Japan has made its mark on drinks of all varieties, from original beverages like sake to international imports like whisky. You can enjoy all of them to the full in the Tokyo area, the city with arguably the most diverse drinking scene in the world and a paradise for connoisseurs of fine alcohol.
t Traditional sake serving, pouring from a tokkuri flask into an o-choko cup
Sake is Japan’s traditional alcohol, and any trip to Tokyo should include a tasting session. A good place to start is Kuri (www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~kurisake), a standing bar chain with an excellent sake selection. Otherwise go on a shopping spree at Kimijimaya Ginza (1-Chome-2-1, Ginza, Chuo), which stocks 300 types of sake and has its own tasting bar.
Japan’s wine industry is growing rapidly in both size and international acclaim – all the more reason to visit Tokyo’s neighbor, Yamanashi Prefecture, where around 30 per cent of Japanese wine is produced. To sample lots of local labels, Budo no Oka offers tastings of over 150 varieties from their cellar, amid Yamanashi’s beautiful rural scenery.
When commercial whisky production began in Japan in 1924, nobody would have guessed that the nation would rise to the top of whisky world. Today the likes of Suntory and Nikka are on equal footing with the best Scottish and Irish labels, and frequently win awards at prestigious competitions. The best way to experience Japan’s amazing whisky is visiting the Suntory Hakushu Distillery in Yamanashi Prefecture. Here you can choose a free tour of the museum and facilities, or a guided tour (for a fee) where you can watch the production process and taste their world-famous Hakushu Single Malt Whisky.
Tokyo’s craft beer scene is enjoying a significant boom, with lots of enterprising brewers not afraid of experimenting with flavors and ingredients. Start with a trip to Popeye (2 Chome-18-7 Ryogoku, Sumida): with 70 beers on tap, this specialist haunt has by far the largest range of Japanese beers in the world. Then visit Nakameguro Taproom (www.bairdbeer.com/taprooms/nakameguro) whose lineup is totally comprised of fine drinks by Baird Brewing, one of the best craft breweries in Japan.
DISCOVER Tokyo Your Way
The Peak Bar
⌂ Park Hyatt Tokyo 41F, 3-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku
Admire Shinjuku’s skyscrapers from this high perch in the Park Hyatt Hotel.
TwentyEight
⌂ Conrad Tokyo 28F, 1-9-1 Higashi-Shinbashi, Minato
The bar’s huge windows offer unbeatable views over the Hama-rikyu Gardens, the Rainbow Bridge, and Tokyo Bay.
The Lobby Lounge and Bar
⌂ Tokyo Midtown 45F 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato
This stylish bar on the 45th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel has a chic fusion of Japanese and Western decor.
52.15.143.162