Faced with shrinking revenues in the domestic beverage market, a number of Japanese brewers and distillers have been seeking to boost their brands by giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at their operations.

Guided brewery and distillery tours have gained popularity particularly among tourists from abroad, many of whom have a strong interest in Japanese food and drink.

At the end of February, a group of 25 people aged from their 20s to 60s, including three foreign visitors, took part in a free guided tour organized by Suntory Liquors Ltd.'s Yamazaki Distillery in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, in western Japan.