Casual Sake Tasting w/ Snacks in Kabukicho (Shinjuku)

Sake, an alcoholic drink made with fermented rice, has been a part of Japanese culture for over 2,500 years. It still brings people together today, whether in traditional Shinto rituals or late-night drinks among friends at izakaya bars. Walk into any Japanese liquor store, and you'll find dozens of varieties, each with different brewing methods, flavor profiles and origins. The choice can be overwhelming even for those well-versed in the craft of sake-making, but this sake-tasting experience allows you to sample eight varieties from across the country, representing various tastes and alcohol levels, to find the right one for you. For an easy start, your host will begin the tasting with low-alcohol content before moving through the selection to introduce sake with a more complex taste, body, and aroma. Your host will share traditional and modern snacks to pair with the drinks. Depending on the season and pairing dish, you may also try sake at various temperatures. The venue is a comfortable and inviting bar with a relaxed atmosphere. Your hosts will encourage you to have fun as you experiment with the different sake and food pairings. The food experience will end with a sweet dessert drink, amazake, made from fermented rice koji. There are plenty of places to go for a drink in Kabukicho, Shinjuku's bustling nightlife district. But if you're interested in learning about Japanese sake, rather than going to just any izakaya or bar, this tasting will provide you with a solid overview of Japan's national drink and give you the opportunity to try many different kinds so you can find your favorite one.