Where I buy my Japanese Sake in Tokyo
Where I buy my Japanese Sake in Tokyo
Overview
In this live stream from January 2018, John Daub takes viewers on a quick trip through Omotesando, Tokyo, to reveal where he purchases his favorite Japanese sake. Standing in front of the iconic Apple Store, John guides the audience to the Niigata-ken (Niigata prefecture) satellite shop, known as Omotesando Niigata-kan. This shop specializes in products from Niigata prefecture, including the Tsurukame sake brand that John favors for its personality and rustic taste.
John explains the concept of prefecture satellite shops in Tokyo, where residents can buy regional specialties without leaving the capital. Inside the shop, he browses various sake brands, sasa dango (bamboo leaf rice dumplings), and other local goods. After purchasing his sake, John takes a evening walk down Omotesando, showcasing the winter illumination lights and discussing the changing landscape of the neighborhood, including the closure of a local Ben & Jerry's.
The video offers a glimpse into the convenience of living in Tokyo, where regional tastes are accessible via these satellite shops. John also teases future content regarding the Japanese driving test and reflects on the real identity of Harajuku and Omotesando found in the back streets rather than the main avenues.
Highlights
- 00:00:01 John reveals the location: Standing in front of the Apple Store in Omotesando to show where he buys sake.
- 00:01:25 Omotesando description: Described as the Champs-Élysées of Tokyo with high-style luxury brands.
- 00:02:12 Favorite Sake: John explains why he prefers Tsurukame from Niigata over smoother brands like Dassai.
- 00:03:44 Prefecture Satellite Shops: Explanation of the "-kan" system allowing access to regional foods in Tokyo.
- 00:06:53 Local Products: Browsing sasa dango and yaki-imo (grilled sweet potatoes) alongside sake.
- 00:10:01 Tokyo Convenience: How these shops let you enjoy a taste of the countryside without leaving the city.
- 00:12:24 Winter Illumination: The champagne-colored LEDs lighting up the trees on Omotesando.
- 00:13:12 Ben & Jerry's Closure: John notes the closing of the Omotesando Hills satellite shop.
- 00:15:31 Real Harajuku: Advice to explore back streets for real fashion identity beyond Takeshita Dori.
- 00:17:23 Drinking Laws: Note that Japan has no open bottle laws, allowing responsible outdoor drinking.
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:00:01 Intro at Omotesando Apple Store
- 00:01:25 Walking to Omotesando Niigata-kan
- 00:02:12 Discussing Tsurukame Sake
- 00:03:44 Explaining Prefecture Satellite Shops
- 00:04:34 Inside the Shop: Sake Selection
- 00:06:53 Buying Sasa Dango and Local Goods
- 00:10:01 Wrapping Up the Purchase
- 00:11:08 Upcoming Driving Test Stream Announcement
- 00:12:24 Evening Walk on Omotesando
- 00:13:12 Ben & Jerry's Closure Discussion
- 00:14:21 Omotesando Hills Architecture
- 00:15:31 Harajuku Fashion and Back Streets
- 00:17:23 Night Atmosphere and Drinking Laws
- 00:19:10 Final Street View and Sign-off
Japan Travel Tips
- Prefecture Satellite Shops: Look for shops named "[Prefecture]-kan" in Tokyo (e.g., Niigata-kan, Nagano-kan) to buy regional specialties without traveling.
- Sake Buying: Tsurukame is available at the Omotesando Niigata-kan; staff can wrap bottles for suitcase transport.
- Omotesando Walking: Visit in winter to see the champagne-colored LED illuminations on the trees.
- Harajuku Exploration: Skip the cliché chain shops on Takeshita Dori; explore the back streets of Omotesando and Harajuku for unique designer fashion.
- Public Drinking: Japan has no open bottle laws; you can drink outside responsibly, though public intoxication is frowned upon.
- Navigation: Omotesando Hills is a good landmark; the Niigata-kan is located on the side street behind it.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- -kan (館): Suffix meaning "house" or "pavilion." Used for prefecture satellite shops (e.g., Niigata-kan).
- Niigata-ken (新潟県): Niigata Prefecture, known for high-quality rice and sake.
- Junmai: A classification of sake made purely from rice, water, koji, and yeast (no added alcohol).
