When I visited Kagurazaka for lunch, the selection of alcohol displayed in the refrigerator was very attractive. The staff kindly told me about it and allowed me to try some for a fee. I ended up buying a shochu instead of the pink sake I was originally looking for, as it was different from what I had in mind. It's a low-alcohol summer shochu. I wonder if it's called summer shochu. Just looking at the sake and shochu was enjoyable. I'll have to check out the wine cellar downstairs next time.

On my day off, I went shopping and took a stroll all the way to this place. It's a well-known shop among people who love Japanese sake in Tokyo. Visiting a new shop can lead to new encounters. They also offer the option of standing and drinking, although the selection is limited. I tried the Omine from Yamaguchi. It's a good sake with a refined sweetness and a balanced alcohol content, while still maintaining the taste of sake.

There is a liquor store about a 12-minute walk from Ueno Station. They have an amazing selection of products, including a wine cellar in the basement where you can make purchases. The atmosphere inside the store is great, giving off a strong vibe of a prestigious liquor store. They also offer paid tastings, and on this day, I tried the commemorative sake from Gohashi. I will definitely visit again!

This is a liquor store located in a residential area in Okachimachi. There are mainly four types of liquor stores: 1. Large-scale discount stores, 2. Individual stores focused on sales to restaurants (with a lot of beer cases outside but little alcohol inside), 3. Individual stores with a wide selection of premium sake (the majority of the store is refrigerated with various brands lined up), 4. Online stores with no physical location or a near equivalent. This liquor store falls under category 3, with a variety of good sake displayed. It's a wonderful store. However, no matter how wonderful the store is, it is a "liquor store" and not a "gourmet spot." In the past, there were paid tastings, but there is no atmosphere for leisurely drinking inside the store (although the store is relaxed, it would be strange if people were to drink various things for 20 or 30 minutes), and they have not been conducting tastings since the pandemic.

Visited on June 3, 2021. Purchased a 1.8L bottle of Toyosakari Tokubetsu Junmai Sake for 3,000 yen, along with 6 plastic bags. Paid with PayPay for a discount of 15 yen. Despite the rain, I headed to this place after work, starting from Naka-Okachimachi Station. I was looking for Toyosakari, as I saw it being enjoyed on a TV show by Professor Ota Kazuhiko. I couldn't find it at izakayas, so I decided to drink it at home and found a store selling it within my area. Besides the Toyosakari I bought, they also had Junmai Ginjo and Junmai Ginjo Natsu Blue, but since it was my first time trying it, I avoided the Ginjo. I wanted a rich sake to drink. A sign mentioned that they were the only store in Taito Ward selling Toyosakari. It was close to closing time, so it was just the owner and me in the store, with no background music, making it a bit awkward to browse, but since I already knew what I wanted, it was not a problem. I also wanted other sake, and the prices were fair, even cheaper than expected, so I will definitely come back. Buying sake online usually incurs around 1,000 yen for shipping, so it's better to buy here. Perhaps due to COVID-19 or the closing time, there were no tastings available. They gave me a homemade booklet with my receipt. There is happiness in sake. A bit forced but a good title. Now, I need to carefully carry it home.

I have been relying on Kobushi Winery's shop a lot lately. I first found out about it because it is a designated shop for Kobushi Winery, and compared to other designated shops, they have a higher chance of having the wine in stock. Thanks to this, I can enjoy "Chabudai Wine" as our house wine. On the other hand, they also have a wide selection of Japanese sake and shochu. In a corner of the shop, you can buy hard-to-find liquors at regular price when purchasing other items at the same time, which makes me end up buying them along with Kobushi Wine. Thanks to them, I feel like the enjoyment and variety of drinking at home has expanded. I think this shop will become a place I will continue to visit for a long time.

The reviewer was hoping to try the Sogapele Ephis sake produced by Kobushi Winery, but found out that it is only available in limited quantities once a year in February or March. Instead, they enjoyed the Domaine Soga Field Mandeshi (white) 2019 wine, with a fun label description. They were looking forward to visiting the winery during the long weekend, but found out that it is closed on holidays. Despite the disappointment, they are still excited to try the surprising selection of Japanese sake available at the shop.

Recently, I got hooked on the wine from "Obuse Winery". It's a bit tough to go all the way to Sendagi, where there are two authorized stores. However, when I checked the HP authorized store list, I realized there was one within walking distance from my office! So, I decided to check it out. It's located in the Suharaikai Shotengai, which intersects with the Satake Shotengai, said to be the second oldest shopping street in Japan. The store stands out among the somewhat run-down shopping street. Inside, there is a wide selection of fine sake. I was tempted by the sake and shochu on the first floor, but my goal for the day was wine, so I headed to the wine cellar downstairs. Wow, there were nearly 10 different bottles of Obuse Winery lined up. I purchased the cheapest one, "Chabudai Wine", and also the "Ordinaire 2017 Merlot Cabernet". It was my first time trying Chabudai Wine, and it was really good. I plan to visit Obuse later this month, but unfortunately, they are closed on holidays. However, there are many great liquor stores that are authorized retailers for Obuse Winery. I think I'll check out some other places too.

