15 Restaurants in Ikebukuro and Shinjuku Serving the Best Sake Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Reservation Guide-

Update-date: Feb 14 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

15 Restaurants in Ikebukuro and Shinjuku Serving the Best Sake

In recent years, sake (Japanese alcohol) has captured the attention of people from around the world. That's why going to restaurants that serve sake is a must when going sightseeing in Tokyo! This article focuses on the Ikebukuro and Shinjuku area where you will find restaurants that serve both Japanese meals and sake.

See full listings of Sake restaurants found in and around Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.

1. Yonpachi Gyojou Ikebukuro Higashiguchi Branch (Ikebukuro/Izakaya)

At Yonpachi Gyojou Ikebukuro Higashiguchi Branch, customers can indulge in a daily selection of specialty dishes featuring fish processed with the skilled techniques of fishermen, such as "Shinkei-jime (destroying the fish's spinal cord)" and "Ikekoshi (letting fish rest in the tank)." A rich variety of Japanese sake, including brands tailored to the season and perfectly complementing fish dishes, is also available. In addition to popular brands like Dassai, Hidashimizu, Shiraku, and Taka, customers can enjoy original sake unique to the Yonpachi Gyojou. Amidst the lively atmosphere reminiscent of a fishing town, please relish the freshness of the sea's bounty.

Yonpachi Gyojou Ikebukuro Higashiguchi Branch

Open: [Monday-Thursday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) / [Friday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm) / [Saturday, National Holidays] Dinner 4:00 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm) / [Sunday] Dinner 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Ikebukuro Station
Address: 1F, Suzuwa Bldg., 2-16-8, Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Map
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2. Kushikoma Main Store (Otsuka / Izakaya)

1. Kushikoma Main Store (Otsuka / Izakaya)

A well-established izakaya (Japanese pub) which has opened its doors for more than 30 years ago. The restaurant takes thoroughness to another level because the owner himself tests all of the sake served in this restaurant. The meals that they serve are carefully created, taking into account their compatibility with sake. Among them, their popular dish is [Ishirimizore Nabe] (2,300 JPY) which you have to reserve beforehand. This superb dish, which blends the flavor of squid and vegetables with the sweetness of coarsely grated daikon (radish) in fish sauce soup made from squid innards, will surely warm your entire body and is considered a rarity in Tokyo.

Kushikoma Main Store

Open: [Tuesday - Saturday] Normal hours: 18:00-00:00, last order for food at 23:00 / last order for drinks at 23:30[Sunday] Normal hours: 17:00-00:00, last order for food at 23:00 / last order for drinks at 23:30
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: A 5-minute walk after alighting from Otsuka station on the JR Yamanote line/A 5-minute walk after alighting from Otsuka-ekimae station on the Toden Arakawa line
Address: 1-33-25 Kitaotsuka , Toshima-ku, Tokyo Map
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3. Sakagura Kura (Ikebukuro / Izakaya)

This izakaya features an abundance of dishes that match sake. True to its name, which means "wine cellar", they have of large assortment of liquor, from local sake from different parts of Japan to shochu (Japanese alcohol), whiskey, and wine. They also constantly restock season-exclusive sake and shochu which are normally unavailable when out of season. Their signature dish is [5-Kind Assortment Kushiyaki] (meat skewers) (780 JPY). This dish features gizzard, tsukune (chicken meatloaf), negima (green onions and chicken), and chicken wings which can be served with sauce or salt. Utilizing the chewy texture of Daisen chicken, this dish really is outstanding.

Sakagura Kura

Open: [Weekdays, Sunday, National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: 3,000 JPY
Address: 1-28-1, Nishi-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Map
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4. Nipponichi (Ikebukuro / Izakaya)

This restaurant lets you enjoy a wide variety of sake with both local and modern Japanese cuisine from all over Japan. They are most popular for their numerous private rooms which are spacious and can be chosen to accommodate any number of people. These red-colored Japanese rooms allow you to relax as you like. They have a wide selection of sake and local sake, including the internationally acclaimed Dassai (sake brand) and their signature dish is the [Nikumabushi, Sea Urchin and Salted Salmon Roe Assortment] (980 JPY plus tax). This luxurious dish allows you to savor some wonderful yet rare ingredients, so it's also often featured in photos.

