Originally posted July 14, 2021
Reposted April 27, 2022
When in Japan, you must drink the local drinks! Here are some of the best places to taste the local sake and shochu:
Located in the Shimbashi district, this small museum dedicated to sake is the best starting point for non-Japanese speakers to learn and sample Japanese sake.
Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center
1-6-15 Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku
+81-3-3519-2091
Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm
Located in the Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, Sumiyoshi Shuhan is a sake bar and restaurant hailing from Kyushu, home of some of the country’s best shochu. Here you can shop for bottles of sake and shochu as well as taste samples and have a small bite while drinking.
Sumiyoshi Shuhan
B1F, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya
1-1-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku
+81-3-6205-4172
11am to 10pm Weekdays
11am to 9pm Weekends & Holidays
Located on one end of Ginza before reaching Tokyo Station, Ginza Kimijimaya is a liquor store where you can also sample and taste sake, shochu, wine, and craft beer. Drinks can be served alongside small snacks at the informal standing bar.
Ginza Kimijimaya
1F, Koya Building
1-2-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku
+81-3-5159-6880
Monday to Friday, 10:30am to 9pm
Saturday, 10:30am to 8pm
Sunday, 10:30am to 7pm
If you are looking for a classy place to drink that’s not necessarily a bar, head to the basement levels of Ginza Six where you can sip on premium sake and wine recommended by the shop’s sommeliers.
Imadeya Ginza
B2F Ginza Six
6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku
+81-3-6264-5537
Daily, 10:30am to 8pm
A long-standing sake store in Japan, Hasegawa Saketen first opened in 1960 featuring the country’s artisan sake. Today there are 7 locations around Tokyo where you can sample sake and buy bottles to take home.
Hasegawa Saketen
1-18-12 Kameido, Koto-ku
+81-3-5875-0404
Daily, 11am to 7pm
2-3-3 Azabujuban, Minato-ku
+81-3-5439-9498
Daily, 12pm to 7pm
B1F, GranSta Tokyo Station
1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku
+81-3-6420-3409
Daily, 8am to 9pm
1F, Tokyo Skytree Town
1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku
+81-3-5610-2770
Daily, 10am to 9pm
B1F, Palace Hotel Tokyo
1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku
+81-3-5220-2828
Daily, 11am to 7pm
2-1-1 Nihonbashi Hon-cho, Chuo-ku
+81-3-6262-3111
Daily, 11am to 7pm
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