Bit of a whisky/whiskey enthusiast. Headed to Tokyo this year and looking for
a) Best places to buy a good Japanese drop at an affordable price,
and b) any places in Tokyo to go for whisky tastings or experiences
Already checking out the Tokyo Whisky Library. All the distilleries appear to be too far out of town for a visit
Anyone got the inside scoop?
Love to pick up the likes of Hibiki, Chita or something from Kirin or Nikka
I was there in May and everything was difficult to find. I was staying in SKytree so the Life supermarket at Oshiage station (Skytree) had probably the best available selection I saw. Depends where you are staying but the smaller bars seem to have decent selections to try but they are pretty expensive.
7-11
Isn't it mainly Lawson, Family Mart and Sunkus in Japan?
No. Don't comment if you are wrong and guessing.
What should someone do if they can't grasp simple three letter words like 'cue'?
try some of the inexpensive whiskys offered at supermarkets. Akashi Red was ~600 yen for 500ml. I found it suprisingly smooth and pleasant to drink.
Don Quijote stores have a reasonable range of whiskies.
around "entertainment" districts there will be bottle shops to supply the resautrants and clubs.
I found even the basic Yellow Suntory to be nice and smooth. Espeicialy at the price of a few dollars a bottle!
Thanks I'll check them out!
Was that 600 or 6000 yen?
600.
I'm currently drinking Kirin whisky- fuji sanroku . ¥800 for 700ml
Over the weekend I had suntory Torys classic. Paid ¥700 for 700ml.
Regret not getting the 2.4 litre bottle for ¥2100
That's crazy. Bottle of whisky for less than a pint in Straya
@Calcifer: just priced the fuji sanroku 50 that I'm drinking as I type . (¥800 for 700ml at an Aeon supermarket -the colesworths of Japan)
at Nicks - $90
at Dans - $100
$10 in Japan Vs $90 in Australia
just saying
@altomic: Dayum!
Reviews seem good:
"Tasting note: Brilliant deep gold. Opening sniffs suggest apple strudel, stewed pear, bubble gum and vanilla. Air contact adds hints of ripe corn / mixed grains. Understated on entry building to a juicy, vibrant, bourbonesque profile with creamy flavours of toffee apple, salted corn cob and pepper. Concludes semi-sweet, spicy but well balanced with orchard fruits, gobstopper and lingering creaminess. 50% Alc./Vol." (Nick's)
Any tips for getting around the carry limit for getting this drop and others out of the country?
@Calcifer: no tips.
2.25 litres is the limit.
customs may be lenient if you are just a little over the limit. if you are travelling with a friend who doesn't drink or have an inclination to bring booze back to Aus….
what I'd suggest - try some whisky you haven't heard of, like the inexpensive stuff. fuji-sanroku $10 a bottle. grab a few bottles of different stuff and sample them back at your hotel. if you really like them then awesome, and bring them back to Aus. if they are crap, well they weren't that expensive, and just leave them. $10 a bottle for inexpensive stuff = nothing for whisky.
I avoided any japanese whisky that I had had in Aus or seen here. I always bring back different whisky than from the previous trip.
@altomic: Darn, but definitely got a point with how cheap that whisky is
I'll definitely give Fuji Sanroku a go
I've been doing some reading, and it's possible that may just have to pay the gst on it if you go over the limit?
If I could go more often, or Japanese whisky wasn't so expensive here, I'd be less desperate to bring back all of the whisky
@Calcifer: sorry for the late response. - you may have to pay tax on the booze that is over the limit. it's not that much. i.e. it ends up being way cheaper than what you pay in Aus.
you can get the basic yellow Suntory whisky in a 4l plastic bottle for 6500 yen..
except it was written in 2015. the landscape for Japanese whiskey is a lot different now days in japan, however it is still a good article reference wise in some of the details.
You are going to Japan soon. Did you research this better? If so, please share with OP.
travelling with 10 others, with elderly and 2 kids.. my travels will be very limited. but I'm on a mission to find some good deals
@Archi: I found that it was a misconception that Japan is expensive. From dining to Disneyland, I came back with a fair bit of my budget. Spend up and eat well. One of the great destinations.
@Pootie Tang: ehhh been many times… the kids love it, I agree one of the best places to visit… might even plan on moving there one day..
@Pootie Tang: This is my second trip. Accomm, travel (public transport) and food are all cheaper here than my home town. Even flights return are affordable at $6-700pp return
Very good. I'm certainly keen to check out whiskies that are much rarer in Aus also. Hope to find somewhere that does reasonably priced tastings
Hey hey, Another whisky fan here.
Bar Livet in Shinjuku has an amazing selection and is reasonably priced.
Liquor mountain in Ueno and Ginza as already mentioned.
Hakushu is a day trip out and easily done via Bullet Train from Tokyo. Very cheap tastings there.
Donqi is generally a little more expensive and a bit random in terms of selection.
Beware of Kuroyoshi. They are peddling those and they appear to be cheap for their age…just do a little research first.
I have a few pics of these documented on my Instagram which I can PM with if interested. Don’t want to spam.
Thanks! Also staying in Shinjuku
It's not spam if it's whisky. PM away!
@watch_and_whisky :D
Not that I am a drinker but while looking for something specific for a friend while there last I found a couple of close approximations of our bottle shops.
There are around but not common, but found they had a mixed range depending on the region.
I ended up finding it in a bottlo down the road from the Meguro Parasitological Museum.
Just posting here in case people want a guide between the established "good" whiskies and the ones newly introduced to cash into the market
- Any aged Yamazaki
- Any aged Hakushu (25yr only sold outside Japan)
- Any aged Hibiki (12yr very expensive/hard to find, same prices as 17 yr)
- Hibiki harmony (easier to find)
- Any aged Taketsuru
- Nikka 12 years (relatively easy to find)
- Any aged Yoichi (very hard to find)
- Any aged Miyagikyo (very hard to find)
Everything else is generally widely available, even outside Japan. I won't comment on the other age stated whiskies, but if you're getting a 30 year old Kurayoshi for only 20,000 yen theres probably something fishy. All the non-aged Suntory lines (Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki, Kakubin, Chita, Toki) can be bought easily in any convenience store, department or supermarket. Same goes with Nikka's non aged lines (Taketsuru, Yoichi, Miyagikyo, Black, From the Barrel).
In my opinion, since the NAS lines for both Nikka and Suntory are really cheap, theyre all not bad (except for maybe Chita and Toki). Taketsuru, Yoichi and Miyagikyo in particular are still very nice NAS whiskies.
Of course, the Alcohol import limits probably mean that you'll want to get the more sought out aged whisky to maximise your load.
Be sure to check out shopping arcades of lesser known suburbs and train stations. I found a shop in Nagoya that had 12 and 18yr yamazaki, hakushu and hibiki as well as some aged taketsuru. Be well aware that you'll be paying a hefty price.
I found Liquor Mountain in Ginza (Tokyo) to have one of the best selections when I visited in Jan.
https://www.likaman.co.jp/en/shop/tokyo/chuo-ku/7347.html