Upon arriving in Tokyo, I went on a tour of liquor stores. Unfortunately, Sanzai Saketen in Akabane was closed for the day, but the lady there was very kind and I ended up staying for about 40 minutes even though I didn't drink. Then I took the train to another store. For some reason, I always seem to visit on their regular holiday Saturdays, and this was my third attempt. Finally, I was able to enter. The store was spacious with a wide variety of sake, including Niigata brands like "Abe" and "Kamonishiki." They also had "Gohashi" and "macho" among others. Not just sake, but they also had shochu and wine. Some of the 720ml bottles had a sign saying "Tasting available for 200 yen." I asked the staff about it, and they said it was a 60ml tasting for 200 yen in a small tasting area at the back. However, the staff seemed unfriendly and quickly returned to their tasks after pouring. I felt like this store fell under the third type, where tasting was mainly for buyers. Personally, I prefer stores where they engage in conversation, respond warmly when spoken to, and explain the sake you are interested in. This store, although interesting in their selection, didn't quite match my preference in terms of customer service.

I opened the bottle of Shinsei's Risshun Asa-musubi that I bought before. It has a fruity and bubbly taste, similar to champagne. This place has many valuable sake options, so you might come across a hidden gem when you visit. The staff can help you choose based on your preferences, making it a great recommendation even for those who are not familiar with Japanese sake.

If you get thirsty while walking down the street, it's nice to stop by a liquor store for some craft beer. This place is a bit away from Ueno Station, but they serve craft beer so I visit occasionally. They also have a decent selection of sake and wine, so you can buy some while you're there. They even have lottery sales going on now.

There are many rare Japanese sake lined up, making it fun just to look at them, and it's hard to decide what to buy. The staff is knowledgeable and you can shop with confidence.

Exit the Naka-Okachimachi Station through the 1B exit and go up to ground level. Turn left at the second street after Matsuya on Showa Street and walk 150 meters. You will see a sign with a cedar ball outside the shop. Inside, the atmosphere is sophisticated with dim lighting, and you can browse through the selection in the reach-in case. There are several bottles available for paid tasting, all of which are recommended by the shop. I decided to try the Yaebei. I took it to the counter and paid 200 yen. They poured it into a tasting glass at a table in the back. The basement is a wine cellar, and you can drink on the glass floor where you can see below ground. Sip. It has a full body with a sharp aftertaste that is not too heavy. This is delicious! I took my time looking around the shop. They have a collection of treasures, so there is no need to search for hidden gems. The low lighting is surely for quality control. During my visit, some customers who seemed to be from restaurants came in, and I couldn't help but swallow my saliva as I overheard their conversation with the owner. If this shop was nearby, I would definitely visit often. It's truly a great liquor store!

Fukuhara Sake Store, located at 3-6-8 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo, can be reached at 03-3831-2235. It is a stylish liquor store located about a 5-minute walk from Shin-Okachimachi Station on the Tsukuba Express and Oedo Line, nestled in a residential area. The store's distinctive exterior features cedar and bamboo, making it stand out even from a distance. Inside, the walls are lined with a wide variety of alcohol, with a focus on Japanese sake but also offering craft beer, shochu, fruit wine, and wine. Particularly noteworthy is the wine selection, which is stored in a dedicated cellar-like area accessed through a staircase in the back of the store, giving it a secret base vibe. While the craft beer selection is not extensive, it includes both domestic and international brews, with many lesser-known domestic breweries represented. The reviewer purchased beers from Derailler Brew Works in Osaka, including Peach Milkshake Sour Ale, Yuzu Sour IPA, Vanilla Mikan Smoothie Ale, and Sake IPA, all of which were impressive. Derailler Brew Works, founded in 2018 in Osaka's Nishinari Ward, is known for its unique beer designs and flavors. The standout beer was the Ms. MANDARIN FROM BEIJING, which had a sweet and smooth orange juice-like appearance and taste. Overall, the reviewer found the selection of beers to be impressive and delicious, with a wide variety that may lead to indecision. Despite visiting for craft beer, the reviewer was tempted to purchase sake as well, considering the store's extensive offerings. The reviewer also mentioned hosting sake tasting events and expressed interest in returning to the store for sake purchases. The store frequently updates its inventory on Instagram, making it a must-follow for enthusiasts.