Perched in the verdant hills of Mt Tennozan, the birthplace of one of Japan’s most revered whiskies is home to the Yamazaki Whisky Museum, which explores the history of whisky-making in the country. The museum and its well-stocked shop are free to enter, but for a deep dive, book a tour (around 80 minutes, ¥3,000) to see the entire process from start to finish – tasting included. Tours are conducted in Japanese, but English-language audio guides are available. Alternatively, you can opt to just appreciate the whisky itself at the tasting counter (separate fees apply).
Both the tour and tasting experience are extremely popular, so we recommend booking well in advance. The museum is located a 15-minute walk from Yamazaki Station, which in turn is a 30-minute train ride from Osaka Station.