- Takeshita Dori: The famous, crowded shopping street in Harajuku, often considered touristy by locals.
- Open Bottle Laws: John notes Japan lacks strict open container laws compared to the US, allowing for nomiaruki (drinking while walking) in some contexts, though etiquette varies.
Food & Drink Guide
- Tsurukame Junmai (鶴亀 純米): John's favorite sake from Niigata. Described as having personality, taste of cedar barrels, countryside feel. Price around $15–$20.
- Dassai (獺祭): Famous worldwide, smooth, sophisticated. John prefers Tsurukame for character.
- Hakkai-jo (八海山): Another famous Niigata brand seen in the shop. Some stylish bottles cost around $100.
- Koshino Kanbai (越乃寒梅): Easy to drink, used to be John's favorite. Around $20.
- Sasa Dango (笹団子): Bamboo leaf rice dumplings. John buys some for $15. Only available at specific satellite shops.
- Yaki-imo (焼き芋): Grilled sweet potatoes, mentioned as being grilled on rocks in Niigata style.
- Oyaki (おやき): Stuffed grilled dumplings from Nagano, mentioned as available at Nagano-kan.
People
- John Daub: Host and narrator. American living in Japan for 30+ years. Guides the viewer through Omotesando and the sake shop.
- Staff: Unnamed shop employee at Omotesando Niigata-kan. Confirms product availability ("Only here").
- Peter von Gomm: John's friend. Mentioned as having walked Omotesando with John earlier in the day (800 viewers).
- John's Brother: Mentioned in passing as living in Vermont (regarding Ben & Jerry's).
Key Takeaways
- Tokyo's prefecture satellite shops offer incredible convenience for accessing regional foods and sake.
- Tsurukame sake is a specific recommendation for those seeking flavor with "personality" rather than just smoothness.
- Omotesando offers high-end shopping but holds hidden gems in its back streets and satellite shops.
- Winter illuminations transform Omotesando into a glittering street at night.
- Real fashion culture in Harajuku is found away from the main tourist strips.
Notable Quotes
- 00:01:25 "Omotesando is considered the Champs-Élysées of Tokyo. It's a very high-style street with lots of luxury brand shops—things I cannot afford."
- 00:02:12 "I like Tsurukame because it's got a lot of personality... It has the taste of cedar barrels, taking me to the countryside."
- 00:03:44 "Each prefecture has a satellite shop in Tokyo... Add '-kan' (house or pavilion) to the prefecture name."
- 00:10:01 "That's what makes living in Tokyo convenient with these satellite shops."
- 00:15:31 "Real identity is in Harajuku and Omotesando back streets—amazing stuff."
- 00:17:23 "Japan has no open bottle laws—you can drink outside responsibly."
Related Topics
- Japanese Sake Brewing
- Tokyo Shopping Districts
- Prefecture Specialty Products
- Omotesando Architecture
- Japanese Driving License for Foreigners
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #tokyo #omotesando #sake #niigata #tsurukame #japan-travel #tokyo-shopping #winter-illumination #harajuku #japanese-culture #live-stream
Full Transcript
00:00:01 John Daub: Hello everybody, we are live from central Tokyo. Some people have been asking where I get my Japanese sake. The answer is right here in Omotesando. Here's the sign right up there. Boom. It's right in front of the massive beautiful Apple store. That's the device I'm streaming on right now, an iPhone 7 Plus.
00:00:33 John Daub: I'm going to take you to where I get my Japanese sake. Japan has 47 prefectures. My favorite is Tsurukame from Niigata, although I do like Dassai, which I featured on the Only Japan main channel a few years ago. The CEO gave me a tour of the brewery—one of the biggest labels in Japan, most famous worldwide. I like Tsurukame because it's got a lot of personality. I featured it in the sake vending machine episode a couple years ago.
00:01:25 John Daub: Omotesando is considered the Champs-Élysées of Tokyo. It's a very high-style street with lots of luxury brand shops—things I cannot afford. It's not the most popular place in Tokyo, but I come here for the pretty good sake at the prefecture satellite shop. This is Omotesando Hills, a famous shopping mall built about 10 years ago. Nothing I'd buy in there, but behind it on the side street is the shop.
