Nestled in the heart of Gunma Prefecture, Takasaki is a city that seamlessly blends rich cultural traditions with modern urban life. It is known above all for its iconic Daruma dolls, but also attracts many visitors with its vibrant festivals, local cuisine and award-winning sake.

Takasaki offers a unique and immersive experience for travelers seeking a taste of authentic Japanese culture. So here’s a brief guide to this charming city, from its convenient access to Tokyo to its distinct local offerings.

Getting to Takasaki

Takasaki is conveniently located, making it easily accessible from Tokyo. The fastest way to reach Takasaki from Tokyo is by taking the JR Joetsu Shinkansen, with a travel time of approximately 50 minutes. The city is also well-connected by local trains (which take about 2 hours into Tokyo at less than half the price in case you like to save some money), buses, and highways, providing multiple options for a hassle-free journey.

Takasaki’s Local Festivals

Takasaki hosts a variety of lively festivals and events throughout the year, each offering a glimpse into the city’s cultural tapestry. One of the most celebrated events is the “Takasaki Daruma Doll Festival” held annually in January. 

The festival pays homage to the Daruma, a traditional Japanese doll symbolizing good luck and perseverance. Visitors can witness colorful processions and traditional performances. You can also expect food stalls and some festival activities like painting your own Daruma doll for good fortune. Which makes the perfect souvenir to take home.

The Famous Daruma Dolls

As already mentioned Takasaki is renowned as the birthplace of the Daruma doll, and these iconic round figures can be found throughout the city. Daruma dolls are considered a symbol of determination and goal-setting in Japanese culture. Visitors can explore local shops and workshops to learn about the art of making Daruma dolls and purchase these charming talismans as souvenirs or for personal inspiration.

If you do end up buying one, it is customary to draw one of the Daruma’s eyes and make a wish, when it comes true you then paint the second eye as well.

It is also worth visiting the local temple, the Shorinzan Daruma-ji Temple, which is dedicated to the Daruma. You will find plenty of Daruma dolls, among a small museum and of course the chance to buy Daruma-themed lucky charmes and more. When buying one, keep in mind the different colors do have special meanings, like happiness for red or money and fortune for yellow.

Also good to know, as part of the Daruma festival each year, they temple is burning all the dolls, so if you happen to visit just afterwards, the place will be rather empty.

Local Food and Drink in Takasaki

No visit to Takasaki is complete without savoring the local treat and in Takasaki there are many. One specialty is the “Takasaki Gyoza” (dumplings). These pan-fried dumplings boast a perfect balance of crispy and juicy textures, and they are a popular snack among locals and visitors alike.

For those seeking a more traditional dining experience, explore the local izakayas (Japanese pubs) and indulge in Gunma Prefecture’s famous “Joshu Wagyu” beef. Pair your meal with a glass of locally brewed sake, such as “Osakazuki” from Makino Brewery to enhance your gastronomic adventure with authentic flavors.

And as a fun fact, the town is also known for its love of pasta. So much so that they do have their own Pasta festival called the King of Pasta (!) and the local sake brewery does make sake that pairs particularly well with their beloved Italian dish. Just look out for the label sporting a bowl of pasta making it easy to find even if you do not speak or read Japanese.

Where to Stay in Takasaki?

There are a number of great value hotels in Takasaki and they can be easily booked through booking platforms like booking.com. The Dormy Inn is a reliable option, that offers great value for money and also features a stone bath onsen area for guests to use.

Or why not stay at the high-end Hotel Grand View, for a little more luxury? The hotel features beautiful rooms, some with massage chairs, a rooftop onsen with sauna, and a stonebath (on the women’s side only). Their newly opened Mikumano restaurant offers fantastic food prepared with local ingredients such as “Joshu Wagyu” beef and vegetables from Gunma prefecture. The restaurant also offers an “Osakazuki Premium Dinner course”, which they perfectly pair with the Osakazuki Sake from Makino Sake Brewery. You will get to try delicious Wagyu sushi, beautifully presented on a Gunma-shaped plate, as well as a fiery sukiyaki dish and dessert made with the local Osakazuki Sake 

Both are great hotels, so if you decide to make it a weekend getaway instead of a short day trip you can be assured to have a relaxing night.

