Tokyo Whiskey Bars

Seen all the main sights in Tokyo and want something new to experience. How about visiting one of Tokyo’s famous Whiskey Bars.

Scotland may be the home of Whiskey, but there is no better place on the planet to sample this liquid of the gods than Tokyo. Tokyo’s whiskey culture is at another level with dozens of small bars offering thousands of top quality whiskies. The Japanese have a broad taste in Scotch, American Bourbons and locally produced whiskey.

There are a multitude of bars in Tokyo. Some are tiny, dark basements others more stylish places with bow-tied experts mixing drinks.

The following are some of Tokyo’s highly recommend whiskey bars


Shot Bar Zoetrope – Half-way up a high-rise in Shinjuku, this is a great place to sample some unfamiliar foreign whiskeys.

Location: Third floor, Gaia Building #4, 7-10-14 Nishi Shinjuku

Website: homepage2.nifty.com/zoetrope

Campbelltoun Loch – This basement bar is a favourite with serious drinkers because it stocks nothing but the finest whiskey. It can only seat 8 customers at a time so if you get a set you are drinking with the local elite.

Location: Matsui Building B1, 1-6-8 Yurakucho Chiyoda-ku

Ginza S – Another basement bar, but darker and more glamorous than the above.

Location: Chuo-ku B2, Ginza

Website: ginza-s.com

The Helmsdale – Has a very Scottish appearance with tartan carpets and Scottish football on TV. A visit here takes you back to a traditional pub in the mother country.

Location: Minami Aoyama 2F, Minato-ku

Website: www.helmsdale-fc.com

The Mash Tun – Inside is a taste of Scotland with bare concrete walls, a few tables and a rotating stock of around 250 quality malts.

Location: Kami-Osaki 2F, Shinagawa-ku

Website: themashtun.com

Quercus – This is a very homely and affordable bar and the type of place that you want to end up at 4 am.

Location: Okuma Boulevard B1, Higashi-Ikebukuro

Bar High Society – This bar occupies a whole corner of the 27th floor of the Park Hotel. It is also the HQ of the Japanese branch of the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society.

Location: Shiodome Media Tower, Higashi Shimbashi, Minato-ku

Website: parkhoteltokyo.com