ASAGAYA
Yotta
03-3336-7650
2-15-4 Asagaya Kita
Excellent and diverse sake selections. Open 6 to 12pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.
 
AWAJICHO
Mushu
03-3255-1108
1-1-1 Kanda Awajicho
Mushu has a funky interior, a very interesting food menu, and a wide range of unique sake. Among eSake Top Ten. Open 5 to 11:30pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Prices below average to moderate.

DAIKANYAMA
Ichi
03-3715-0291
3-5-8 Ebisu Minami
Pleasant atmosphere. 15 or so sake selections, and food consisting of upscale and creative variations on traditional izakaya fare. Reservations recommended. Open 5:30 to 11:30pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Moderate Prices.

GAIENMAE
Kura
03-5474-0445
3-2-3 Minami Aoyama
Decent selection of good sakes to taste and explore, although focus of place is "creative food from all countries." Open 5pm to 2am. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Moderate Prices.

HACHIOJI
Sake no Ikesu
0462-42-1508
3-10-6 Meijin-cho
Worth the trip thanks to its great food, sake, and ambience. Take north exit at station. Open 5 to 11pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.

HIGASHI JUJO
Arakawa
03-3912-1430
3-3-1 Higashi Jujo
JR Keihin Tohoku Line. Some fine sake selections that go well with the pub's mainstay -- top-rate tempura; highly polished place; manager very friendly; ask for his advice. Open 5 to 9pm. Lunch 11:30am to 2pm. Closed Wednesday Expensive.

HIRO
Bincho
03-5474-0755
3-10-5 Roppongi
Excellent yakitori served with fine sake in a dark and woody interior. Best bet is to buy the 3,500 yen course, both filling and tasty. Ask or point for your sake. Open 6 to 12pm. Expensive.

HIRO
Foods Bar
03-3423-8140
3-24-20 Nishi Azabu
A woody interior with about 15 carefully selected sakes from around Japan, and good food. Open 6pm to 2am. Closed Sunday. Moderate Prices.

HIRO
Kuri
03-3497-0881
Motoazabu 2-11-1
Near Hiro and Roppongi stations, directly across the street from Sakaya Kurihara in Moto-Azabu. It's tiny, seating perhaps a dozen, but offers upwards of 100 sakes, much of it very special and unique. There is an all-English version of the sake menu, too. The fare is mostly small curiously flavored snacks from around Japan chosen to compliment the sake. Open 6 to 10:30pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive

IDABASHI
Mokichi
03-3267-5307
35 Yokoderamachi
Recommended for a night of good, hearty inaka (countryside) food and the sake to go with it. Fun but not serene atmosphere. Come in a sociable mood. Open 4:30 to 11:30pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Moderate Prices.

IKEBUKURO
Akebono
03-3988-3545
2-4-6 Ikebukuro
Over 100 sake selections from all over Japan. Run by energetic couple who make you feel at home. Fun place. Open 5 to 11pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.

IKEBUKURO
Kagaribi
03-3986-4318
3-22-10 Nishi Ikebukuro
Good selection of sake and decent food, mostly delicious stewed stuff with a homemade touch. Open 5 to 12pm. Closed Sunday. Moderate Prices.

IKEBUKURO
Miharukoma
03-3971-0888
3-29-11 Nishi Ikebukuro
Excellent slection of sake, with wall board listing most popular 20. Large menu supplemented by seasonal selections. Open 5 to 11pm. Very Expensive.

IKEBUKURO
Misato
03-3981-0280
1-31-6 Ikebukuro
Over 130 sake selections. Definitely a shop for the sake enthusiast. Food chosen to complement the sake. Open 5 to 11:15pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.

IKEBUKURO
Sasashu
03-3971-9363
2-2-2 Ikebukuro
Warm and friendly atmosphere for groups of 4-6 people. Excellent grilled food and some wonderful sake selections. Upscale and beautifully traditional. Not cheap, but nice. Among eSake Top Ten. Open 5 to 10pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.

IKEBUKURO
Tonerian
03-3985-0254
1-38-9 Nishi Ikebukuro
Plenty of good sake, while the food is nearly always seasonal specialities. The more rustic 1st floor fills up fast, so get here early to get a seat downstairs. Open 4 to 12pm. Moderate Prices.

