When curating this list, we put a lot of emphasis on quality drinks. But aside from the serious Ginza institutions and award-winning bars, we also want to include casual, less expensive venues that make great neighbourhood hangouts. Of course, if you're looking for one of Tokyo's legendary omakase-style bars, where the bartenders serve up seasonal specialities, you'll find plenty of those here, too. There are convenience stores, department stores, tobacco shops, and grocery stores that sell a wide selection of tobacco from domestic and foreign brands. Anyone over 20 can purchase it by showing their ID upon payment. At the cashier counter, you will then be asked to confirm that you are of age to make the purchase by pushing a button on the register screen.
The floor-to-ceiling windows face east, offering spectacular views over Kanda towards the Sumida River, with the Tokyo Skytree in the background. Virtù is a handsome cocktail lounge on the 39th floor in the luxe Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi. The tasting menus are ¥20,000 per head and you can book them for 10 people at a time. Thankfully, you don’t always have to book an entire tasting menu to sample what is easily the best bar food in Nakameguro.
Join her as she explores the city's vibrant neighborhoods and shares her favorite hidden gems and local hotspots. My Hookah Cafe is a must-visit hookah bar for anyone looking for a relaxing evening out. With a wide variety of flavors to choose from, patrons will have no trouble finding something they enjoy.
Yelo presents a refreshing spin on late-night dessert culture in a city traditionally favouring ramen for nocturnal indulgence, by featuring the unique concept of kakigori cocktails. Known as a staple sweet treat, kakigori – fluffy, mountainous piles of shaved ice – is ingeniously transformed into alcoholic delights at this bar, enticing dessert and cocktail enthusiasts alike. Bearing the stamp of approval from gaming heavyweights like Sega and SNK, the bar proudly offers themed cocktails (¥1,300) inspired by games like Guilty Gear and Kunio-kun. Even the glassware and coasters champion this gaming aesthetic – the latter making for perfect take-home memorabilia. The drink menu commences at a modest ¥900, providing an array of choices including bottled wine and champagne, promising an unforgettable experience at an affordable price. His cocktails are seasonally inspired, resulting in ever-changing flavours, with each visit providing a novel experience.
This card is Taspo, which you should tap onto the readers in the vending machines to buy cigarettes. Find out more about “Taspo” card application, by visiting the “Taspo” website. Again, to end underage smoking, Japan’s government introduced a program named Taspo. The applicants have to come in for a detailed age verification procedure to make sure that only those who are 20 years old or older are free to buy cigarettes from vending machines. Some hotels and other types of accommodation for rent in Japan such as shared houses or hostels contain both smoking and non-smoking rooms. The advice is to do research online first through hotel booking websites.
To help other travelers find their way to our recommended places to drink in Tokyo, we included a map link, as well as a Tokyo Bar Map at the end of the post. To give you more than just our opinion, we also provide links to reviews from other visitors to Tokyo bars. In April 2020, new smoking law went effective where it bans indoor smoking in restaurants, hotels, and offices. However, smoking indoors in cigar bars, private homes, and hotels exempt from this ban. A bit confusing here, but there are 2 different smoking rooms at a restaurant; designated smoking room and desingated heated tobacco smoking room. At the back of the shop, you can sit at the bar where, alongside glasses of wine, you can order from a weekly food menu of seasonal dishes created to pair with the bottles from the cellar.
Now, only a few remnants of the storied time survive in this upscale residential neighborhood. One of them is Ohka the Best Days, a craft beer bar that serves homemade gyōza. Although the bar only opened in 2019, Two Fingers has thrived on the knowledge and passion that Lovell and Sumiya bring to their small project. This craft beer bar is an easy choice for any wandering traveler. A mixture of shochu, club soda and lemon juice, the humble lemon sour isn't the kind of drink you would think merits a specialist bar.
It is called Smoking Area Information Map, and it’s available on the App Store and Google Play Store. This app is based on the users’ information, and you can pin an area each time you find a new smoking place or update an old pin. In Japan, you can’t walk and smoke because it is forbidden by law. Therefore, there are designated smoking areas where you can smoke. These areas must be respected at all times as the police make controls very often, and you risk a huge fine. If you’re not aware of the restrictions regarding vaping devices and airplanes, make sure you contact your flight company for up-to-date information.
The Society is a hotel bar located on the 25th floor of Park Hotel Shimbashi. It is a drinking den designed with a U-shaped bar counter topped with glowing marble. Their best-selling drink, a must-try, is the Mount Fuji cocktail.
You'll find the ground-floor entrance to Wall Aoyama hidden in plain sight. Situated in the same building as the Facetasm flagship store, Wall's entrance differentiates itself from its immediate neighbour in the subtlest way. The Annex is only open a few times a month, so be sure to double check Bar Trench's Instagram account for details before you go. As for the food, think sharing-style izakaya staples with a fresh twist. Deep fried nankotsu is tossed in fiery red buffalo-wing sauce while the potato salad is dressed up like a mini bowl of ramen.
Located just off the main drag in the hip neighbourhood of Tomigaya, Ahiru Store is a small counter wine bistro with a big reputation. It’s one of those local cafés that everyone wishes was in their ’hood. Thanks to its popularity, nabbing a seat is a challenge any day of the week. A standing 秋葉原 シーシャ spot next to one of the upturned wine barrels is more likely and not a bad place to rest your wine glass and enjoy the French-inspired small-plate menu. You can take your pick guided purely by the wackiness of the label or ask owner and sommelier Saito-san for his recommendation.