Iseya Shoten

This golden oldie liquor store (it's been going for over 60 years) close to Hamadayama Station is a dream for booze lovers – albeit with a family feel, bizarrely enough. Kids' drawings are hung all around the place, while the shelves are stocked with a selection of sake, wine, whisky, homemade amazake and more. The owner is fastidious in his commitment to finding the good stuff: 'In terms of making the selection, I decided to actually go to the producers and show my face there, even if it's abroad. The only exception is for shochu. But for alcohol made from rice, the most important thing is food safety and whether they use pesticides or not, so I like to check that.' Now that's dedication. Even if you just came to pick up a gift for a friend, you'll probably end up walking out with a bottle for yourself here.