IKEBUKURO
Yorozuya Matsukaze
03-3986-1047
1-24-5 Nishi Ikebukuro
Dark and rustic. Offers about 25 sakes. Theme of place is folklore of the Hida Takayama region of Gifu Prefecture. Food matches the atmosphere and the sake. Open All Year. On normal days from 5 to 11:30 pm, but on Sunday and Holidays from 5 to 11am. Moderate Prices.

IKEJIRI OHASHI
Kazuya
03-5722-3321
3-2-4 Higashiyama, Meguro-ku
About 80 fine sake selections, plus excellent yakitori dinners. Ask staff for sake recommendations.Open 5pm to 2am. Closed Tuesday. Moderate Prices.

KAMIYACHO
Tohazu
03-3435-1082
3-7-11 Toranomon
The food is good, the presentation is sharp, and there is plenty of excellent sake. The setting is a bit more modern than the average place. Open 5 to 10:30pm. Closed Saturday Sunday Holidays. Moderate Prices.

KANNAI
Tomohiro
045-261-0078
Higashi-michi, Fukutomi-cho, 38 Chuo-ku
Excellent sake menu with special focus on sake from Niigata Prefecture. Fresh food and excellent sashimi. Friendly master. Open 5pm to 2am. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.

KOJIMACHI
Japontei
03-3263-3642
3-4 Kojimachi
Appealing atmosphere. Good selection of sake and mostly Japanese food, with lots of fish. Among eSake Top Ten. Open 6pm to 2am. Lunch 11:30am to 3:30pm. Closed Saturday Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.

MONZEN NAKACHO
Kai
03-3820-4855
1-6-5 Tomioka
Seats about 25, comfortable atmosphere, large food menu, and plenty of excellent sake selections. Open 5:30 to 11pm. Closed Sunday. Moderate Prices.

MONZEN NAKACHO
Osaka-ya
03-3641-2325
2-2-2 Monzen Nakacho
Osaka-ya is a liquor shop running a tachinomi (a bar at which patrons must stand). Very narrow and cramped; friendly crowd; 2-drink limit. Open 5 to 8pm. Closed Saturday Sunday Holidays. Inexpensive.

NAKANO
Ajiyoshi
03-3388-5471
5-59-1 Nakano
Boasts more types of sake than anyplace else in Tokyo. Quirky rules for drinkers (e.g., they don't like to give sake recommendations). But well worth a visit. Open 6:00pm to 1:30am. On Sunday and Holidays, Opens 6pm to 1am. Expensive.

NISHI OGIKUBO
Harubaru Tei
03-3334-5133
3-40-10 Shoan
Almost always full. Overflowing with sake selections; seasonal vegetables are big on the menu here. Open 6pm to 1am.
Closed Monday. Moderate Prices.

NISHI OGIKUBO
Yakitori Masa
03-3395-9667
3-31-10 Nishi Ogi Kita
Famous and lively. Serves tasty yakitori. There is sake to fill all budgets, but there is no sake menu, so you must know what you want or point to it on the shelf. Open 5:30 to 12pm. Closed Wednesday. Expensive.

NOGIZAKA
Sakebayashi Hanna
03-3405-9888
1-25-2 Minami Aoyama
Quiet, friendly, and relaxed place 10 minutes from Roppongi crossing. All junmaishu 1,500 yen per decanter, ginjoshu 1000 yen per glass. All dishes 500 yen. Open 6 to 11pm. Closed Saturday Sunday and Holidays. Inexpensive.

OCHANOMIZU
Genkainada
03-3291-0053
3-2 Kanda Ogawamachi
A gem of a place. Seats less than 20, with over 20 excellent sakes. Sister shop upstairs offers good food (yakitori, sushi, sashimi, salad, baked fish) to match your sake sipping. Open 5 to 12pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Moderate Prices.

OTSUKA
Kushigoma
03-3917-6657
2-32-25 Kita Ikebukuro
Small, popular, with extremely creative food and wonderful fish. Good sake selections. Make reservations well in advance. Open 6 to 12pm. Closed Sunday. Expensive.