Conclusion

Takasaki, with its accessible location, vibrant festivals, iconic Daruma dolls, and delicious cuisine (both Japanese and Italian), offers a great escape from the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. 

Whether you’re drawn to the city’s cultural heritage, and gastronomic delights, or simply seeking a serene getaway to learn more about local Japanese culture, Takasaki invites you to explore its unique blend of tradition and modernity. 

So, why not hop on a train from Tokyo and embark on a journey to discover the charm of Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture?

The post Exploring Takasaki: A Vibrant Gem in Gunma Prefecture appeared first on Obsessed with Japan.

The concept is easy, four breweries all located in neighboring Tochigi, within easy reach of Tokyo, have decided to open their doors to give you a behind-the-scenes look into Japanese sake. They have joined forces to make it easy for people to learn more about this traditional Japanese beverage, composed of small multi-lingual self-guided tours using modern technology, and of course and possibly most importantly are eager to showcase their sake!

Each of them makes a great day trip from Tokyo and although easily accessible, it is worth acknowledging that they are spread over 3 locations, Mashiko, Nasukarasuma and Nikko. So if you were thinking of squeezing them all into a single day, you may have to reconsider your plan, as that would not work, especially if you were to use public transport. However fret not, each location offers plenty of other things to do, rounding off that perfect day trip from Tokyo.

But now let’s look at the sake breweries that Sake Voyage has lined up, find out what they offer and what else is there in the area to make the most out of your day!

Tonoike Brewery 

The first brewery in Sake Voyage’s portfolio is “Tonoike Sake Brewery”. Founded in 1937, the Brewery is located in Mashiko, a town famous for its pottery. Inside its historic Edo-era complex, Tonoike Brewery is featuring a small sake museum, shop, and of course a tasting room, where you can try some of their delicious sake along with other things.

What makes Tonoike Brewery so special is its connection to the community, being located in a pottery town, they have also integrated this part into their tastings, as you can choose from one of their many ceramic cups. Tasting sets start at 500yen and you could comfortably order two of them, as each set offers a different variation of sake. Get their best sellers and add one of their premium sake to it, then sit back and enjoy the experience.

Aside from winning the fourth-place in the World Sake Brewery Rankings, they are also the makers of well-known brand “Bo:”, pronounced the french way “beaux” meaning beautiful. Furthermore, you may also have seen their award-winning sake abroad, as Tonoike Brewery exports to 13 countries. So if you are living in Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Malaysia in Asia, or the UK, Italy, Austria, France, the US, Canada, and Australia you are in luck and will be able to buy their sake in your home country too.

And before you leave, and this is especially for anyone having a sweet tooth, make sure to try either the sake soft ice or the small sake cakes, and don’t forget to browse through Tonoike’s well-stocked shop, where aside from sake you will also find rice shochu, doburoku, small snack, and even cosmetics made from sake.

Other Things to do in Mashiko

Aside from the Brewery, make sure to browse the many pottery stores, head to the Mashiko Ceramics Museum and try to make your own pottery in one of the studios for a small fee. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants to stop by.

If you are lucky to be here in spring or autumn, you will get to experience the pottery fairs. Mashiko’s annual main events and a highlight in every potter’s calendar.

Dating back to 1966 there are two festivals held every year. One of them in spring during Japan’s Golden Week and the second one in fall around November 3rd (last week of October/1st week of November, check here for more info). Expect around 50 shops and about 550 tents to be especially set up for the festival selling pottery and of course food stalls and other festivities.

Good to Know

For info and to book the tour: http://nearbytokyo.com/tonoike-sake-brewery/

Access: Located about 2 hours north of Tokyo, get on the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen and get off in Utsunomiya to change for the local bus leaving on platform 14. This will cost you about 5800Yen, unless you have a JR Pass, in that case, you would only need to pay 1200 yen for the bus.