Koshitsu Gotochi Izakaya Nipponichi

Open: Normal hours: 6:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m.
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: A 3-minute walk from the west exit upon alighting at Ikebukuro station. Exit from the west exit and cross the pedestrian crossing, and we will be on the 8th floor of Ikebukuro YS Stage.
Address: Ikebukuro YS Stage 8F, 1-38-1 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo (Map)
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5. Momiji (Ikebukuro / Sushi)

This restaurant serves sushi and seafood cuisine made from natural seafood. They also have sake from every region in Japan with Tohoku brands like Denshu and Dewazakura at the helm of their selection. Their [Homemade Kasukoji Kyoto-Style Misoyaki] (homemade sake lees Kyoto-style miso-grilled fish) (1,800 JPY plus tax) is known for being a great pairing with sake. Ingredients such as the sake kasu (sake lees) of Junmai Daiginjo, kome koji (rice malt) and shio koji (salt-marinated rice malt) is added into the miso which is applied to the fish before it is grilled. With this, you will surely be addicted to the sweetness of miso and the umami of the fish. Try their signature [Nigirizushi] (hand-formed sushi) which features a precise balance between the shari (sushi rice) and neta (sushi topping).

Momiji

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (L.O. 1:00 am)
Closed: Sunday *Open on Sunday and close on Monday if National Holiday is on a Sunday.
Average price: 10,000 JPY
Address: 1F, Makita Bldg., 2-42-7, Ikebukuro, Toshima-hu, Tokyo Map
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6. Shouchan Ikebukuro Branch (Ikebukuro / Izakaya)

5. Shouchan Ikebukuro Branch (Ikebukuro / Izakaya)

This izakaya serves yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) made with branded chicken as well as one-of-a-kind dishes that pair well with sake. Regardless of brand or brewery, they choose to stock any sake that matches the food, so you can't go wrong with any of their offerings. They even have rare brands depending on the season. The signature dish here is the [Chicken Skewer Assortment] (680 JPY/6 pieces plus tax, 1,080 JPY/10 pieces plus tax) which features a variety of yakitori made from different parts of the bird. The meat grilled using binchotan (high-grade charcoal) becomes soft and juicy. [Chicken Nanban] (880 JPY plus tax) is also another popular dish that features deep-fried chicken doused in a sweet and spicy sauce served with an eggy tartar sauce.

Shouchan Ikebukuro Branch

Open: [Weekdays] 5:00 pm - 8:00 am (L.O. 7:00 am)
[Sunday] 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: 3,000 JPY
Address: 2F, Westcore Bldg., 1-39-1, Nishi-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

7. Waku (Ikebukuro / Izakaya)

Waku is the izakaya for you if you want to drink local sake and eat Japanese food made with high-quality ingredients. With a firm commitment to sake, the owner himself heads to various breweries around the country to carefully select and procure only the best sake for his restaurant. They mainly focus on the sake, and serve Japanese food to accompany the drinks, as opposed to the other way around. Among these, the [Seasonal Sashimi Assortment] is a popular choice. This money-saving dish has over 6 kinds of freshly harvested seafood directly delivered from the producers. Try to relish the seafood while tasting a wide variety of sake.

Waku

Open: [Monday - Thursday] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) *Closed during National Holidays, Day before National Holidays, and No Alcohol Days.
[Monday - Thursday, Saturday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. Food 11:00 pm, Drink 11:30 pm)
[Friday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 3:00 am (L.O. Food 2:00 am, Drink 2:30 am)
[Sunday, National Holidays] 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. Food 9:00 pm, Drink 9:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,080 JPY
Address: B1F, Takayanagi Bldg., 3-25-5, Nishi-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Map
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8. Kurikichi (Nishi-shinjuku / Japanese Cuisine)

7. Kurikichi (Nishi-shinjuku / Japanese Cuisine)

This is a well-hidden restaurant where you can relax and dine while gazing at the view of a garden. It is known for its abundance of alcoholic drinks, including a collection of genshu (unprocessed sake) sourced from all over Japan which they swap out depending on the season. The restaurant's recommendation, [Sendai Beef Shabu-Shabu Course] (sliced meat parboiled with vegetables) (10,000 JPY plus tax), pairs well with sake. As Sendai Beef is the restaurant's most popular ingredient due to its balance of fat content and lean meat, you won't be able to stop yourself from gobbling down more and more of it.

