Liquor Store Spots in Japan

Area

Japan
- Japan
- Hokkaido / Tohoku
  
  Hokkaido
  
  Aomori
  
  Iwate
  
  Miyagi
  
  Akita
  
  Yamagata
  
  Fukushima
- Kanto
  
  Ibaraki
  
  Tochigi
  
  Gunma
  
  Saitama
  
  Chiba
  
  Tokyo
  
  Kanagawa
- Koshinetsu / Hokuriku
  
  Niigata
  
  Toyama
  
  Ishikawa
  
  Fukui
  
  Yamanashi
  
  Nagano
- Tokai
  
  Gifu
  
  Shizuoka
  
  Aichi
  
  Mie
- Kinki
  
  Shiga
  
  Kyoto
  
  Osaka
  
  Hyogo
  
  Nara
  
  Wakayama
- Chugoku
  
  Tottori
  
  Shimane
  
  Okayama
  
  Hiroshima
  
  Yamaguchi
- Shikoku
  
  Tokushima
  
  Kagawa
  
  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Shopping

Groceries

Liquor Store

Chitosetsuru Sake Museum

Shopping

Hokkaido Sapporoshi Chuou-ku Minamisanjouhigashi 5-1

The Chitosetsuru Sake Museum has been awarded the gold award 14 years running in the National Research Institute of Brewing Awards. Real Hokkaido sake, born in Hokkaido and brewed in Hokkaido. In the museum is a display area where you can find out about the history and specialties of brewing sake, as well as a tasting counter. You can also taste the water used for brewing, said to be the lifeblood of sake, and purchase sake directly from the brewery at the shop. The museum is a five minute walk from exit 9, Bus Center-mae Station on the Tozai Subway Line. Entry is free of charge and the museum is closed only over the end of the year and New Year holidays.
Echigo Sake Museum Ponshu-kan

Shopping

Nigata Pref. Minamiuonumagunyuzawamachi Yuzawa 2427-3

This is a Niigata local sake and rice themed shopping center located within JR Niigata station. Visitors can enjoy sake made in 93 different breweries from the Niigata Echigo area in the “Sake Tasting corner” and “rice ball bombs” made from Koshihikari rice grown in the Minamiuonuma area at the “Yukinhora” restaurant as well as a sake bath called the “Yunosawa” in the facility. In the produce sales section, special Niigata products such as local foods using rice and “koji” rice malt, sake and confectioneries are sold. It is an irresistible spot for those who are Japanese sake enthusiasts.
Hiroi Liquor Store

Shopping

Shizuoka Ito-shi Yawatano 1298-9

A ten-minute walk from Izu-Kogen Station on the Izu-Kyuko Line. This liquor shop located in the Izu Kogen Highlands is surrounded by a row of cherry trees. They offer local Izu sake and craft beer including the popular Rashomon sake. Highly recommended is their specialty Ike sake. It's aged quietly for eight months in a warehouse and then sold for a limited period just once a year. They also sell classic nostalgic sweets and candies. The shop was the model for the Iida Saketen Liquor Shop that appeared in popular manga and anime Yuru Camp and in the shop you'll find stamps that are drawn from the comic.
Kiuchi Brewery Honten

Shopping

Ibaraki Pref. Nakashi Kounosu 1257

"A long-standing brewery established in 1823 located a five-minute walk from Hitachi-Konosu Station on the JR Suigun Line. The brewery makes the Kikusakari refined sake, shochu, wine, liqueurs, and other alcoholic beverages. The grounds enclose the brewery's daiginjo storehouse, boiler room, koji production room, and other brewing facilities. There's also a shop where visitors can taste and purchase an abundant variety of alcoholic beverages, merchandise, and products while enwrapped in the brewery's distinctive atmosphere. The adjoining Nakaya restaurant serves handmade soba noodles, sake, and Hitachino Nest Beer inside a Taisho period storehouse. The restaurant's ""Sake Soba,"" juwari soba noodles made with just 100% buckwheat flour and, unusually, sake, are particularly popular."
Moriya Shuzo (Sake Brewery)

3.5

3 Reviews

Shopping

Sanmu City, Chiba Prefecture Hasunuma Ha 2929

Moriya Shuzo is a sake brewery that was founded in 1893. Its main products are Maizakura sake, made with 100% Chiba-grown rice, and Morimasa rice shochu (distilled liquor). Tours of the brewery are offered (by reservation only), and visitors can taste the brewery's products free of charge and buy some to take home in the adjacent shop. With a spacious parking lot, the brewery can handle large tour buses. It welcomes about 100,000 visitors per year.

