Places to Buy Japanese Whisky - Kyoto and Tokyo
 

Taking a shot in the dark, as information is thin. Does anyone here know of a good place to buy Japanese Whisky at retail? I will be spending time in Tokyo and Kyoto. I'd be willing to take the train to Osaka if there was a place worth the trip.

I'm looking for age-statement stuff and special editions. More concerned about selection than finding the best price.

All help appreciated. Thanks.

You might consider posting this question on japan-guide.com

Cannot really tell but departmenet stores must be good places to start as they sell high quality - luxury products. And as you say you are not looking for the best price. You can try for example Isetan at Kyoto Station, in Tokyo also Isetan (there is one in Shinjuku) or are there still Mitsukoshi in Tokyo? Their liqueur department should have good collection of them, if not at least they can point you to other stores. Usually they are quite helpful.

We found it surprising that many alcohol shops had only a scant selection of Japanese whiskies - their Scotch ranges were often much larger. Even the department stores often stocked only what we'd find in the UK or could easily be purchased in duty free at the airport on departure.

If you have time to visit Yamazaki distillery, just a short train ride from Kyoto, it's a lovely one to visit, they have an extensive shop (of only Suntory products, obviously). And the whisky library is a great place to buy tasters of a wide range of whiskies, theirs and worldwide.
https://www.petedrinks.com/2012/11/w...stillery-tour/
https://www.petedrinks.com/2012/11/w...hisky-library/

In my notes, I have a tag for Liquors Hasegawa in Tokyo, but I think that may have been more for Japanese beers than whiskies - we visited back in 2013 so I no longer recall.

In Kyoto, I trawled the web like a crazy woman and found this one being recommended as good for buying whisky, but didn't have chance to visit.
www.tsunoki.co.jp

www.liquorburn.com was suggested for discount liquor but I have a feeling I noted it for sake rather than whisky.

My favorites are the blended Hibiki , the Suntory Single Malt Yamazaki and Hakashu.Visit them in the Yamazaki distillery owned by Suntory, Shimamoto, Osaka Perfecture.

http://whisky.suntory.com/en/house/index.html

About the 2 links Kavey posted,

www.tsunoki.co.jp
This one seems to sell mainly sake ( and sake based seasoning like mirin), also some European liquers but I see no whiskey, European or Japanese in their listing. Located in the Nishiki Market in Kyoto.

www.liquorburn.com
Thier main products seem to be wine and whisky. If you click on " products ", the photo shows Japanese Whisky, Suntory Yamzaki 12 & 18 yo, and Hibiki 12. Location : Gion in Kyoto

Have you looked at the duty free listings at Narita or Haneda or wherever you're flying out of?

Duty free shops may also include offerings you cannot find at retail shops.

There was a great shop in nishiki market in Kyoto.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. Will have to see what I can find. I'll ask the concierges as well, but my initial interactions via email have been somewhat meh and not as helpful as my last trip.

Kappa, I didn't make it to Tsunoki, but I got the recommendation from the Kyotofoodie blog. It suggested this predominantly sake shop was also stocking Japanese whisky - but the review I found was from 2008 so may no longer be the case. http://kyotofoodie.com/tsunoki-premi...-market-kyoto/

You should check over on the Flyertalk forum which has a long running thread where people post sightings. This from October 20:

Yamazaki limited edition 2016
Currently available at Takashimaya Namba , but on 7th Floor and not in the basement
Bought 2 bottles, ¥10000 each

What I glean from the thread is that it can be harder to find the best stuff here in Japan as it is destined for the overseas market. No idea if that's really true.

# Currently available at Takashimaya Namba...

For the others who read, Takashimya is a department store (like Isetan that i mentioned in my first post ) and Nanba, an area in Osaka. There is a Takashimaya in Shinjuku, Tokyo as well, at Shinjuku station, south exit. I think it is called Takashimaya Times Square.

The Isetan department store in Shinjuku has a special, large section on Japanese whiskies.

So we looked all around. Mostly, all that was available was restricted to non-age statement stuff. We did find some age statement bottles at a random shop in Gion as well as at the airport. But that was about it. Did not make it to Hasagawa, but the shop in Nishiki had nothing special (exceptional sake selection, though) Did not see anything great at either Takashimaya or Isetan in Shinjuku or Kyoto (very good sake selection in Kyoto).

But... the pricing has gone fully stupid. Anything with age to it was $500+ per bottle. Saw one at the airport at $2,000. I'm a big whiskey fan, but at those prices, I just was not willing to pull the trigger. I will just concentrate on whiskeys that are a little less fashionable now - Scotch remains decent value.

Bloody hell, those are crazy prices!! Don't blame you for not biting!