Meaning ‘bright’ or ‘sun-bathed’ in Japanese, Sansan does indeed have a distinct sunniness to it: partly from the bright, well-lit room and blonde-timber décor, and partly from the warm demeanour of owner Yuko Enomoto. The cosy wine bar, which seats just eight along its counter, is tucked into the back streets of Tomigaya, a few minutes’ walk from Yoyogi-Hachiman Station.
Yuko opened Sansan in 2011 to create a space where people could just drop in on the way home from work and enjoy a casual glass of wine or two along with some comfort food. There’s a regularly changing selection of domestic wines, ranging from the fresh, vibrant palate Japanese wines are known for, to richer, meatier drops. We love anything from the Okunota Winery, especially its golden and fruity Hanamizuki Blanc, as well as Takeda Winery’s light and refreshing Sans Soufre Sparkling.
Dishes, all prepared by Yuko herself and include snacks like bruschetta, locally made cheese and a kiwi and avocado salad.