Five reasons to visit the Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center

You can’t miss the concierge area situated next to the tasting counter. Here you’ll meet the friendly staff who are able to guide you through the world of sake and shochu, as well as answering questions on these Japanese spirits. Need help picking a drink that suits your taste? Wondering what kind of food pairings work well with a particular type of sake? What’s the correct temperature to drink your sake? The concierge are ready to share their knowledge with you.

You can look forward to tasting approximately 70 kinds of sake, as well as the different types of shochu, amazake, awamori, umeshu and seasonal offerings like fruit-flavoured sake. If you don’t know what to pick, go for one of the tasting sets, which can help you differentiate between the various sake and shochu. Your order comes with a helpful English explanation underneath each glass, so you can read up on each drink.

You can also take home the informative menu/glossary of the featured sake and shochu, complete with crucial facts including alcohol level, the type of rice used, acidity level and flavour notes. Individual tastings start at just ¥100 per glass, while sets are priced from ¥300, making it an affordable way to sample all sorts of Japanese spirits.

The centre offers a staggering 70 types of sake, 30 varieties of shochu and awamori, and ten other beverage options like umeshu and amazake, which change on a monthly basis and are available for purchase. Aside from the drinks, the centre also offers a wide selection of sake cups, which range in design and size. They make beautiful souvenirs, or a great addition to your bar collection.

To discover how sake is made, there’s a display where you can see examples of rice used to make sake, as well as unique sake and shochu cups collected from all across Japan. You’ll also find videos playing at the centre, showcasing the step-by-step process of how sake is made.

Don’t forget to pursue the free English and Japanese pamplets, which explore how sake and shochu are brewed in different regions across Japan. Keep an eye out for events as well, as the Sake and Shochu Center hosts frequent seminars about the history and culture of Japan’s national drinks.

You can really take advantage of the cool photo spots located at the Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center. The entire area is quite spacious, brightly lit, and you’ll see some interesting corners and items worth photographing.

Look up and you’ll find a replica of a giant wooden sake barrel attached to the ceiling. Or, check out the sake wall, which features traditional sake barrels wrapped in straw, reminiscent of widely photographed display in front of Meiji Shrine.