00:02:12 John Daub: That orange light is the Niigata-ken (Niigata prefecture) satellite shop—Omotesando Niigata-kan. They have lots of products from Niigata you can't get anywhere else. That's where I get my favorite sake, Tsurukame. I've tried hundreds, but this one has personality—not like the smooth, sophisticated, pure Dassai you start with when you're new to sake. Niigata has some of the best with personality, like Tsurukame Junmai from Yuzawa. It has the taste of cedar barrels, taking me to the countryside with bamboo, mountains, rivers, and waterfalls—away from Tokyo to Niigata.
00:03:44 John Daub: Each prefecture has a satellite shop in Tokyo—like the Nagano-kan where I get oyaki (stuffed grilled dumplings) and other foods hard to find in supermarkets. Add "-kan" (house or pavilion) to the prefecture name. I'm going in now to get a bottle—about $15.
00:08:14 Staff: Yes.
00:04:34 John Daub: This is good. I'll get two bottles of Ichigobu Tsurukame. Look at all this—the most sake by volume. Hakkai-jo (Hakkai-san), another famous brand. This one has a panda—cute. These are cup sakes. Do they have Tsurukame in a cup? Look at this little barrel. This Hakkai-san is $100—stylish. They don't have a lot, but they have what I want. There's Koshino Kanbai—easy to drink, used to be my favorite, now number three at about $20.
00:06:53 John Daub: Everything looks like it's from the countryside—that's what I like. It's like a trip outside the city. They have jams, sasa dango (bamboo leaf rice dumplings)—I'll get some for $15. Only here—no other Tsurukame shop in Tokyo.
00:08:27 Staff: Only here.
00:08:28 John Daub: I love it—delicious, too good. They have yaki-imo (grilled sweet potatoes) grilled on rocks—very cool. Niigata has the best rice—you can buy it here, not in supermarkets. And there's the Niigata mascot.
00:10:01 John Daub: Nice to see all the local stuff like metal cups in Tokyo so you don't have to leave the city to enjoy a taste of the countryside. That's what makes living in Tokyo convenient with these satellite shops. I put a link in the description—search for them. If you want Tsurukame, come here—only place in Tokyo. They wrap it for your suitcase.
00:11:08 John Daub: I'm gonna do another live stream to break down the Japanese driving test—everything I learned over months to get a license, especially challenging for Americans. I'll drink one of these during it—today or tomorrow. Subscribe and get notifications. On this channel, I go live around the city or country, giving advanced screenings of Only Japan main channel episodes.
00:11:50 John Daub: We had 800 people earlier walking down Omotesando Juku with Peter von Gomm. Gonna do the driving test stream tomorrow, then close this one. Bye to the Niigata-kan—just a quick walk around Omotesando.
00:12:24 John Daub: This is the Champs-Élysées of Tokyo. Sun's just set—lights coming on. In winter, champagne-colored LEDs illuminate the trees, making the street glitter like the luxury spot it is. Omotesando Hills on the right—used to have a Ben & Jerry's satellite shop, but it's closed.
00:13:12 John Daub: What? Ben & Jerry's done—only Toyosu or LaLaport now. I'd always get a cone here. Shame—Haagen-Dazs is huge, but Ben & Jerry's has a different style. My brother lives in Vermont.
00:14:21 John Daub: Take a look at Omotesando. Entrance to Omotesando Hills—glittering diamond lights. Go in not to shop, but to walk—neat architecture, laid out nice to stand out with high rents. Still some snow—snokeo for another day. Walking down the hill takes you to the real Harajuku.
00:15:31 John Daub: Lots of photographers and TV crews interview passersby here for fashion. Side streets have trendy Harajuku girl fashion shops, designers—not Takeshita Dori, which is cliché chain shops now. Real identity is in Harajuku and Omotesando back streets—amazing stuff.
00:17:23 John Daub: The back streets of Omotesando at night—that should be a new live stream. This is what it's like—creepy, no faces. Off the main roads in Ginza, Harajuku, Omotesando, Shibuya—that's real Tokyo. Explore alleys, pick up sake. Japan has no open bottle laws—you can drink outside responsibly.
00:19:10 John Daub: Street view to end. Wow, that building's a big ball of light—Dior. Nice view of Omotesando leading to Harajuku. Thanks for joining on this sake run at the Niigata-kan. See you next live stream—have a good day or night wherever you are. Thanks everybody.