Located not far from the Tokyo Skytree, this might just be our favorite place on Earth.
Though the process for making sake is actually closer to the one for beer, it’s often referred to as “rice wine,” It’s actually not an unfair description, since like wine made from grapes, sake is generally non-carbonated, has an alcohol content of about 14 percent, as is best when paired with food.
Because of that last point, it’s always nice when a sake bar serves food too, like they do at Little Sake Square in Tokyo’s Kinshicho neighborhood, not too far from the Tokyo Skytree. Even better, Little Sake Square serves sushi, and once we knew that we made our way up to the entrance on the third floor of building just a few minutes’ walk from Kinshicho Station.
The staff greeted us friendlily, and informed us that our bill would be 4,000 yen (US$37) per person. That’s because on weekday nights Little Sake Square operates on an all-you-can-drink basis, pouring unlimited amounts of roughly 80 different varieties of sake, including special limited-time seasonal brews.
▼ The bottles are kept chilled in cases along one wall of the bar, so you can look over the selection at your leisure.
4,000 yen may not be Tokyo’s absolute cheapest all-you-can-drink deal, but whereas most such offers are only good for two hours (and sometimes just 90 minutes), Little Sake Square will keep your glass full from the minute the bar opens at 6 p.m. all the way until last call at 10 p.m., and we were determined to try as many as we could.
▼ We managed to get through about 40 different kinds during our visit.
Obviously, if you’re hanging around any place for four hours you’re bound to get hungry, and the munchies will hit you especially hard if you’ve been drinking. You can bring in any outside food you want (and you can even leave the bar, pick something up, and come back in without paying again), but even better is the fact that your entrance fee also includes all-you-can-eat sushi!
▼ Sushi is available from 6 to 9 p.m.
The sushi is made fresh right there in the bar, and is every bit as tasty as what you’ll get in Japan’s ubiquitous and awesome revolving sushi restaurants.
▼ There’s also a selection of all-you-can eat salad and vegetable dishes, if you want some non-sushi chow.
With our stomachs full, it was back to sake. The knowledgeable staff can recommend specific brews based on your preferences, or, since it’s all-you-can-drink, you can boldly make your own selections, sampling various brands until you find your personal favorite.
▼ There’s also a warmer if you’re in the mood for hot sake.
If you’re somehow looking for even more variety, Little Sake Square also has a small selection of extra-premium sakes, offered for about 300 yen a cup. But with so many to choose from on the base plan, we don’t see why you’d bother, and we can’t wait to go back again to try all the ones we couldn’t on our first visit.
Restaurant information
Little Sake Square / リトルサケスクエア
Address: Tokyo-to, Sumida-ku, Kinshicho 3-3-9, East Building 3rd floor
東京都墨田区錦糸3-3-9 イーストビル3F
Open 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. (Monday-Friday), 11:30 a.m.-430 p.m. (weekends, holidays)
Website
Photos ©SoraNews24
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[ Read in Japanese ]