Japanese Cuisine Kurikichi

Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm) [Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 1 minute walk from the exit 1 of Nishi Shinjuku Station on Marunouchi Line
Address: 8-4-16, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
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9. Otaru Masazushi Shinjuku Branch (Shinjuku / Sushi)

8. Otaru Masazushi Shinjuku Branch (Shinjuku / Sushi)

Otaru is a sushi restaurant that directly transports about 70% of its ingredients by air from its own fish shop in Hokkaido. They have a wide selection of drinks, including local sake, wine, and they also have their original sake which is pretty popular among its customers. The recommended dish for this restaurant is [Otaru] (5,500 JPY), mainly featuring nigirizushi mostly made with Hokkaido seafood. This money-saving lunch set includes 12 pieces of sushi topped with otoro (fattiest part of tuna), botan shrimp, sea urchin among others, as well as an hors d'oeuvres assortment, soup, and dessert. Aside from this, they have seafood rice bowls and a-la-carte dishes on offer too.

Otaru Masazushi Shinjuku Branch

Open: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) In line with Takashimaya Times Square
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: A one minute walk from the south gate of JR Shinjuku Station. A five minute walk from Toei Shinjuku Station. A three minute walk from Shinjuku Sanchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin line.
Address: 14F Takashimaya Times Square, 5-24-2 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Map)
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10. Sakuji Nishi-Shinjuku Branch (5 Nishi-shinjuku / Creative Japanese Cuisine)

9. Sakuji Nishi-Shinjuku Branch (5 Nishi-shinjuku / Creative Japanese Cuisine)

This restaurant lets you enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine at a reasonable price. They have an extensive line-up of sake and shochu, and they carefully select sake with the least amount of additives. They recommend their tempura made with seasonal ingredients. Aside from this, their [Corn and Japanese Honewort Fritters] is also popular among customers. The restaurant boasts a rich line-up of food with simple flavors such as the [4-Kind Sashimi Assortment] and [Whole Onion Soup with Yuba Ankake] (tofu skin sauce).

Bishokudokoro Sakuji Nishishinjuku

Open: [Weekday/Saturday/Holiday/Day before holiday] Dinner 17:30 - 23:00 [Weekday/Day before holiday] Lunch 11:30 - 14:00 Closed on holidays and Saturdays.
Closed: Sundays
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 850 JPY
Access: Three minute walk from Toei Oedo Line Nishi-Shinjuku-gochome Station or five minute walk from Tocho-mae Station.
Address: Sakai Bldg. 1F , 6-16-10 Nishi Shinjuku , Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
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11. Genshiyaki Hibachi (Shinjuku / Izakaya)

10. Genshiyaki Hibachi (Shinjuku / Izakaya)

This izakaya lets you enjoy seafood cooked using genshiyaki which means thoroughly grilling fish with charcoal fire. The fish is skewered to allow the fire to cook the fish more thoroughly, remove excess water and fat, and punch out its concentrated umami. Among their dishes, you will never go wrong with the [Blackthroat Seaperch Genshiyaki] (4,500 JPY plus tax). It has a fluffy texture and a rich taste despite having white meat. In addition, since they have about 40 brands of sake, their [Sake Pairing] (3,000 JPY plus tax) is also a popular choice.

