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

Tokyo Japan

Tokyo is the perfect short-stay destination for a kick of adrenalin. You can spend a lifetime exploring Tokyo and never run out of new things to do and discover. It`s best not to think of Tokyo as one city but as a collection of separate smaller cities all connected by rail as it makes it much easier to explore the city. Each of these smaller cities has its own distinct character and attraction.

The highlights of Tokyo include, The Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine; Asakusa district famous for Sensoji temple and Nakamise shopping street with cheap, antique kimonos, geisha bags and beautiful paper products, Sensoji temple, and the Kappabashi kitchen street for those plastic replicas of food seen in restaurant windows. Ueno for its park and museums, Akihabara for electronics, Shinjuku for its shopping with its huge Takashimaya department store and food hall, Tokyu Hands eight level craft store and Uniqlo store for really cheap, high quality, basic clothing, Harajuku for cheap shopping and Japanese street fashion, and Shiodome for entertainment.

Other places of interest include Shibuya for its famous intersection where the style tribes gather and Shibuya 109 the 10 level fashion emporium. Roppongi traditionally known for its nightclubs and bars, but now for its numerous upscale boutiques, smart cafes and Roppongi Hills with the 52 storey Mori building and Tokyo City View a walkway that wraps around the building offering 360 degree views stretching as far as Mt Fuji. Ginza for Matsuya department store and food hall.

At night time Tokyo really comes alive with mazes of blazing neon lights, tiny street stalls, bars complete with karaoke boxes, and the amazing pub food of yakitori and izakaya.
I recommend using the JR Train Line (Yamanote loop line) to get around Tokyo and explore the small cities. There are also lots of budget hotels to stay at all around Tokyo. Try a Business Hotel for a good compromise with prices around $70 for a single room and $100 for a double. Capsule Hotels are also found in most large hubs and cost around $40-$50 including access to the hot baths and sauna. I highly recommend trying these at least once for the fantastic experience.
I also love Yokohama which is just outside of Tokyo for its atmosphere. It was like a smaller version of Tokyo without all the hustle & bustle. Try the world famous China Town in Yokohama for great food and the bay area for entertainment.

These are some great resources to help you explore Tokyo