I am researching for a trip to Japan, and just generally trying to learn as much as I can about the country. I am trying to find out about sake. I did a search on here and very little came up (both in Japan section and the whole Asia section). What qualities does sake have that one looks for when deciding which one to order or buy? What makes one sake more or less expensive? What etiquitte points are there to ordering and serving and consuming sake in different social situations?
I was in the Japan area of Epoct yesterday. I didn't go there to do research exactly but this whole area of sake came up because there is a sake store and sake bar and I found myself totally lost on this subject. Any guidance will be appreciated.

Although I live in Japan, I am not a sake expert by any means,but once I had to do a translation for a sake company and remember the following site was really helpful. It will answer pretty much all your questions.

http://www.sake-world.com/

Also, in general, I did a search in www.google.com and found many good sites to learn more such as:

http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/index.html

I wish I could help more. I have heard that some sake breweries have tours, but I am not sure if they do it in English or where they are located. If you research long enough I'm confident you'll find some to visit when you come.
Good luck and Kanpai!

Arrigato, Babiron (and if I could recall the more formal and polite way of saying that I would use it, but I am on vacation at the moment and am blanking on it). Very helpful info, esp. the first site- my own search did not turn that one up.
BTW- while I was in Japan's area at Epcot yesterday they had a wonderful exhibit of antique tin wind up toys owned by the Japanese TV personality Teruhisi Kitahare. Apparently this was the toy collection that inspired the main animator of Toy Story. There are 7 museums in Japan that house Kitahare's collection of over 50,000 tin toys. Wind up tin toys are an interest of mine, I have a few old ones. Everyday I learn about something else I want to see or experience in Japan, and I am trying to figure out where these museums are and if I can get to one of them. Apparently this collection is pretty famous in Japan.

I enjoy sake too and was in Takayama some time ago. I discovered that this area is noted for it's quality sake. As for quality I guess it is like similar productsie dependant on good ingredients, water and the skillof the brewer. Some I believe are aged longer too.
Bon Buvage!

whenever i'm in japan, i always have sake, preferably the local brew, only because i like to try the sake of that particular region. i usually buy my sake from any of the large department stores in the ginza. i don't believe that i am paying a premium price because of the location, as i think there is very little difference in the price of sake from one store to the other. i have yet to see a discount liquor store in japan like we see in the states. it seems like they have a control board that governs the price of sake. if you shop at the department stores in the ginza, like mitsukoshi, they usually have about 4 bottles open for sampling. if you're real lucky, you might have a male salesperson to assist you in your selection. i find that most women that work in the liquor section do not drink sake, or drink period, for that matter, and can offer little in recommendation of what sake is good. i myself cannot tell the different in the taste of sake from one region to another, so i just stay the course, and buy daiginjyo from the northern honshu region such as niigata, or from hokkaido. the best sake is served chilled, and nothing better that a good bottle of chilled daiginjyo and a plate of sashimi. cheers.

It is so different that they sell sake in department stores. Pick up a bottle along w/some socks and underwear. Thanks for that tip, kuranosuke, I never would have gone to a dept. store for sake had I not known from you to do so. I will try the ones you mention. Christo, I just have to get out my map here and see if we will be anywhere near Takayama.