Free-Style Sake Tasting in Tokyo | Up to 5 Hours of All-You-Can-Drink

A Free-Style Sake Tasting Experience in Tokyo

If you want to try a wide variety of sake in Tokyo all in one place, head to "SAKE MARKET," with locations in Shinjuku and Akihabara.

In this experience, you can choose and compare drinks yourself from around 100 options—mainly sake gathered from breweries across Japan, along with fruit liqueurs, umeshu (plum wine), shochu, and wine.

This isn't like a typical sake tasting where you sample a set lineup of labels in order.

Instead, it's a self-serve style: you walk up to the in-store refrigerators yourself and choose whatever catches your eye, reading the labels and tasting notes as you go.

With up to 5 hours to enjoy, and outside food allowed, you can sip your way through a few sips of different labels or pair your favorite dishes with sake—all at your own pace.

Choose Your Own Drink from the Fridge

What sets SAKE MARKET apart is that your sake isn't brought to you glass by glass—instead, you pick your own bottle from the bottles lined up in the fridge.

As you browse drinks gathered from all over Japan, you can choose based on region or flavor, or simply go with whatever label design catches your eye.

The official website also highlights "the joy of choosing your own drink" as one of the experience's key features. English-language menus are available too, making it easy for travelers from overseas to choose with confidence.

Not Just Sake—Fruit Liqueurs, Umeshu, and Shochu Too

Despite being called an "all-you-can-drink sake" experience, sake isn't the only thing on offer.

According to the official website, the store stocks around 100 kinds of drinks in total—mainly sake, but also fruit liqueurs, umeshu, shochu, and wine.

How you drink is entirely up to you: compare several types of sake and then move on to a fruit liqueur, or go back and forth between sweet and dry options.

Even if you're a bit worried about drinking only sake for hours on end, you can mix things up with other categories of drinks along the way.

Discovering Unfamiliar Labels Is Part of the Fun

You don't need to be a sake expert to enjoy this.

You can pick bottles based purely on their labels—a kind of "label tasting"—or tell staff your preferences, like "I like dry sake" or "I want something fruity," and get personalized recommendations.

While visiting sake breweries one by one across Japan can be difficult, the appeal of this place is that you can experience drinks from many different regions without leaving Tokyo.

If you find a bottle you love, remembering the label or brewery name can add a new layer of enjoyment to your future travels around Japan.

Find Your Perfect Glass with Help from Staff

If you look at the fridge and feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, don't hesitate to ask staff for advice.

The booking site notes that staff members who love sake will happily recommend bottles as part of this experience.

There's no need to study up on sake beforehand.

Part of the fun is simply describing what you usually enjoy drinking, or preferences like "something light," "something sweet," or "something crisp and refreshing," and letting staff guide you.

Bring Your Own Food and Pair It Freely

At SAKE MARKET, you're welcome to bring in food purchased elsewhere.

The official website also mentions that delivery orders are accepted. Since payment is made upfront, you're free to step out and come back in—just let staff know if you're heading out to pick something up.

Bringing sushi, sashimi, yakitori, cheese, deli dishes, or anything else you'd like to pair with sake is highly recommended.

The store also provides a microwave, plates, cutlery, condiments, and even a cutting board and knife.

Note: Foods with strong odors that could fill the space, as well as any alcoholic beverages brought from outside, are not permitted.

Enjoy Warm Sake and Creative Mixes, Not Just Chilled

The temperature of sake changes its aroma and flavor.

At SAKE MARKET, you can enjoy warmed sake (atsukan), and the experience also introduces the option of mixing drinks yourself to create your own cocktails.

Comparing how the same label tastes at different temperatures, or experimenting freely with sake-based drinks, is all part of the fun of this self-serve style.

Choose Between Two Locations: Shinjuku or Akihabara

SAKE MARKET has two locations: one in Shinjuku and one in Akihabara.

The Shinjuku store is near Exit C6 of Shinjuku-sanchome Station, while the Akihabara store is accessible from the Electric Town side of JR Akihabara Station. Both locations currently operate in the evenings on weekdays, with daytime hours also available on weekends. Business hours may change, so be sure to check the latest information before your visit.

[Important] Fully Cashless Store — No Cash Accepted

SAKE MARKET is a fully cashless establishment, meaning cash payments are not accepted.

Since April 1, 2025, the store has switched to cashless payments only. According to the official website, the following payment methods are currently accepted:

Credit cards Visa / Mastercard / JCB / American Express / Diners Club / Discover / UnionPay

Electronic money Transportation IC cards / iD / QUICPay / nanaco / WAON / Rakuten Edy

QR code payments PayPay / d Payment / Rakuten Pay / au PAY / Alipay+ / WeChat Pay / UnionPay QR

If you're visiting from overseas, keep in mind that this is not a place where you can simply bring Japanese yen in cash.

Since accepted payment methods may change, it's a good idea to check the official SAKE MARKET website for the latest information before your visit.

Choose from Two Plans

The booking site lists the following plans:

All-you-can-drink sake + a souvenir sake cup

or

All-you-can-drink sake + 2 glasses (60ml) of premium sake

It may help to decide based on whether you'd like to take home a sake cup as a memento of your trip to Japan, or whether you'd rather try premium sake beyond the regular lineup.

Content and pricing are subject to change, so be sure to check the latest package details when booking.

What to Check Before Booking

Before making a reservation, be sure to check the following:

• Whether to visit the Shinjuku or Akihabara location
• Your entry time and how long you'll actually be able to enjoy the experience
• The plan and its included perks
• Rules regarding bringing in food or ordering delivery
• The fact that cash is not accepted
• Whether your preferred card, e-money, or QR payment method is supported
• Age requirements for drinking and entry
• Managing your health and condition before drinking
• Cancellation and change policies

The available sake and other drink labels may vary depending on stock and availability. For the latest details on store locations, available hours, food policies, and plan perks, please check the booking page for your chosen date.

In Summary

SAKE MARKET, located in Shinjuku and Akihabara, Tokyo, lets you taste a wide range of drinks from all over Japan at your own pace.

Its self-serve style—choosing your own bottle from around 100 options, mainly sake alongside fruit liqueurs, umeshu, shochu, and wine—is what makes it stand out.

There's more than one way to enjoy it: bring in your favorite food, ask staff for recommendations, or try warmed sake and creative drink combinations.

With up to 5 hours to enjoy the experience, it's perfect for anyone who wants to compare sake little by little and discover the perfect bottle for their taste.

Just remember: the store is fully cashless, so no cash is accepted. Be sure to check which payment methods you can use before and during your trip.