Address: 333番地1 Hanawa, Mashiko, Haga District, Tochigi 321-4216

Shimazaki Brewery

Another sake maker in their portfolio is Shimazaki Sake Brewery. Established in 1849, they boast a long history of sake brewing and are well-known beyond their city for their sake being stored in caves, something that has earned them the nickname “Cave Brewery”.

Another thing they are well known for is their aged sake, with some bottles in their storage being 50 years old. This project of “long-term” aging sake goes back to 1970 when Shimazaki Brewery decided to utilize the nearby cave as a storehouse. They have since then been producing aged Daiginjo without missing a single year.

One reason they do this is the consistent temperature inside the cave, which makes it a perfect storage facility. The caves have even proven to be a safe place, as although earthquakes have hit the area, no damage has been done to the sake.

Visitors can walk freely through the caves, equipped with tablets featuring multilingual explanations ready to be pulled up when reaching certain spots inside the cave. A great way to explore this unique storage environment in your own time.

One of the highlights on the tour is certainly the “Owners Bottles”, an area where bottles are stored that have been prepurchased at or for a special occasion. For example, people buy a bottle of sake when their baby is born and have it stored here for 18 years, a special present for their child when it comes of age. (Although they are legally not allowed to drink it for another two years, as the legal drinking age in Japan is 20 years old…)

The cave also features a small shop and a soon-to-be-ready bar (build at the time of writing this). However, their sake tasting room is not at the cave and in order to do so you would have to make your way back to their main shop in town.

Here you get to sample their famous aged sake “Uroko” along with other sake from their range. This is certainly a great opportunity to get a look into the world of aged sake, as you get to try sake at different maturity (1, 3, and 5 years) and get to experience the change it undergoes not just in color but certainly also in taste.

Other Things to do in Nasukarasuyama

Once you arrive in Nasukarasuma and before heading to the brewery, make sure to try some of the local soba and check out the “Yamaage Kaikan”, a museum dedicated to the biggest festival in town. Said to be celebrated for the past 450 years, it is held each year on the 4th Saturday in July and is the highlight for the area.

Expect to experience kabuki dances performed on stages carried around all over town. It is truly an incredible spectacle with its unique festival floats, where mountains and beautiful backdrops are being erected as they are pulled through the town. And last but not least, the Ryumon waterfall, a stunning natural place not to be missed. Relax on the visitor centers terrace overlooking the waterfall or go for a little walk to get up and close.

Good to Know

For info and to book the tour: https://nearbytokyo.com/shimazaki-sake-brewery/

Access: Located about 2 hours north of Tokyo, get on the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen and get off in Utsunomiya to change for the Karasuyama line. Get off at Taki station to visit the caves and the Ryumon falls or at Karasuyama station to head straight to the brewery for a tasting. This will cost you about 5300Yen, unless you have a JR Pass, in that case, you would only need to pay 600 yen for the bus.

Address: 1 Chome-11-18 Central, Nasukarasuyama, Tochigi 321-0621

Watanabesahei Brewery

Located just one station before the famous Nikko mountains and its UNESCO World Heritage temples and shrines is Watanabesahei Sake Brewery. It is a traditional small brewery and has been family-run since 1842 making Japanese sake along with rice shochu. Founded just at the end of the Edo period the family is now the 7th generation and has been making sake for more than 180 years.

As you walk through the brewery you will see much of this history, as it showcases how sake is made without much of the modern big scale machinery used these days. For its sake production, the brewery focuses on Junmai sake (about 90% of their production), this means no distilled alcohol is added to the sake during the process.

There are two different tours offered at Watanabesahei, the “regular” and the “special”. They have different price points, with the regular tour fee being 1000yen, which is a self-guided tour, using smart technology to help you understand the different steps of sake making in more detail. Various locations within the brewery feature a QR code that can be scanned and will give you all the information and of course, a sake tasting is included.

The special tour comes in at 5000yen and aside from the sake tasting will give you more access around the brewery. You will be guided by the brewery staff and have permission to see places that are normally off-limits to the public, such as going above the fermentation tanks and seeing the sake bubble away.

