Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [54]
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Shōchū
For those looking for a quick and cheap escape route from the sorrows of the world, shōchū is the answer. It’s a distilled spirit made from a variety of raw materials, including potato (in which case it’s called imo-jōchū) and barley (in which case it’s called mugi-jōchū). It’s quite strong, with an alcohol content of about 30%. In recent years it has been resurrected from its previous lowly status (it was used as a disinfectant in the Edo period) to become a trendy drink. You can drink it oyu-wari (with hot water) or chūhai (in a highball with soda and lemon). A 720mL bottle sells for about ¥600, which makes it a relatively cheap option compared with other spirits.
Wine, Imported Drinks & Whisky
Japanese wines are available from areas such as Yamanashi, Nagano, Tōhoku and Hokkaidō. Standard wines are often blended with imports from South America or Eastern Europe. The major producers are Suntory, Mann’s and Mercian. Expect to pay at least ¥1000 for a bottle of something drinkable. Imported wines are often stocked by large liquor stores or department stores in the cities. Bargains are sometimes available at ¥600, but most of the quaffable imports cost considerably more.
Prices of imported spirits have been coming down in recent years and bargain liquor stores have been popping up in bigger cities. However, if you really like imported spirits, it is probably a good idea to pick up a duty-free bottle or two on your way through the airport. Whisky is available at most drinking establishments and is usually drunk mizu-wari (with water and ice) or onzarokku (on the rocks). Local brands, such as Suntory and Nikka, are sensibly priced, and most measure up to foreign standards. Expensive foreign labels are popular as gifts.
Most other imported spirits are available at drinking establishments in Japan. Bars with a large foreign clientele, including hotel bars, can usually mix anything you request. If not, they will certainly tailor a drink to your specifications.
Nonalcoholic Drinks
Most of the drinks you’re used to at home will be available in Japan, with a few colourfully named additions like Pocari Sweat and Calpis Water. One convenient aspect of Japan is the presence of drink-vending machines on virtually every street corner, and at ¥120, refreshment is rarely more than a few steps away.
COFFEE & TEA
Kōhii (coffee) served in a kissaten (coffee shop) tends to be expensive in Japan, costing between ¥350 and ¥500 a cup, with some places charging up to ¥1000. A cheap alternative is one of the coffee-restaurant chains like Doutor or Pronto, or doughnut shops like Mr Donut (which offers free refills). An even cheaper alternative is a can of coffee, hot or cold, from a vending machine. Although unpleasantly sweet, at ¥120 the price is hard to beat.
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Sake Paul Warham
Brewed from rice, sake has been enjoyed for centuries in Japan, and although it’s been overtaken in terms of consumption by beer and shōchū (distilled grain liquor) in recent years, it is still regarded by most Japanese people as the national drink. Indeed, what we call ‘sake’ in the West is more commonly known as nihonshu in Japan: the ‘drink of Japan’. Sake has traditionally been associated with Shintō and other traditional ceremonies, and you will still see huge barrels of sake (known as o-miki) on display at almost every shrine you visit. Although consumption has been on the wane in recent years, it is generally agreed that the quality of sake available is better now than ever, and many of the best have a complexity of flavours and aromas comparable to the fine wines and beers of Europe.
Not surprisingly, sake