I love alcohol. When travelling and in a relaxed situation, alcohol becomes an even more essential companion. Whether it be Wine in France, Beer in Germany, or Makgeolli in Korea, I can’t help but drink an alcoholic beverage representative of the country I am visiting. Naturally, then, if you choose Japan as a travel destination, I recommend sake as a companion. Since you are coming all the way out to Japan, please enjoy Japanese sake at a ryokan, hotel or restaurant during your stay.
For those looking to enjoy sake for the first time, I am not going to discuss difficult details like the history of sake, the finer details of sake brewing, malting and fermentation.
Like other alcoholic beverages, Sake can offer a variety of tastes, such as refreshing, full-bodied, fruity, and the like.
The first thing I recommend is trying a local sake unique to the region you are visiting. Each region in Japan has its own unique sake with distinct characteristics that can be enjoyed, but broadly speaking, colder regions tend to drier sake and warmer regions tend to sweeter sake. Local sake embodies the local culture, and pairs well with the region’s cuisine.
Enjoying local sake can lead you to greater enjoyment of the region you are visiting, and make your trip even more memorable. When you find the sake that suits you best, please consider it as a souvenir to enjoy by yourself, with family, friends and acquaintances as a special companion even after you’ve returned home.