When it comes to down to the sheer number of bars, none of the world's great cities – London, New York, Singapore, Berlin or Moscow – can compete with Tokyo. And in a city with thousands of watering holes, no area boasts a greater concentration of boozers than Ginza. This imbiber's heaven is home to around 350 bars, their signboards decorating practically every single building from Ginza-Itchome in the north to Shinbashi in the south.
With a selection like that, separating the best from the rest can be an arduous task. Helping you pick out the most visit-worthy bars from Ginza's sea of boozers, we've lined up ten of the area's essential joints, from a true Showa-era relic to places where enterprising young bartenders apply the methods of mixology to create cutting-edge cocktails. Check out our top ten below, and then take the step up to these bars run by Tokyo's true cocktail masters.
Venues curated by Tamasaburau. Photos by Kisa Toyoshima and Keisuke Tanigawa
Celebrating 12 years in business this year, Four Seasons sits right in the heart of the action in Ginza-Yonchome and boasts a gorgeous 7m counter made of African bubinga timber, behind which a duo of champion bartenders mix up cocktails without missing a beat. Owner Makoto Katsumata is a former winner of the Japan Bartending Association's 'Best Bartender' award...
After taking home top honours at the 2012 All-Japan Bartender Technical Competition, Naomi Takahashi became the first Japanese woman to win a grand prize at the prestigious IBA World Cocktail Championships – her Wisteria was named Best Aperitif in Prague back in 2013. Having opened her own Ginza bar in late 2015, Takahashi is currently working hard to raise Gaslight Eve’s profile...
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