After enjoying the tour, make yourself comfortable in their cozy shop/tasting room and be prepared to try some of their amazing sake. Watanabesahei’s sake is incredibly easy to drink and having a conversation with Watanabe-san really adds to the experience. Having lived in Australia, his English is perfect and makes this a great opportunity to ask all those sake-related questions you always wanted to get an answer to.

Other Things to do in Nikko

Nikko by itself would make a fabulous day trip from Tokyo and is quite a popular location, especially on weekends. Because of that, it can get rather busy, so if you do decide to add this to your brewery visits better be prepared to get there early.

Make sure to get a good look at Shinkyo Bridge on the way to the Nikko National Park in which the majority of shrines and temples are located. If you had to decide on just one place, you should certainly make it the Toshogu shrine, with its lavish decorations it is a real highlight. It is stunning to look at in any season and even on a rainy day, actually, it can be especially beautiful when it rains, as it adds to the mysterious atmosphere, and there will be fewer people.

To be honest, you could easily spend an entire day just here, so make sure to keep enough time for the brewery visit. Another option would be to stay overnight to make the most of both things.

Good to Know

For info and to book the tour: https://nearbytokyo.com/watanabesahei-sake-brewery/

Access: Located just short of 2 hours north of Tokyo, get on the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen and get off in Utsunomiya to change for the Nikko line. Get off at Imaichi station. This will cost you about 5300Yen, unless you have a JR Pass, in that case, you would only need to pay 600 yen for the train. If you wanted to check out Nikko, you would only have to ride one more stop, so this really is extremely close. You can also check out the Nikko Free pass, a pass including the train, bus and discounts on other attractions, more info to it here.

Address: 450 Imaichi, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1261

Katayama Brewery

Katayama Brewery is the second brewery in the Sake Voyage catalog that is located in Nikko and is only a short walk from Watanabesahei Brewery. This means you could possibly visit both breweries on the same day!

Similar to Watanabesahei Brewery, it is also quite small and incredibly charming. The Katayama family is now the seventh generation brewing sake here, ever since they moved in 1879 from Niigata in search of great water to make their sake.

Walking through the brewery feels like stepping back in time, as every corner seems to reveal a bit of history and anecdotes only known to the people who work here. With the sake is made the traditional way, handmade and with the utmost care.

Another interesting fact, they don’t start brewing until December, compared to most breweries who would start brewing in October. This is because of the temperature, as October would still be a bit too warm.

Thes staff is very welcoming, however, English is a bit of a challenge, nevertheless, they do make a huge effort trying to answer as much as they can. Of course, they also do have QR codes placed around the brewery, which makes it easy to get more information about certain aspects of the brewery and the different steps of sake making.

What is special about Katayama Brewery is that they are focused on making genshu sake, which is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and undiluted sake. They also use unusual sake bottles featuring “Kilner Clip” tops instead of the traditional lids.

As you look around the shop, you will likely notice a couple of rugby jerseys on the wall and if you peek deeper into the fridges find a black sake bottle decorated with a silver fern, the all blacks sake. Rumour has it there are not many bottles left, so make sure you get one if you can. As a matter of fact, if you do like their sake, make sure to take a bottle home with you, as most of their products can only be purchased here.

Other Things to do in Nikko

Nikko by itself would make a fabulous day trip from Tokyo and in fact, is quite a popular location especially on weekends. Because of that, it can get rather busy, so if you do decide to add this to your brewery visits better be prepared to get there early.

Make sure to get a good look at Shinkyo Bridge on the way to the Nikko National Park in which the majority of shrines and temples are located. If you had to decide on just one place, you should certainly make it the Toshogu shrine, with its lavish decorations it is a real highlight. It is stunning to look at in any season and even on a rainy day, actually, it can be especially beautiful when it rains, as it adds to the mysterious atmosphere, and there will be fewer people.

To be honest, you could easily spend an entire day just here, so make sure to keep enough time for the brewery visit. Another option would be to stay overnight to make the most of both things.