美味しいお酒からのんでいくので、部屋に残ってるお酒は、ズイマーなのばかり。。以前、蔵ライブの時に買った米ショーチューをついに、最後まで飲みきりました。。。千葉県代表チーバくん描いてあるから、これは千葉県を代表味わいのお酒なのかなーn(^o^)/ と期待したですけど、、ズイマーやった。。飲みきるのに5年くらいかかっちまったよーー。チーバくんが描...
Tohei Shuzo Co. Ltd.

5.0

4 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Chiba Pref. Kimitsushi Kururichiba 147

"This brewery located along the Kururi Highway was founded in 1716. It brews the renowned sake ""Fukuiwai"" that uses remarkable water from Kururi that was chosen as one of the 100 Exquisite and Well-Conserved Waters of the Heisei Period (1989?2019), and has been highly receiving, winning gold medals seven times at the Annual Japan Sake Awards. Although it does not offer tours, there is an adjoining direct sales shop where you can enjoy free samples."

車で久留里城見学の帰り数軒の蔵元を発見！その内の一軒『藤平酒造』さんに立ちより蔵出しのひやおろし「福祝」をゲット。薄にごりの口あたりのよい、うまくちで早々に友人の御祝用と我が家用に一升瓶を取り寄せました！昨年の台風で蔵元の被害状況が心配です！
Kida Sake

Shopping

Kouchi Pref. Kouchishi Aioichou 4-10

This liquor store is located in Aioi-cho, Kochi City. It offers local sakes from Tosa breweries including Suigei, Kameizumi, Kure, Bijofu, Akitora, and Tosatsuru, carefully-selected brands from across Japan, and a selection of shochu, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.
Japanese Sake Brewery TENRYOU

4.5

3 Reviews

Shopping

Gifu Gero-shi Hagiwaracho Hagiwara 1289-1

A 15-minute drive from Gero Station on the JR Takayama Main Line. This long standing brewery makes sake and shochu with choice rice, water, and people. The brewery's Tenryo sake is lovingly crafted by the chief brewer using Hidahomare, a local specialty rice ideal for sake making; and underground spring water from the Hida Mountains. Instilled with the spirt of brewery founder Hinoya Sahei, this sake is the embodiment of Hida. The brewery's novel products like the sparkling sweet sake Sumasuma are also popular. Visitors can tour the brewery year round for free, and also enjoy sake tasting (advance reservation required).

We were there before their renovation. The Manager speaks English and gave us a box full of tokens to try their free flow sake. Check the availability for their next brewery tour after renovation.
Urakasumi Sake Gallery

Shopping

Miyagi Pref. Shiogamashi Motomachi 2-19

A 10 minute drive from the Rifu Shiogama and Rifu-naka interchanges on the Sanriku Expressway. Adjoining the brewery which makes Urakasumi, one of Miyagi's top local sakes, this gallery serves as a space for providing information on a variety of sakes as well as on Shiogama. Dedicated to providing on Japan's culture of sake which gave birth to Urakasumi, the facility displays and sells exclusive products such as drinking vessels and sakes you can only purchase and taste locally. At the sake tasting counter, you can purchase an original sake cup which allows you to sample various sakes. The lineup of sakes changes monthly and you can bring your cup home as a souvenir.
Buko Shuzo Yanagida Sohonten

Travel / Tourism

Saitama Pref. Chichibushi Miyakawachou 21-27

A three minute walk from the Chichibu Station on the Chichibu Railway, this historic brewery, founded in 1753, proudly produces the Buko Masamune brand sake, having a history of winning many awards and competitions. The sake is brewed using the ground water from Mt. Buko which is drawn up from a well within the confines of the brewery. Visitors arriving during business hours bringing their own containers can take this water home. 40 minute tours of the brewery are offered which end with a sake tasting event (reservations required). The two story wooden structure of the brewery built during the late Edo period is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
Hakurei Brewing Co., Ltd.

