Tokyo Kabukicho: Japanese Sake Tasting & Snack Pairing

Summary

Sample eight exclusive sakes in Tokyo’s lively Kabukicho with snacks

You’ll sip eight rare Japanese sakes in Tokyo’s Kabukicho district with a local guide who explains each pour and shares snack pairings along the way. Try crisp or rich flavors, learn how temperature changes taste, and end with a soothing cup of amazake for dessert. Expect laughter over language slips and small moments you’ll remember long after leaving Tokyo.

What’s the experience like?

Someone slides a tiny glass across the table — not a word, just a nod and that little smile you see everywhere in Tokyo. The place is tucked away in Kabukicho, all neon outside but calm inside. We’d barely sat down before our guide started pouring the first sake, clear as rainwater. She told us it was from Niigata, “soft and clean,” she said, and I actually tried to smell what she meant. There’s this faint rice sweetness if you really pay attention — or maybe I imagined it because everyone else seemed so focused.

The tasting moved slow at first. Eight different sakes lined up, each one with its own story (and alcohol percentage). Our guide didn’t rush us — she let us ask about the labels, which I couldn’t read at all. At some point, she passed around these crunchy little crackers that tasted salty and almost sweet at once. They said pairing snacks with sake changes everything; honestly, it did make the second cup taste rounder? Or maybe I was just getting into it by then.

I tried to say “kanpai” like everyone else but probably butchered it — Li laughed and showed me again. By the time we reached the last sake (something cloudy and thicker), my notes had turned into doodles of chopsticks instead of flavor profiles. The final drink was amazake, warm and creamy, almost like dessert but not sugary. It’s supposed to be healthy too; our host called it “drinkable IV.” I still think about that gentle sweetness days later — maybe because it felt so different from anything back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Sake tasting and snack experience

• Start with low alcohol sakes
• Taste sakes with varied aromas
• Enjoy traditional Japanese snacks
• Savor sweet amazake dessert drink

Top questions

How many sakes do you taste during this experience?

You’ll taste eight different Japanese sakes during the session.

Is food included in the sake tasting?

Yes, traditional Japanese snacks are served to pair with each sake.

Where does the sake tasting take place?

The experience takes place in Kabukicho, Tokyo.

Is this suitable for people new to sake?

Yes, both newcomers and enthusiasts can join; guidance is provided throughout.

Are under-20s allowed on this tour?

No, participants must be 20 years or older due to alcohol laws in Japan.

Is public transportation nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to the venue.

Does this include all fees and taxes?

Yes, all fees and taxes are included in your booking price.

What’s included

Your day includes eight carefully selected Japanese sakes only available in Japan, traditional snack pairings for each pour, a sweet amazake dessert drink at the end of your tasting journey in Kabukicho, plus all fees and taxes covered so you can just relax and enjoy every sip.