Good to Know

For info and to book the tour: https://nearbytokyo.com/katayama-sake-brewery/

Access: Located just short of 2 hours north of Tokyo, get on the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen and get off in Utsunomiya to change for the Nikko line. Get off at Imaichi station. This will cost you about 5300Yen, unless you have a JR Pass, in that case, you would only need to pay 600 yen for the train. If you wanted to check out Nikko, you would only have to ride one more stop, so this really is extremely close. You can also check out the Nikko Free pass, a pass including the train, bus and discounts on other attractions, more info to it here.

Address: 146-2 Segawa, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1263

Ready for Your Sake Voyage?

All of these sake breweries are well worth a visit and are a unique way not just to learn more about Japanese sake, but Japanese culture, as well as see some areas of Japan you may otherwise not visit. So if you are curious and want to know more, then make sure to visit Sake Voyage’s official homepage for more info and how to book any of these tours!

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This weekend I had the chance to join a Luxury Tokyo Sake, Cocktail, Whisky and Pairing Tour in Tokyo, with our friends from Arigatou Japan and really felt that VIP treatment!

But don’t worry, no tuxedos or fancy gowns are needed, though I am sure nobody would mind. Just make sure you come on time and thirsty, as this is the perfect Tour if you want to experience some of the best drinks in town.

What did we get on this Luxury Cocktail tour in Tokyo?

From Craft Beers to Sake to fancy Japanese Cocktails we had it all. And I loved how we changed from local worker-style Izakaya in Shimbashi effortlessly to a very stylish Sake bar in Ginza.

1st stop – Local Craft Beers

Now Shimbashi, best known for where countless Salarymen drink day by day after work, was the perfect start.

With Craft beers from all over Japan, many I have not seen on a menu before makes this a great Iyakaya for any Beer lovers. This is definitely a place you will not get to see unless you know a local. And the variety of Beers was great, with some exotic ones including a Barly Wine. This particularly got me curious and was unexpectedly delicious. Though be careful, at 8.5% this is a dangerous one to start with…

How about some Premium Sake?

The next drinking stop really took me by surprise, with Dassai Sake being such a high-end Sake brand, it was amazing getting a chance to visit.

Being a Sake Sommelier myself, I even learned a thing or two. And with the price tag of this famous Sake being at the higher end, it was amazing being able to sample a few of their most prestigious products. Some you won’t be able to taste anywhere else.

And the best part? You can even pick up a bottle right there. Or get one of their more novel products such as Dassai Soap or Curry. I personally feel like going back for those, as they would make the perfect souvenir to bring home and impress or surprise friends and family.

And although you should be well spoiled by now, just in case you aren’t feeling premium just yet, the next stop on this Luxury Cocktail tour in Tokyo will do the trick, I promise.

Japanese inspired Cocktails anyone?

Green Tea Fashioned, Matcha God Father or maybe a season Sencha Gin Tonic? Life is tough…

With almost too many mouth-watering cocktails to choose from, the good news is, they are all delicious! Some even served in a traditional Sake Masu, a cup made of hinoki or cedarwood, this is truly an amazing experience. With each corner topped with a different Japanese flavor, every sip has a new taste. Truly inspired.

And as a bonus, they serve Wagyu Beef Jerky. A combination I will think about for a long time!

Conclusion

Whether you visit or live in Japan, this Luxury Cocktail tour in Tokyo will blow you away!

A great way to explore Ginza and Shimbashi and discover places you would not get access without a local guide. And I guess this is exactly what Arigatou Japan Tour does best, connecting people and inviting you into places you would not find by yourself. They definitely get my stamp of approval!

How to book

I joined the “Luxury Tokyo Sake, Cocktail, Whisky and Pairing Tour” which runs from Monday to Saturday every day at 4.30 pm.

Have a look at their Official Tour Page here where you find all the details and how to book this particular tour or check their website for more amazing tours offered all over Japan.

Website

www.arigatoujapan.co.jp

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I visited the Susukino location and to be honest, I did get lost. As it’s a tad hard to find the first time. But all the bigger is the excitement when you do find it. It is on the first floor hidden towards the back. Have a look at the pictures below and you cannot go wrong.