4.0

7 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Miyadushi Yura 949

Established in 1832, this historic sake brewery is located approximately a seven-minute walk from the Tango-Yura Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway and approximately a 20-minute from the Miyazu-Amanohashidate Interchange off the Kyoto-Jukan Expressway. Visitors may tour the wine storehouse and casks from the early 1800s Tenpo era, when the winery was established, can listen to the history and story behind the origin of the name, and, of course, enjoy wine tasting the raw sake made on site. Next to the sake storehouse is a small shop selling various alcoholic delicacies including small brew sakes and liqueurs, and other related miscellaneous items. The tour lasts approximately 30 minutes. One can also rest and enjoy sake sweets in the cafe created inside the old rice mill.

일본 맥주가 유명하다보니 이런 곳에 꼭 방문하고 싶었습니다. 내부에 들어가보지는 못했지만 겉에서 보기에도 장인이 근무할 것만 같은 곳이었어요.
Suginoya Brewery

4.0

19 Reviews

Shopping

Fukuoka Fukuoka-shi Nishi-ku Motoka 1442

This venerable brewery, established in 1870, is located just behind the Kyushu University Ito Campus about a one-minute walk from the Motooka bus stop or about a five-minute drive from JR Susenji Station. It is one of the few breweries in Hakata to have received awards at the Japan Sake Awards. The brewery offers free brewery tours and sake tastings. It also has a shop where visitors can buy sake, craft beer, seasonal exclusives, and other products. In addition, visitors can also try the brewery's Suginoya Beer, which has only available at the brewery. Visitors can enjoy one set of three, the brewery's Gold Prize-winning amber ale, pale ale, and stout with specialty dishes such as its sake brewery pizza and sake brewery curry.

とにかく美味しいんです。日本酒とビールが個人的にはお気に入りですが、その中でも白ビールは絶品だと思います。
Nishioka Brewery

Shopping

Kouchi Pref. Takaokagunnakatosachou Kure 6154

This sake brewery and shop is in Nakatosa Town, Takaoka County, Kochi Prefecture. Founded in 1781, it has over 230 years of history and makes and sells a variety of sake, including Junmai Ginjo made with rice grown with clean Shimanto river water, as well as those in the Kure line named after the village made famous in the manga Tosa no Ipponzuri. Since this is the prefecture's oldest sake brewery, the shop also has a gallery space with exhibitions related to the manga artist behind Tosa no Ipponzuri, Yusuke Aoyagi, and tools and goods related to sake brewing.
Daiichi Shuzou Kaika

Shopping

Tochigi Sano-shi Tajimacho 488

At more than 330 years old, this sake brewery founded in 1673 is the oldest sake brewery in the prefecture. It has earned eleven Gold Awards in 20 years at the Japan Sake Awards, indicating its highly technical prowess. Their Kaika sake is made with clean and pure water selected as one of Japan's 100 best waters and rice planted and harvested by brewery employees on its own rice paddies. It is one of the three most famous sakes of Kanto.
Shimazaki Shuzo

4.5

28 Reviews

Shopping

Tochigi Nasukarasuyama-shi Chuo 1-11-18

This sake brewery was established in 1849 by its founder Shimazaki Hikobe. It works hard every day with a single goal of making great sake. The brewery offers tours of its sake cave, which was originally an underground tank factory built at the end of the World War II. It also offers sake-making experiences. Each program requires a reservation. Some of the brewery's popular sakes include Azumarikishi, Uroko, and Kiwamishizuku.

自宅から１時かからないのですが初めまして行きました。東力士の大吟醸(辛口)を私が試飲して父にプレゼントしました。ほどよい辛口で口当たりが滑らかで呑みやすく、美味しいです。ついでにクリームチーズの酒粕漬けも購入。一口食べた瞬間ふわっと清酒(東力士)がほのかに香り、さらにチーズの濃厚さとコクが凄くワインではなく日本酒が欲しくなります。インパクト強いです。英語版⬇ I did not take...
Katayama Shuzo

5.0

24 Reviews

Shopping

Tochigi Nikko-shi Segawa 146-2

"This sake brewery uses water from the Sake no Izumi, which has a nearly-religious following amongst sake connoisseurs thanks to its reputation for producing great sake. Known for its association with legends about the Buddhist monk Kukai, the aptly-named ""spring of sake"" is counted amongst the Three Miraculous Waters of Nikko. The brewery also pays great attention to the rice and yeast it uses. It is also notable for its use of the Sase-style straining, a time-consuming technique that forgoes the use of presses but ensures that the flavor of the rice remains in the sake. The brewery also offers tours to groups of up to 30. Large groups should call ahead of time."

