The Fascinating Cocktail Culture of Japan

Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Martini – these are just some universally-known cocktails that you can order at any bar, anywhere in the world. However, like anything you encounter in Japan, it’s not surprising to know that the Japanese do it a little differently – even cocktails. If you’re looking to experience anything new while visiting the country, let us introduce you to the fascinating world of Japanese cocktail culture.

Japan’s Cocktail Bars

Cocktail bars in Japan, like Cabin Naka-Meguro or Ben Fiddich, offer a safe reprieve from the noise and bustle of clubs and izakayas of the nightlife. Small spaces tucked away in hidden areas of Japan’s different cities, possibly with some Jazz music playing, cocktail bars are for those who are looking to relax and enjoy the atmosphere the bar gives on a Friday night.

While cocktails may have originated in the West, cocktail-making is considered an art form in Japan, and just like any other art form in Japan, learning how to make these drinks starts with a master-apprentice relationship. Bar owners take on apprentices who they teach the art of cocktail-making for several years. This is why Japanese cocktails are not simply an act of drinking alcohol; it’s a performance, an experience from the moment the bartender picks up the glass to the second you take the first sip.  

Japanese Cocktail Tools and Techniques

While the tools obviously have Western influence, the tools used have become a part of Japan’s cocktail culture and are considered to be more precise and ergonomic.

Japanese-style Jigger

The jigger is a common piece of equipment seen in bars that serve cocktails. However, the Japanese-style jigger is the preferred type in the professional world and for novices as well. It’s easier to use, and its slender and narrower shape helps to avoid overpouring alcohol. Some Japanese-style jiggers come with marks inside them for smaller measurements like .5 oz and .75 oz, while filling it all the way to the top gives you one or two full ounces.

Yarai Mixing Glass

The Yarai Mixing Glass stands above other mixing glasses because of its design. Its wide base allows the bartender to stir the alcohol quickly without the fear of the glass falling over, its relatively wider mouth helps in having less alcohol spill when pouring, it has a spout to make the pouring process easier, and it is sturdier than most glasses. Last but not least, its signature diamond-cut shape exterior not only makes the Yarai mixing glass an excellent bar tool, but it is an eye-catching decorative piece on your bar as well.

Cobbler Shaker

We said that the Japanese way of cocktail-making is an art form, and the cobbler shaker may be the prime representative of that. While the Boston shaker (a two-piece shaker) is the preferred equipment in other bars, Japanese bars still prefer the three-piece Cobbler Shaker. It’s said that the cobbler shaker allows the bartender to have much more precise control and helps the alcohol circulate better. It is also through the cobbler shaker that bartenders in Japan get to create their own signature shake!

Hard Shake

While there are many ways to shake a cocktail, the Hard Shake is probably the most popular one in Japan. It is a method known to mix the cocktail ingredients effectively without diluting the alcohol. Of course, this type of shake is achieved with the use of the cobbler shaker.

Ice Carving

One of the best things when drinking a cocktail in Japan is the ice. The ice comes in different shapes, and it goes with different cocktails: cubed ice with cocktails like Negroni, and diamond-cut ones for simple whiskey cocktails like an Old-Fashioned.

Japanese Classic Cocktails

Highball

Highball (ハイボール) is a classic Japanese cocktail that you can commonly find in izakayas. It is a combination of Japanese whisky and a carbonated drink served in a large glass. Because of its refreshing taste, greasy food like karaage is paired with it. People also consider highball a great alternative to beer!

Chuhai

Short for shochu highball, chuhai is a combination of shochu – a traditional Japanese distilled alcohol – and carbonated water. It has a relatively low alcohol content, making it easy to drink, comes in different kinds of flavors, is cheap, and is canned, making it a popular drink for a lot of people in Japan. The famous lemon sour drink that you can buy in convenience stores is a type of chuhai.

Sake Cocktails

What is a Japanese cocktail without the national drink: sake, or nihonshu (日本酒)? There are several cocktails that contain sake, and the most famous one, probably, is the tamagozake. If you are a fan of eggnog and warm drinks, you might like this one, as it is a mix of hot sake, sugar, and raw egg! And an interesting thing about tamagozake is that while it is an alcoholic drink, it is a common remedy for colds used in Japan! Saketini, the Japanese take on the classic martini, is another well-known example of a sake cocktail. It’s not that different from the usual martini, the only difference is that instead of vermouth, sake is used to mix with vodka or gin, and a slice of cucumber for garnish.

Cassis Orange

For those who are not really a fan of the taste of alcohol, cassis orange may be right up your alley. It’s a blend of orange juice with Cassis liqueur and is known to be a very smooth drink. Another variation of this is the Cassis grapefruit, which uses grapefruit juice instead of orange.

Tea Cocktails

With how much the Japanese love their tea, it’s not surprising that they have tea cocktails too! Japan has a variety of tea cocktails, with simple ones like ryokucha-hai (緑茶ハイ), which is a mix of green tea and shochu, flavored tea cocktails like Peach Oolong, which uses peach liqueur with oolong tea, and more complex ones like matcha mojitos or a matcha old-fashioned! For some good cocktails, we recommend visiting Mixology Salon, a bar in Tokyo that specializes in tea cocktails!  

For those who find themselves in Osaka or Kyoto, instead of Tokyo, Kansai has many great options for cocktail bars as well, such as Kyoto’s Bar Rocking Chair or Osaka’s Bar Agréable! Good food and good drinks make an experience memorable, and we think being surrounded by some good ol’ jazz music, soaking in the atmosphere, and enjoying a tall glass of a good cocktail is just that! A little bit different from the popular izakayas and clubs, Japan’s cocktail culture is a must-try experience on your next visit to Japan!

Feature Photo Credit: Arigato Travel

Now that you know more about Japan’s cocktail culture, why not join us on our Luxury Tokyo Sake, Cocktail, Whisky and Pairing Tour to experience it in person?