Why do I love it? Well for one YATA Sake Bar’s minimal design is inviting and stylish, but what makes this place stand out is the staff, which is beyond knowledgable. Expect thermometers to measure the perfect sake temperature, that’s how serious “Sake business” is here.

But don’t worry, it’s still plenty of fun! As locals and visitors mingle at the counter and you get the chance to meet people in a casual environment over a sake or two.

What to order at YATA Sake Bar?

The selection at this small bar is sublime, with many Hokkaido breweries being stocked. Ask the staff and they will gladly recommend one that is to your liking. And if you are a bit peckish they do small dishes at 500¥ each. I recommend the corned beef as well as the cheese, you will be surprised how amazing they pair.

In terms of sake, the selection is ever-changing. But what I do recommend is, get the same sake twice. One time hot and one time cold, you will be amazed by the change of flavor profile…

This is hands down my favorite place to try sake in Sapporo and whether you try it for the first time or know what you are doing, you will enjoy this place!

If you did miss it but are heading back to Tokyo, they also have a bar there. Another chance not to just try great sake but also great hospitality.

Web

https://junmaishu.net/sakebar/sappro/

Address

Susukino: 7-7-28 Minamisanjo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido M-s Building 1F

Sapporo Station:  5 Chome Kita 4 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0004

Opening hours

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Although it is labeled as a standing bar, they have seats or better stools. So it is comfortable and very easy to spend an hour or two here.

The other thing we loved about Hana Sake Bar, is that they have a great selection of Sake. So whether you are a Sake geek or never tried it, you will find something here! The owner carefully created an easy to understand menu, available in English. That gives you everything you need to know in an easily digestible format.

What should you try at Hana Sake Bar?

If you are new to Sake, ask for a recommendation, let the Staff know what you usually drink, what flavors you like and you will get something nice.

What we definitely recommend; make it a tasting tray! Actually, they call it a flight.  Because it’s great value at 900¥ for 3 and it gives you a chance to compare. You will be surprised once you do.

We especially loved the Niida-Shizenshu, Mimorosugi, and Tamaasahi. But this is really personal taste…

Furthermore and a little unexpected, there is food too! Portions are small, as this is more snacks to accompany the drinks. But they are delicious. We ordered the smoked plate, that included cheese, chicken, and nuts for 600¥. As well as the mackerel with mozzarella for 400¥. This was so good we ordered it twice, as you can choose between Yuzu and miso dressing. The Yuzu was unreal!

Definitely a place to put on your list if you visit “the belly of japan”!

Web

https://hanasakebar.com/

Address

1 Chome-8-4 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0086

Opening hours

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Their website has information in English, which we thought was great! But if you do check out their site, you will see a note to call them before visiting, this is not strictly necessary. We did give them a call and thought they were rather surprised by it. So its totally ok to just show up.

How to get there?

With its very central location, Japan Sake and Shōchū Information Center is easily accessible via Shimbashi station, with many lines such as Tokyo Metro and JR Yamanote stopping here.

At the same time, it is rather well hidden. We walked by it twice, as some of the outdoor pictures on google are quite misleading. There is no clear sign outside of the building, but if you see the red sign for SMBC Security, it is right on the left-hand side.

At the Japan Sake and Shōchū Information Center

The center itself is cozy, but with an impressive selection of Sake from all over Japan! And the best part? You can buy them right there, after tasting them!

Another great thing about the Japan Sake and Shōchū Information Center is that you can check the available sakes online. So if you are looking for a special one this would be a great place to check first.

They have a lot of information from each Region, Brewer and of course about the Sake- making-process. Again, you can find many leaflets in English, but also other languages. Furthermore, on two big screens, they show you some videos taken at the Breweries or from Rice Farms. A really great addition.

You will find about 5 tables to sit as well as the long bar counter, so it is rather small. If you arrive in a bigger group, we would suggest letting them know.

How does it work?

They are making it very easy for you. With a recommended selection of Sake-Sets starting from as little as 300¥. This is really hard to beat.

And of course, as already mentioned you can also order any Sake from their extensive Menu with prices between 100¥ and 300¥ yen per serving.