Short walk from the Nikko train station we arrived at Katayama Shuzo. We were greeted by the owner and his wife. The owner took us on a tour (no shoes), due to our timing the sake brewing season was...
Kyouwa Syuzou Brewery Shop KURAMOTO

Shopping

Ehime Iyo-gun Tobecho Ominami 400

This Japanese sake direct sales shop is located along Prefectural Route 53 in Ominami, Tobe Town, Iyo County. It is part of the brewery operated by Kyouwa Syuzou, the makers of the famous Hatsuyukihai brand of sake. Visitors can sample and purchase the brewery’s regular products as well as limited-issue products. It is also possible to see vintage sake-making tools on display and purchase Tobe-yaki sake cups and bottles. Tobe-yaki Ware is a local style of pottery that is a specialty of the region. A cafe, Sakagura Cafe Hatsuyuki, is also attached to the shop.
Nikitatsu Club

4.0

11 Reviews

Shopping

Ehime Matsuyama-shi Dogokitamachi 3-23

This direct sales shop is attached to the Minakuchi Shuzo brewery in Dogokita-machi, Matsuyama City. Visitors can sample and purchase a wide variety of the company’s products, most notably Japanese sakes such as Nikitatsu and Dogo Kurazake, which have been brewed since the Meiji period. Other offerings include Dogo Beer, Dogo Ale, a sparkling alcoholic beverage using local fruits, and Dogo Shochu, a distilled liquor made with sake lees and other ingredients from Ehime. The shop also sells sake vessels and original brewery merchandise.

道後温泉のお土産で立ち寄り。水口酒造の直営店。中心地から少し離れた場所に。お酒、焼酎、日本酒で作られた化粧水などいろいろあり。焼酎3本、日本酒、ジン、化粧水など購入。お土産の化粧水をちょっと拝借して使わせていただくが結構いい感じ。でも結構重いな。。。嵩張るな。。。
Ueda Saketen

4.0

2 Reviews

Shopping

Gifu Gujo-shi Hachimancho Honmachi 846-3

A three-minute walk from Miyagase Bridge, this is the oldest liquor store on Gujo Hachiman's waterfront area. The shop's Hida-style architecture gives a feel of its history. They offer a host of local sakes, rare hizoshu varieties, and more. Their daiginjo drip fresh sake is bottled from the droplets falling from a hanging bag is renowned nationwide. They only make 100 bottles of this precious hijzooshu sake annually. A wooden water trough in front of the store was made in Gujo 400 years ago. It's filled with spring water flowing from a limestone cave system. The slightly hard water is ideal for brewing sake, miso, and soy sauce. A machine provides empty plastic bottles so you can take some water with you.

[本町]には郡上八幡感をタップリ感じさせてくれる外観を持った店舗として[上田酒店][桜間見屋][平野本店]の3軒があり、[上田酒店]では郡上おどりの保存会会長に依頼し《踊り上手な人》だけが入手出来る免状があり、その免状を日本酒のラヘルにした《踊り免状シリース添付写真参照》があります。この《踊り免状シリース》を有料試飲として[純米原酒 or 本醸原酒どちらも生、量的に1合弱...
Oita Sake Brewery (Kami-sannomachi Shop)

Shopping

Gifu Takayama-shi Kamisannomachi 67

A shop run by the Oita Sake Brewery, which makes the dry tasting Onikoroshi (Ogre Killer) sake. It's located in Kamisannocho, an Important National Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings. They sell sake and various kinds of shochu Japanese liquor delivered fresh from the brewery every day, as well as and the work of local artists. They hold seasonal sake tastings too. Their tasting counter lets you compare various brews and try sake cocktails, sake and coke, cloudy sake with soda, and more.