Genshiyaki Hibachi

Open: Dinner 5:00 pm - 0:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm) Please casually contact us for booking non-business hours, the whole restaurant, or others.
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from Shinjuku Station
Address: 3F, Kabukicho Shotengai Sinkokumiai Bldg., 1-19-3 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Map)
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12. Umaimon (Shinjuku / Izakaya)

This restaurant lets you enjoy sumiyaki (charcoal-grilled meat) through their use of seasonal seafood and flavors of the various ingredients, with sake. The izakaya's interior exudes a calm atmosphere that allows you to relax. They have an extensive line-up of a-la-carte dishes that goes well with sake, such as the [Sashimi Assortment] (700 JPY for 1 person, 1,400 JPY for 2 people). The [Sake Tasting Set] is also a popular option that goes well with this dish. There are 10 kinds of sets, but the most popular is the [Sake Tasting Juyondai 3-Kind Assortment] (1,950 JPY), allowing you to try precious sake brands from Yamagata. Please savor all the different pairing with their dishes.

Izakaya Umaimon Shinjuku Kabuki-cho

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday] 6:00 pm - 5:00 am (L.O. 4:00 am)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: A 5-minute walk from the east exit of the JR Shinjuku station. A 6-minute walk from Shinjuku-sanchome station on the Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines.
Address: Kabukicho Bldg. 1F, 1-12-6 Kabukicho , Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Map)
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13. Zekkocho Teppen Shinjuku Branch (Shinjuku / Izakaya)

12. Zekkocho Teppen Shinjuku Branch (Shinjuku / Izakaya)

This is a robatayaki grill restaurant that uses binchotan to grill food. Grilling seasonal vegetables, fishes, and meat seals the umami in, allowing you to enjoy the simple flavor of the ingredients. They also have a sake sommelier and stock over 30 brands of sake at any one time, so finding a sake to suite you will never be a problem. Of course, they have dishes aside from the grilled food, but the most popular is their starting appetizer [Sashimi 5-Kind Assortment]. Another popular dish is the picture-perfect [Shio-Musubi Topped with Ikura] (salted onigiri topped with salmon roe) (580 JPY).

Robatayaki Zekkocho Teppen Shinjuku

Open: 5:00 pm - 1:00 am
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: A five minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station's Central East Exit, the building before you come to Golden Gai on Kuyakusho Street
Address: 9F Sankei 55 Bldg., 1-2-6 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Map)
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14. Yonesuke (Shinjuku / Izakaya)

This restaurant lets you taste creative cuisine made with jidori (locally produced chicken) and seafood. This restaurant is best known for having only private rooms, allowing their customers to eat without being wary of their surroundings. They have various local sake, which changes every season, and they also have the widely popular sake brand Dassai. Their specialty is [Fried Chicken and Mushroom Mizore-ni] (grated daikon soup) (850 JPY). This dish features the Soshu Kohakudori (a local chicken brand), best known for its odorless smell and chewy texture, and the refreshing taste of the dashi (broth) and grated daikon. They also have an all-you-can-eat course, so this restaurant is recommended for those who have a big appetite.

YNOESUKE - Seasonal and Seafood Cuisine Private Room

Open:
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,980 JPY / [Lunch] 2,980 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from the east exit of [Shinjuku Station] on JR Lines
Address: 7F, M Bldg., 3-36-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

15. Torikyo Shinjuku Main Branch (Shinjuku / Izakaya)

From yakitori to motsu nabe and other creative dishes, this place has everything you might associate with an izakaya. Relax in the calming atmosphere created by their private rooms with modern interior design. For their sake line up they stock the ever popular brands such as the [Kokushimuso] (700 JPY), locally crafted in Hokkaido, and the [Hakkaisan] (750 JPY) from Niigata, a prefecture that is famous for their rice grains. This makes it a perfect place for beginners to the world of sake to start enjoying themselves. Their [5 Assorted Japanese Mioudori Kushiyaki] (980 JPY) comes highly recommended with its thick and juicy flesh!

Brand Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and Motsu Nabe (innards hot pot) Izakaya TORIKYO Shinjuku Main branch

Open: [Everyday] 5:00 pm - 5:00 am (L.O. 4:30 am)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: 4 minutes walk from the east exit of [Shinjuku Station] on JR Line.
Address: 1-5F, TORIKYO Bldg., 1-22-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Map)
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Please enjoy to your heart's content the dishes and sake made with the finest ingredients that can only be found in Japan!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.