Also, the staff at the Japan Sake and Shōchū Information Center is really friendly and happy to make a recommendation for you. So don’t be shy, let them know what kind of drinks or flavors you like and let them choose for you.

What did we order?

Well, we had a few Sake in mind when we came. Senkin Brewery is one of our favorites, so of course, we ordered this. But also wanted to share some more unusual Sake with our friend. So we also ordered an aged Sake, a sparkling Sake, and Amazake (this is without alcohol).

Our big surprise was the “NeNe” sparkling Sake! It was fresh, sweet, but not too overbearing. It reminded us of a light Prosecco and with only 5% Alcohol content makes it a great aperitive or a good choice for a hot summer day. If you go this is definitely one you should try!

Good to Know!

Although this place is all about tasting Sake, be aware of their opening hours. As they already close at 6 pm. We were surprised it was not busier closer to closing time, but that may just have been that day. So we would still recommend arriving not too late.

Website

http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/goto/jssic.html

Address

〒105-0003 Tokyo, Minato City, Nishishinbashi, 1 Chome−6−15 日本酒造虎ノ門ビル

Opening hours 

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If you are visiting you must come here! 

The sake taster set is 1000¥ and consists of 3 cups of delicious premium Sake. You can also get some local nibbles to go with it. Plus floral-shapes wheat crackers come for free when you order a drink!

It’s really beautiful! The food is picture perfect! And the sake tray too!

We ordered the local Sake tasting set from the Brewery: Kinshi Masume. Including a pure rice Sake, a special pure rice Sake and a top range pure rice Sake. As well as the cream cheese with miso plus, as already mentioned, crackers came for free, yay!

The selection of Sake was delicious, only high quality, so if you are new to Sake, you will enjoy these. As you may know with Sake, flavours can vary and it can be a little like wine. So this is a great way to start your Sake journey if you are not very familiar with it. Give it a try, you will be surprised!

Our tip, order the cream cheese with miso, it perfectly accompanies the Sake. You also get a dollop of miso and some pepper to dip. We really recommend trying a few variations ????

What can we say, the Sake is great at Local SAKE and BEER Stand 336. The staff is lovely, speaks some English and there is an English menu available too! Really no excuse not to visit! And make sure to check out how to spend one day in Kyoto for some inspiration on what else to do.

Web

www.asahizaka.kyoto/asahizaka_intro/sake_336/

Address

572-3 Shiraitocho, Higashiyama Ward, 京都市東山区白糸町 Kyoto 605-0865

Opening hours

Every day 11 am to 7 pm

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Is there ever a time when tiny portions of meat on sticks are not appropriate? I would not know of such an occasion ???? As many know they come in all sizes, there is the street food version vs. the more high-end one and this is definitely the later. Just without the massive price tag!

We arrived for dinner around 7 pm and there was still space, it did quickly fill up, so there might be a wait if you come in after 8 pm. We sat at the counter, to be honest for a small group of 2-3 people I always prefer the counter seats. Especially as often you get to see the chef preparing the food. Here you get to see him through a tiny window…

Its a classy yet casual setting, the crowd was pretty mixed, maybe a bit older like in their ’30s. They have an English Menu and also ask how much you want the chicken cooked. As some may know, it’s not “rare” to get half-cooked chicken. ????

Now for the Food, they have a great selection of all the parts of the chicken, as well as vegetables, salads and some other things. If you wanna just give it a taster, go for the sets, they are great value, with the cheapest one at ¥1200. We went for a mix of many. But be careful not to get as carried away as we did. So many tasty things, we totally over-ordered (see pictures below).

They are also passionate about Sake and the guys next to us got one of the taster sets. Its a Bargain at ¥500 for 3 small glasses. If you are into it ask the waitress for her recommendation. I will definitely go back and order one!

Web

https://uchiwa-shibuya.com/

Address

〒150-0043 東京都渋谷区道玄坂1-5-3 ケントラストビル2・3F

Opening Hours

• Saturday to Thursday 5 pm – 11 pm
• Friday 5 pm until 4 am

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