OTSUKA
Konakara
03-5394-2340
1-14-7 Kita-Otsuka, Toshima-ku
Five minutes from JR Otsuka-station
Although a bit out of the way and a bit quiet, the food, sake and beer are outstanding at this small shop run by a young husband and wife team. Fresh, seasonal dishes and sake both change with regularity. Small counter and two tables only. Among eSake Top Ten. Open 6 to 11:30pm. Closed Wednesday.

ROPPONGI
Bincho
03-5474-0755
3-10-5 Roppongi
Excellent yakitori served with fine sake in a dark and woody interior. Best bet is to buy the 3,500 yen course, both filling and tasty. Ask or point for your sake. Open 6 to 12pm. Expensive.

ROPPONGI
Foods Bar
03-3423-8140
3-24-20 Nishi Azabu
A woody interior with about 15 carefully selected sakes from around Japan, and good food. Open 6pm to 2am. Closed Sunday. Moderate Prices.

ROPPONGI
Kuri
03-3497-0881
Motoazabu 2-11-1
Near Hiro and Roppongi stations, directly across the street from Sakaya Kurihara in Moto-Azabu. It's tiny, seating perhaps a dozen, but offers upwards of 100 sakes, much of it very special and unique. There is an all-English version of the sake menu, too. The fare is mostly small curiously flavored snacks from around Japan chosen to compliment the sake. Open 6 to 10:30pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.

SANGENJAYA
Akaoni
03-3410-9918
2-15-3 Sangenjaya
More than 100 sake selections at fair to expensive prices. Friendly staff and good food. Reservations recommended, as is their sashimi moriawase. Not excessively priced, but not cheap. Among eSake Top Ten. Open 5:30 to 11:30pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.

SANGENJAYA
Matsuri Bayashi
03-3419-6980
4-22-12 Taishido
Loaded with good sake. Food is ample and creative. Open 5pm to 2am. Closed Holidays. Inexpensive.

SHIBUYA
Jizake
03-3496-5295
2-19-3 Dogenzaka
About 50 sake selections. Food mostly fish, nabe, and other small dishes to complement the sake. Open 5pm to 3am. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Moderate Prices.

SHIBUYA
Sakanatei
03-3780-1313
2-23-15 Dogenzaka
Small, cozy and popular. Make reservations. Large selection of sake, while food is creative and fresh and displayed in bowls on the counter. Among eSake Top Ten. Open 5:30 to 11pm. Closed Sunday. Moderate Prices.

SHIBUYA
The Za
03-3461-9598
25-9 Udagawa-cho
Loud, boisterous, and popular, with excellent, wide-ranging and creative food. The sake list is full of 40 or so unique, zesty selections that are generally hard to get in Tokyo. Among eSake Top Ten. Open 5 to 12pm. Open also for lunch. Call for times. Moderate Prices.

SHIBUYA
Shunju
03-3770-0019
2-32-12 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku
Located five minutes from Shibuya Station, up Dogenzaka. Large, divided into several areas with distinctly different atmospheres; earthy, dark and woody overall. Try to get a low table on the second floor. Wonderful, unique food and sake menu, with lots of fresh vegetables, fish and tofu. English menu as well. Among eSake Top Ten. Open 6:00 to 11:30pm. Fairly priced but not cheap.

SHIBUYA
Unosato
03-3496-2087
36-11 Udagawa-cho
Quiet and traditional. Food is delicate and beautifully presented, and the sake menu is just big enough to ensure there are both old favorites and new treats. Open 5 to 11pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.

SHIMBASHI
Isomura
03-3433-3982
3-23-7 Shimbashi
Nice down-home feeling. Small place serving about 20 kinds of sake, and 25 dishes that change daily with the season. Open 5 to 11pm. Closed Saturday Sunday and Holidays. Moderate Prices.

SHINJUKU
Amanogawa
03-3344-0111
Ext. 5950
2-2-1 Nishi Shinjuku
Mostly ginjoshu sake served here. Plenty of wonderful, classy selections; best to let manager select for you, as she knows what is on hand. Open 5 to 10pm. Lunch 11:30am to 2pm. Very Expensive.

