Suntory whiskey .
Hakushu 25 Year Old is a malt whiskey produced at the Hakushu Distillery, and has a very different character from Yamazaki. It is a highly aromatic whiskey with smoky and peaty nuances , and the creamy, woody taste that comes from 25 years of aging is also appealing.

Hibiki 30 Years

Hibiki is said to be the pinnacle of blended whiskey. It is made from a blend of whiskeys over 30 years old selected from Suntory's diverse range of raw spirits, and has a graceful floral aroma and a long aftertaste.
Of course, Yamazaki malt is used in the whiskey, so you can enjoy the sweetness that comes from the malt . It will be interesting to experience how it tastes different from Yamazaki single malt.

Yamazaki Distillery's rare whiskeys are also popular for purchase appraisals and sales

The limited edition whiskeys and single malt Yamazaki that can be purchased at the Yamazaki Distillery shop are also popular in the alcohol buying market. This is because Yamazaki is highly rated for its taste and is recognized not only in Japan but also around the world. As it is a brand that has been in short supply for many years, Yamazaki whiskey is highly valued .
Linksus also accepts consultations regarding the purchase and appraisal of Yamazaki Distillery whiskey. If you have a rare Yamazaki whiskey and would like to have it appraised, please contact Linksus.
Buy whiskey here

summary

The tour of the Yamazaki Distillery is very popular and often fully booked, but it's worth a visit as you can drink whiskey at a great price. You can also purchase limited edition whiskeys and merchandise at the distillery shop.
It's also recommended as part of your sightseeing trip to Osaka and Kyoto, so be sure to check it out.