How about a casual drink? Let's enjoy Edo-style standing bar communication at "Toshimaya", the original izakaya! - Toshimaya Sake Shop

Founded in 1596 (Keicho year 1),"Kinkon" is a celebratory sake which is also a representative brand of "Toshimaya Main Shop", the oldest sake shop in Tokyo. "Kinkon" is the only one sake that is dedicated as omiki to Meiji Jingu and Kanda Myojin which are the 2 biggest shrines in Tokyo, thus it gains popularity as a "celebratory sake" which is said to bring happiness.

Toshimaya is also said to be the origin of the izakaya, as the first generation of Juemon served sake along with snacks while selling sake by weight. We recently visited the “Toshimaya Sake Shop” (Kanda Nishikicho), a standing izakaya where you can enjoy freshly made, high quality local sake with traditional Japanese food. This place is directly owned and operated by the Toyoshimaya Honten.

■Let's start with a set of evening meals!

Now it's time to go inside the restaurant. There must be many people who do not know what to order. For those people, we recommend the evening set.

You can choose one alcoholic beverage of your choice and two snacks of your choice.

The Japanese sake I tried first is "Kinkon Juemon Junmai Nama Genshu unfiltered". This is a non-heated Nama Genshu made without filtration (middle-step of brewing), with a fresh taste and flavor in good balance. I am moved by the delicious taste of Namazake.

As for snacks, I selected "Toshimaya butter" and tofu dengaku plain.

"Toshimaya butter" (\660 tax included) is a meal made with dried fruits in butter, which is a very popular snack. It melts softly in the mouth and goes well with Juemon.

"Tofu dengaku" is made with selected tofu by local traditional shop "Echigoya" and "Oedo Miso" that has been made by "Chikuma Miso", the traditional shop at Fukagawa, since Edo era. The spicy taste is moderated in modern style, and the grilled miso is savory, which makes me try it with sake.

It is very exciting to think that we are enjoying standing and drinking with the same snacks as the people of Edo.

In addition to other alcoholic beverages for sale, there is also a lunch menu, amazake drinks, and sweets, and I am very interested in the lunch time where I will be able to taste fermented foods that are healthy for my body.

I also tried a sake from the 300 yen vending machine in the store.

"Okunokami" is a slightly yellowish sake with a fruity aroma. It is rich and delicious, with just a hint of bitterness.

"Edosakeoji" is an all-Tokyo-made sake with rice from Hachioji and rare "Edo yeast", which got the Grand Prix at "Kura Master2020" in France. It is a surprising sake that drinks like a white wine, but has an aftertaste that is distinctly Japanese.

■ White Day 400 years ago!?

The “Edo Meisho Zue” (Edo's Famous Places) displayed in the store shows a large crowd of people buying white sake. The shop was so popular at the time that a poem was composed, “If it is a mountain, it is Fuji; if it is white sake, it is Toshimaya,” and the shop has appeared in novels set in Edo (present-day Tokyo).

A closer look at the illustration shows that most of the customers were male, and it is said that the white sake was given as a gift to women who rarely have a chance to drink alcohol on the occasion of the Peach Festival (Hina-Matsuri). What we now call White Day?!

Shirozake is available for a limited time this year, starting on January 30.

Sake with different flavors depending on how it is pressed is priced by volume, allowing you to compare drinks at your own pace.

For snacks, in addition to the famous dengaku, there are many seasonal and inexpensive small dishes. The lineup of dishes that caters to the needs of the “sake drinker,” such as “ready to go” and “to finish,” will make you drink more and more.

The bright, clean, stand-style restaurant is filled with a free-flowing atmosphere that naturally encourages conversation with people you don't know.

You can meet up with friends for a drink, or simply enjoy a drink on your own. Why not try the original izakaya experience that can only be found in Japan at Toshimaya Sake Shop

■Message to foreign guests

With customer-first sincerity, Toshimaya Sake Brewery overcame repeated crises to bring the enjoyment of authentic sake to the present day. In addition to regular izakaya dining, the restaurant offers a 90-minute sake pairing experience for 24,000 yen per person. The president himself will give an explanation in English. Sake tasted while listening to interesting stories about it is also very special.

https://wabunka-lux.jp/experiences/en_toshimaya

■Access

KANDA SQUARE 1F 2-2-1 Kanda Nishiki-cho Chiyoda Ward Tokyo

・3 minutes walk from Toei Shinjuku Line Ogawacho Station Exit B7

・3 minutes walk from Tokyo Metropolitan Marunouchi Line Awajicho Station Exit B7

・3 minutes walk from Tokyo Metropolitan Chiyoda Line Shin Ochanomizu Station Exit B7

・5 minutes walk from Tokyo Metropolitan Hanzomon Line Jinbocho Station Exit A9

■Toshimaya Sake Shop official website

https://www.toshimaya.co.jp/sakeshop/