SHINJUKU
Donjaka
03-3357-8090
3-6-12 Shinjuku
Eyebrow-raising yet simple variations on Japanese food that are worth a try. Good, solid workingman' sake with a dozen or so selections. Open 4pm to 5am. Moderate Prices.

SHINJUKU
Jizake-ya
03-3205-3690
2-46-7 Kabuki-cho
About 150 sake selections, seats about 25, and serves simple but decent food. Open 6pm to 1am. Closed 2nd Sunday Every Month. Very Expensive.

SHINJUKU
Ryuma
03-3354-7956
3-21-4 Shinjuku
Large selection of both hard-to-find and commonly found sake; curious food menu built around 47 different iwashi (sardine) variations. Open 5 to 12pm.

SHINJUKU
Taruichi
03-3208-9772
1-17-12 Kabukicho
Great variety of Miyagi Prefecture sake, while whale is the specialty of the kitchen. Nice izakaya atmosphere and fair prices. Located in Kabukicho area. Among eSake Top Ten. Open 5 to 10pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Moderate Prices.

SHINJUKU
Totoya
03-5272-9556
1-21-1 Kabukicho
Sake from every prefecture in Japan that brews it, shochu from Kagoshima, and awamori from Okinawa. You can' beat the diversity or prices. Open 5 to 11pm. On Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, Opens 3-11pm. Inexpensive.

SHIN OCHANOMIZU
Ichinochaya
03-3251-8517
2-21-10 Kanda Awajicho
Specially selected sake that you won' find in the stores. Food is complex and diverse in flavor. Open 5 to 11pm. Closed Saturday Sunday and Holidays. Very Expensive.

SHINSEN
Sakura
03-3461-2104
17-2 Maruyama-cho
Charming and traditional shop. Reservations must be made at least 2 days in advance. Wonderful food, with a homemade touch. Courses start at 5000 yen. Large sake selection. Open 5:30-11:30pm.
Closed Sunday and Holidays. Expensive.

TAMACHI
Komahachi
03-3453-2530
5-16-1 Shiba
Always crowed, always fun. About 20 good sake selections and good food that comes in large portions. Open 5 to 11:30pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Moderate Prices.

TOKYO STATION
Fukube
03-3271-6065
1-4-5 Yaesu
A real find. Very small and old, with 40 or so excellent sakes for both warm or chilled drinking. Dirt cheap and comfortable. Open 4:30 to 10:30pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Inexpensive.

TORANOMON
Hanataro
03-3591-8970
1-16-9 Toranomon
Great atmosphere, excellent food, and great sake. Best to leave sake selections to manager. Make reservations. Open 5 to 11:30pm. Closed Saturday Sunday and Holidays. Very Expensive (around 10,000 per person).

TORANOMON
Suzuden
03-3580-1944
1-2-15 Toranomon
Boisterous and brightly lit. Sake is outstanding. Food ain' gourmet but it will fill you up. Open 5 to 10:30pm. Closed Saturday Sunday and Holidays. Inexpensive.

UENO HIROKOJI
Odako
03-3836-4906
2-3-1 Ueno
Boasts about 45 kinds of sake and serves oden (fish cakes and vegetables simmered in broth). Small cozy atmosphere. Open 5:30 to 10:30pm. Moderate Prices.

YOYOGI UEHARA
Sasagin
03-5454-3715
Yoyogi Uehara 1-32-15
See Full Review. Throws excellent food into the great sake equation at prices that bring you back. A wonderful dining and drinking experience. Among eSake Top Ten. Open 5 to 11:30pm. Saturday from 5 to 11pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Moderate Prices.

YURAKUCHO
Sake no Ana
03-3567-1133
3-5-8 Ginza
Large selection of sake from around Japan. Food is traditional izakaya, but a bit heavy on the tempura. Open 11am to 11pm. Closed Holidays. Expensive.

YUTENJI
Tachibana
03-3793-7434
1-21-2 Yutenji
Small traditional shop that serves only junmaishu. The food is good, and selected to complement the sake. Open 5:30 to 11:30pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Moderate Prices.

copyright John Gauntner and eSake.com