Vol. 9: WHEN SAKE DAY CAN BE EVERY DAY

Welcome to TOKYO BEAT – a special series by your trusty Tokyo Tourism Representative (New York Office) that aims to provide you with story ideas and inspiration. October 1st is Sake Day, which celebrates one of Japan’s most recognizable exports – sake – the alcoholic beverage brewed with rice that is revered by high-end gastronomists and mixologists alike. To celebrate it, along with Tokyo’s lively drinking culture, here’s a look at how one can enjoy imbibing in the city during this season.

From New York to Tokyo New Yorkers who love high-end sake are probably familiar with the brand Dassai, by the brewery Asahi Shuzo, which can be found in many local Japanese restaurants and bars. Dassai 23 is one of its most admired sakes, and the eponymous flagship bar Dassai Bar 23 in the Kyobashi neighborhood aims to provide enthusiasts with a direct connection to the brewery. The bartenders provide an insightful lesson into the art of making sake, while serving you delicious sake flights and tasting plates to go along with it. There’s also a Dassai Store Ginza store where you can pick up bottles (and enjoy casual tastings, as well).

Remixing Another Masterpiece The Japanese have had a deep love for the classic Highball since the 1920’s, so much so that you’ll even find canned versions in convenient stores. However, no place is as dedicated as Highball Bar Tokyo Station 1923, which is spearheading the latest Highball resurgence. Recently opened in July of 2018, as part of Tokyo Station’s ‘Gourmet Zone’, this popular nationwide chain restaurant and bar concept by Suntory (1923 refers to the year its Yamazaki distillery was founded) will impress any barfly with its retro-themed settings that hark back the city’s Western style architecture at turn of the 20thcentury.

Compose a Tasting Crawl Over the course of a few days (or just one for the dedicated!), it’s possible to sample a wide array of Japan’s best sake, in a variety of settings. Kurand Sake Market, with locations in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shimbashi, and Ueno, is home to 100 types of sake that one can sample with All You Can Drink plans starting at 1000 Yen (under $10 USD). When it comes to seeing how sake can elevate both classic and contemporary cocktails, places Sake Hall Hibiya Bar in Ginza demonstrate how sake pairs beautifully with other high quality ingredients. For those who want to only skate along the line of Junmai, Sakeba in Shibuya offers only this ‘pure rice’ style sake that doesn’t add alcohol or sugar during the sake making process. Aged sake, a highly rare variety, can be explored at Shusaron in Shinagawa, where the sommelier pairs each glass with exquisitely prepared traditional Japanese dishes.

Sake Brewery Tours Last but not least, Tokyo is also home to a set of 9 famous breweries, six of which offer insightful tours that showcase the painstaking (and thoroughly rewarding) process of brewing sake. Among them include Ozawa Shuzo (Sawanoi) and Toshimaya Jozo, whose brands can be found for sale in New York City. Ozawa Shuzo is in Ome City, a lush suburb in the western part of Tokyo, and the free tours and tastings within the beautiful settings are a perfect way to enjoy the day. Along with tours, Toshimaya Jozo in Higashimurayama City also holds festivals at its brewery twice a year, with the next one coming on November 4th, 2018.

For more information about drinking sake and spirits in Tokyo, contact press@tokyo-nyc.com or call 917-200-4887. For general information on traveling in Tokyo, head to TokyoTokyo.jp and Gotokyo.org/en/