Best Spots to Drink and Buy Sake in Tokyo

Note: This article contains hyperlinks to products on Amazon and Amazon Japan. As part of the Amazon Associate program, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Today we’re looking to introduce you to some of ours and the internet’s favorite places to either enjoy or purchase sake in Tokyo. We’ll be littering in some links to brands you can find on Amazon, but rest assured that the selections at these spots far outmatch a simple Amazon search. Without further ado, let’s jump in!

Store/Tasting — Hasegawa Saketen

We might as well start with the famed Hasegawa Saketen. They have several locations all around Tokyo, including in Tokyo Station and Skytree, but their most bandied about is in Nihonbashi where they have a wide selection of sake to choose from and a fashionable wooden bar to do tastings before you decide what to purchase.

Restaurant — Nihonshu Genka Sakagura

Nihonshu Genka Sakagura is a chain of izakaya (sit-down restaurants to drink at) that boasts a large selection of delicious, reputable sake that are served in 100-milliliter bottles for an incredibly cheap price. These bottles can be under 300 yen in many cases, and each one can be easily split between three or four people to taste. If you want to try a wide variety of sake at a sit-down place, this is the one. We recommend their truffle fries as well!

Store — Imadeya

Nestled in the basement corner of Ginza Six, this is a sake lover’s paradise of unpasteurized, tasty goodness. They have both staples, like Kaze no Mori, and a large number of bottles that are difficult to find elsewhere. Plus, the staff are incredibly helpful!

Not Restaurant — Kurand Sake Market

This is a company that has dozens of sake and fruit liquors under their brand, and you can try them all and more at one of their physical locations in Shinjuku or Akihabara. They have a few massive fridges filled with bottles from their brand and others, and you pay for an all-you-can-drink timeslot ranging from thirty minutes to five hours. However, it’s closer to a cafeteria setup than a restaurant, so be sure to bring your own food if you want to snack while drinking! If you’re totally new to sake, this is a great way to experience a bunch of different styles.

Store — The Camera Stores

Specifically, Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera both have decent selections of sake. If you’re making a trip to one of them, be sure to drop by their alcohol sections!

Store — Department Stores and the Little Guys

Consider this an honorable mention. You can pick up some excellent bottles from department stores, usually in their basement levels, and you can find many more at smaller, independent shops littered around Tokyo. At the department stores, you’ll be sure to find larger brands like Dassai and Kokuryuu.