6 Best Sake Tasting Experiences in Tokyo a Sip Above the Rest

Nihonshu, or Japanese sake, isn’t just any drink – it’s a sip of Japan’s rich culture and tradition.

With close to 1,800 breweries scattered across the country, you’re never far from tasting something special, like jizake (locally brewed sake).

What makes sake so fascinating is that it’s made with just four ingredients – rice, water, koji mould, and yeast – yet tiny tweaks to these, or even the brewing process, can create completely different flavours. Each region has its own unique take, making sampling sake like tasting your way through Japan’s diverse landscape.

And one of the best places to indulge in sake? That would be the capital. Here are the top sake-tasting experiences in Tokyo to add to your bucket list:

Best Sake-tasting Experience in Tokyo

1. The Meishu Center

Set off on a fascinating adventure through the various worlds of sake.

The Meishu Center experience is designed for people new to sake, giving the ideal chance for lovers like you who want to appreciate sake but are unsure where to begin.

Along with your experience, you'll receive a wonderful gift - an exclusive sake vessel that will remind you of your expedition for the rest of your life.

Here, you will get to try eight different varieties of sake, each with a distinctive flavour and personality. The range extends from junmai-shu to honjozo-shu, junmai-ginjo-shu to daiginjo-shu, unpasteurised sake to cloudy sake, aged sake to sake-based liqueur and more.

As you taste, a skilled guide will explain the delicate elements of their preparation. Prepare to embark on this delectable adventure of discovery!

Address: Lions Plaza Ochanomizu, 1 Chome-2-１２ 1 階 Yushima, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0034, Japan (map)

Directions to reach- 5 minutes walk from JR Ochanomizu Station and 7 minutes walk from JR Akihabara Station.

2. Ozawa Sake Brewery Sawanoi Ome 

Embark on a sake journey at Ozawa Sake Brewery Sawanoi Ome, a historic 300-year-old sake haven nestled in the scenic Okutama region of Tokyo Prefecture. Just an hour and a half by train from Shinjuku Station, this gem seamlessly combines history with natural beauty.

While exploring the brewery grounds, featuring a sprawling garden overlooking the tranquil Tama River, sample renowned sake brands such as Dassai, Hakutsuru, and Gekkeikan.

To enhance your tasting experience, participate in the guided sake tasting tour led by Ryuta, a connoisseur trained by a master sake sommelier. As he unveils the brewery's secrets, immerse yourself in a tasting experience that will truly elevate you into a sake aficionado.

Address: 2 Chome-770 Sawai, Ome, Tokyo 198-0172, Japan (map)

Directions to reach: 3-min walk from Sawai Station on the JR OmeLine.

3. Hasegawa Saketen 

At Hasegawa Saketen, prepare to enter an orchestra of tastes that will have your taste senses clapping for more.

Consider the exhilaration of swirling, sipping, and savouring an exquisite junmai daiginjo, ideally paired with the subtle dance of fresh sashimi - a duet that will leave you wanting more.

The adventure, however, does not end there. Prepare to be enchanted by unpasteurised namazake, paired with crunchy tempura to create a symphony of sensations on your tastebuds.

As you travel through the years with aged sakes, a captivating story emerges, perfectly complementing the deep appeal of grilled miso-marinated blackfish.

Your sommelier will guide you through this kaleidoscope of tastes and reveal the mysteries of sake production.

Address: Multiple locations, including Kameido (map) and Marunouchi (map)

4. Ishikawa Brewery 

A location where you aren't only a guest but a fellow adventurer.

As you enter, you'll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of the brewing process. A universe of tastes awaits, from the silky appeal of junmai daiginjo to the vivacity of unpasteurised namazake and the mystery of aged sakes.

Imagine improving the experience by matching these fine sakes with tasty delights like grilled miso-marinated blackfish.

Your expert sake guide will reveal the tales behind the beers and the art of matching, making your tasting a fascinating adventure.

Prepare to drink, savour, and revel in the enchantment of Ishikawa Brewery, where every moment is a testament to excellent flavour.

Address: 1 Kumagawa, Fussa, Tokyo 197-0003, Japan (map)

Directions to reach: Haijima Station is roughly a 15-minute walk from Ishikawa Brewery. You may take the JR Chuo/Ome Line directly from Shinjuku.

5. Sake Tasting in Shinjuku with a Sommelier at Sake Bar Doron

On this Shinjuku sake-tasting tour, meet your guide, a qualified sake sommelier who operates a new-wave sake bar in Tokyo.

Learn everything there is to know about sake in this two-hour session and discover the Japanese sake brewing process, history, and variety.

Explore the neighbourhood, described locally as a 'drunkard's heaven,' while sipping lip-smacking sake.

Taste six high-quality sake brands only to find your favourite and make your own sake-tasting chart. Plus, discover how sake flavours alter with temperature and cup shape.

Finally, try pairing your sake with local delicacies to see how the sake enhances each flavour. And spend time in Tokyo with other Japanese sake enthusiasts and pick up some travel ideas from the locals.

Address: Sake Bar Doron, 7-chōme-19-21 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan (map)

Directions to reach: 9-min walk from JR Shinjuku station

6. Sake Tasting Seminar- Explore All Sake Types 

You will travel from Shinjuku-Sanchome Station to a nearby sake bar for a unique sake-tasting session on this tour.

There, you'll get to try a variety of sake, including sparkling, hazy, yamahai, and unpasteurised varieties.

Try the different sake varieties and learn the variations between each sake by your guide.

And learn which particular sake goes best with warm, cold, or room-temperature servings. You'll also receive a simple sake paper for your records, something cool for you to bring home.

Sake Reverie: Closing Notes on Tokyo's Best

Of all, these establishments are merely a small sample of Tokyo's many excellent sake suppliers.

Our other faves are Inishie Sake Store, which has workers who speak native English, and Kimijimaya.

Additionally, you can nearly always find a well-curated drinking area at major department stores like Mitsukoshi, Isetan, Takashimaya, and Daimaru (often on the lower levels, close to the deli and grocery).

So, step out to discover the best sake-tasting experience in this enormous metropolis for a fascinating and thrilling sake journey.

Commonly Asked Questions

Which region in Japan is famous for its sake?

The Nada area of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture is renowned as Japan's leading sake production zone because of its advantageous location; it produces 30% of the nation's sake.

How is sake to be consumed?

Depending on the kind of sake and the drinker's taste, sake can be served cold, warm, or hot. The most adaptable style of sake is junmai, which may be served cold, warm (between 100 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit), heated, or even hot.

What flavour does excellent sake have?

Rice has a very bland flavour, whereas sake, and ginjo-shu in particular, offers delicious notes reminiscent of apples, bananas, and other fruits. These tastes are the outcome of expert sake production.

What is your favourite way to drink sake?

Try it both hot and cold. Even while sake is typically served warm, it also tastes great when cooled, at room temperature, or even when it's heated. Cheaper sake is frequently warmed to mask its inferior quality, whereas luxury sake is served cool.

Are there different kinds of sake?

When you look at a sake menu, you'll see the names are separated into groups like junmai, ginjo, daiginjo, honjozo, and futsu. Each term implies something different, describing how the sake is prepared and how it will taste, similar to the types on a wine list.