Sake Destinations: Tokyo
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The first episode of 'Sake Destinations' dives into Tokyo’s vibrant sake scene with two seasoned experts, John Puma and Timothy Sullivan, who share insider recommendations for restaurants, bars, and retail spots. John highlights Magokoroishi in Shimbashi—a long-time favorite with a passionate omachi rice advocate, a unique food-sake pairing philosophy, and a cozy, wood-paneled izakaya vibe—while Timothy champions Moto Tokyo in Tokyo Midtown, a sleek, English-friendly sake bar near the main train station with exceptional seasonal pairings and a high-end dining experience. For retail, Timothy praises Imadaya Ginza 6 for its premium, English-speaking staff and extensive seasonal selections, while John celebrates the off-the-beaten-path Aji no Machidaya in Nakano for its legendary sake inventory and jaw-dropping collection of over 100 unique one cups. The episode culminates in a live tasting of two standout sakes: Kazenomori Black Label 807, a bold, wine-like, unpasteurized junmai muroka genshu with tropical intensity and a lively fizz, and Giyo Junmai Ginjo Genshu, wrapped in a vintage newspaper and showcasing a crisp, rice-forward profile with a bright acidity and elegant finish. Together, they paint Tokyo not just as a travel destination, but as a living, breathing sake culture hub.
Visit Magokoroishi in Shimbashi for a long-standing izakaya with a passionate omachi rice focus and expert sake pairings—reservations recommended for Thursday and Friday nights.
Moto Tokyo in Tokyo Midtown offers a premium standing bar and multi-course dining with seasonal sake pairings; book via Pocket Concierge or Tabalogue for dinner.
Imadaya Ginza 6 is Tokyo’s gold standard for sake retail, with nearly all staff fluent in English, refrigerated bottles, and a sampling counter with seasonal releases.
Aji no Machidaya in Nakano is a hidden gem with over 100 types of one cups and exclusive, hard-to-find sakes—worth the 10-minute walk from the nearest station.
Kazenomori Black Label 807 (Junmai Muroka Nama Genshu) delivers a bold, wine-like profile with pineapple skin and woody notes, plus a lively fizz from being unpasteurized.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introducing Sake Destinations: Tokyo
The hosts launch the new 'Sake Destinations' series, setting the stage for Tokyo as the inaugural city. They reflect on their own Japan trips and excitement for sake tourism, emphasizing the episode’s goal: to share curated, personal recommendations for sake lovers visiting Tokyo.
Magokoroishi: A Shimbashi Izakaya with Heart
“He's a huge proponent of omachi rice in sake. And so it's not like a disproportionate amount, but he does carry a lot of good omachi sakes and he carries a lot of... of a wide variety.”
Moto Tokyo: Premium Sake Near Tokyo Station
“They are in kind of a mall-type building. They're on the third floor, so you do have to search a bit to find it up to the third floor.”
Retail Gems: Imadaya Ginza 6 & Aji no Machidaya
“They have like Nama one cups. I was like, wait, what? Unpasteurized one cups? Where is this coming from?”
Live Tasting: Kazenomori vs. Giyo
“The magic and the skill and the craftsmanship really comes in when they take that 80% remaining, lots of fats and protein still on that grain, and they sculpt it into something that has this pineapple, melon, and a wonderful juicy texture to it.”
“The magic and the skill and the craftsmanship really comes in when they take that 80% remaining, lots of fats and protein still on that grain, and they sculpt it into something that has this pineapple, melon, and a wonderful juicy texture to it.”
“They have like Nama one cups. I was like, wait, what? Unpasteurized one cups? Where is this coming from?”
“is a huge proponent of omachi rice in sake. And so it's not like a disproportionate amount, but he does carry a lot of good omachi sakes and he carries a lot of... of a wide variety.”
Hosts
timothy sullivan
person
john puma
person
magokoroishi
other
imadaya ginza 6
other
moto tokyo
other
aji no machidaya
other
kazenomori
other
giyo
other
sake notes
product
sake study center
organization
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