Sakaya Maekawa

This tavern with a conspicuous map of the Amami Islands above its sign is located in Nazeminato-machi, Amami City, a neighborhood with many attractive pubs and restaurants. It offers a diverse selection of brown sugar shochu, the distinctive distilled spirit of the Amami Islands. An entire wall of the tavern is covered with bottles from many famous brands. Each is organized by the island on which it was made, allowing guests to choose the variety that suits their preferences or their mood. The Naze-born proprietor is incredibly knowledgeable about brown sugar shochu, so guests can enjoy asking him about the spirit how is made or about the different flavor tendencies of each distillery. This homegrown establishment, where you are likely to witness the proprietor chatting with regulars, has a relaxing interior with stylings characteristic of Amami.