Experiences / Dining
Japanese whisky at a bar that knows it
ジャパニーズウイスキーのバー じゃぱにーずういすきーのばー
Food · High-end · Late night · Quiet
Japanese whisky became scarce and expensive when the world noticed it; the bars of Ginza, Shinjuku and Kagurazaka still pour the discontinued Yamazakis and Hakushus by the glass from bottles they bought years ago, with the story of each distillery. A flight of three, an ice sphere, and an hour with a bartender who has tasted everything is the way to understand it without buying a bottle you cannot find.
- How to arrange it
- No booking for most; go before nine on a weeknight; expect a seat charge and a card minimum at some.
- Price band
- ¥¥¥
- Allow
- 90 min
- Where
- Ginza, Shinjuku, Kagurazaka
Where to book it
Ginza
Bar High Five
バー ハイファイブ
¥¥¥ · 60 min · English: partial
Run by Hidetsugu Ueno, a bartender who trained at Star Bar Ginza before opening his own room, Bar High Five is known internationally for hand-carved ice and a deep whisky and cocktail list built for serious spirits drinkers rather than a hotel lobby crowd. It keeps the classic Ginza shot-bar format of no-reservation, counter-only service.
Ginza
Star Bar Ginza
スターバー 銀座
¥¥¥ · 60 min · English: partial
The original location of the Star Bar group, credited with helping start Tokyo's hand-carved "ninja ice" style of bartending, in a basement room in Ginza 1-chome. It is run as a dedicated whisky and classic-cocktail bar by career bartenders rather than a hotel or izakaya side bar.
Named operators, each verified against its official site. We list the booking route and whether English is spoken; hours and prices live on the official site. All operators