
When first arriving in Tokyo, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with all of the nightlife options this bustling metropolis has to offer. This is why on my latest visit, I sought out the services of Arigato Food Tours Japan. While looking through their experiences, I came across their Luxury Tokyo Sake, Cocktail, Whisky and Pairing Tour. The tour had five stops around the Shimbashi and Ginza areas of Tokyo. Along the way, there was lots of information provided which wasn’t always just about food and drink, but also about Japanese culture and history. Very interesting!
The first drink-stop of the tour was at a Japanese craft beer bar. There were tons of beers on tap, I went for the Coffee Stout which blew my mind! We had a few side dishes to take the edge off as well (I arrived super hungry) because I plan ahead for these things. Strategize!
Our tour guides (yes, plural) were quite insightful as they had both spent many years living in Japan. We had a short walk to our next destination which was also the first time that I’ve ever tried Matcha Beer. It may sound like it wouldn’t fit together but in actuality, it was absolutely delicious! We also sampled miso cheese and a few other side dishes. The miso cheese was my favorite for the food!
The alcohol started to work its magic on me and then it was time to go to a proper sake tasting. This was the most formal part of the tour as it was at high-end sake brand’s tasting room. We learned all about how they grind down the rice to make different qualities of sake. Long story short, the more the rice is ground down, the higher the quality of sake produced.
Towards the end of the evening, there were two stops that both offered great cocktails, but both were very different experiences. I liked the variety! The first venue was my style, very chic with good service, drinks, and atmosphere. I went for the Soba Caramel Banana Cocktail which was one of their Signature Tea Cocktails, it was a lovely dessert. I’d get another!
The final stop was at an underground bar with a very dark and mysterious theme. This was the cherry on top of the whole experience, and where I was able to sample some tasty and especially beautiful cocktails. As you can see from the photos, one had a giant cloud of cotton candy and the other had octopus! Another great venue. We finished off the drinks with some fantastic chocolate.
Arigato Food Tours Japan definitely enlightened me on where to spend my evenings in Tokyo. The Luxury Tokyo Sake, Cocktail, Whisky and Pairing Tour turned out to be very enjoyable and educational. I learned a lot more than I expected about a wide range of Japanese related topics. If you’re looking for a great way to dive head first into the nightlife of Tokyo book a tour with Arigato Food Tours Japan!
Book your experience with promotional code “PIERRE10” to receive a 10% discount!
Tour
Japan, 〒106-0045 Tokyo, Minato, Azabujuban, 1 Chome−2−7 ラフィネ麻布十番701号室
Phone: +81 90-6484-9577