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If you find yourself in Ginza with an hour to spare and you wouldn't mind trying out different styles of sake from all over Japan, we've got just the places for you. Here are five extremely casual spots where you can sample a few tasting-size glasses of sake and then move on.
Two of them are very good sake-specialty liquor shops, and three of them are prefectural antenna shops that showcase local food and drink products from around Japan. Most of them are standing only, although the fifth and final stop has a few seats. They're all within a few minutes walk from each other, and all of them carry sake by the bottle if you find something you like.
Two of them are very good sake-specialty liquor shops, and three of them are prefectural antenna shops that showcase local food and drink products from around Japan. Most of them are standing only, although the fifth and final stop has a few seats. They're all within a few minutes walk from each other, and all of them carry sake by the bottle if you find something you like.
1.
14 sake plus wine and craft beer at
Kimijimaya
One of the most popular spots on our list, Kimijimaya is a small branch of a major Yokohama liquor shop, and they have an informal tasting corner serving a well-chosen selection of craft sake, wine, shochu and craft beers.
Sake comes in fourteen varieties, ranging from Y300-900 for a tasting-size glass, or you can try your luck with the pre-selected three-part tasting flight. There's a bit of food as well - snacks like takoyaki and smoked duck, averaging around Y500 for a small dish.
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Kochi Prefecture sake at
Marugoto Kochi
Located in the basement of the Kochi Prefecture antenna shop is a small tasting counter serving sake for Y200 for single-shot tastings or Y650 for a three-part tasting plus a very small snack. They usually have 8-10 bottles open to choose from.
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Hiroshima sake only, at
Hiroshima Brand Shop TAU
Upstairs on the second floor of the Hiroshima antenna shop is a fairly large liquor shop selling Hiroshima sake, wine and local beers. There are usually a half dozen or so types of sake to try at the tasting counter, priced at Y300 for a 50ml serving.
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4.
Jazz, sake and canned foods at
Kengyo
About five minutes south of the Hiroshima shop, this liquor-shop tasting bar usually attracts a convivial after-work crowd, and it's notable for the impressive sound system, on which they play nothing but jazz. There's a selection of several types of sake from all over Japan, and an unusual menu of canned foods, since they don't have a kitchen.
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Nagano sake and raw horsemeat at
Ginza Nagano
Our final stop specializes in sake from Nagano Prefecture (as well Nagano-made wines). Unlike the other bars, this one has chairs, although there are only three of them. They also have a decent selection of sake-friendly snacks like miso-marinated cheese and horsemeat sashimi. Sake is Y1000 for a three-glass tasting flight.
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What's nearby
Our Ginza sake-bar tour is a good follow-up if you've been exploring the architecture of nearby Marunouchi or the underground shopping arcades of Tokyo Station.
Our Ginza sake-bar tour is a good follow-up if you've been exploring the architecture of nearby Marunouchi or the underground shopping arcades of Tokyo Station.
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