Sawanoi Brewery and Tasting Bar — Restaurant in Tokyo

A place that you can buy and try 10 or 11 types of Sawanoi sake. Price range differs with type of sake. First purchase includes a choko (cup) of about 5 shaku volume. A second purchase of sake is 100 JPY cheaper when you use the same choko, but you are not allowed to purchase multiple choko per day.

The choko has a cute BLUE logo of a sawa kani (crab) which is the logo of this sake brewery. If you make return trips here and get a choko each time, you will be able to trade 10 BLUE logo choko for 1 RED logo choko.

The sake are all at room temperature that makes it easier to compare textures and flavors.

The server at the counter spoke English and was very knowledgable in sake and was more than happy to recommend a sake that met the criteria of the kind you were looking for.

The only down side is that you can’t bring in your own munchies or purchase so you’d be drinking on an empty stomach if you didn’t eat before coming here.

Edit: went back the next day to get two more choko. Asked the helpful guy behind the counter how others are able to drink on an empty stomach. He directed me to the munchies to the right of the counter. I misunderstood no outside food/drinks could be brought in to mean NO food/drinks, but actually it’s okay to purchase munchies just to the right of the sake counter and enjoy those with your sake.

Oh, forgot to mention, unlike other shops within the garden, this shop is cash...

The Sawainoi Berwery and the surrounding is a beautiful area in the mountains outside of Tokyo that is perfect for a day trip.

The brewery created a wonderful area with restaurants, sake sampling and shops along the river. The sake is excellent and the setting where the brewery is located is simply beautiful. It can get a little crowded on weekends and holidays as the area is popular with hikers and nature lovers as well as folks who come to here just to enjoy the food and sake. The brewery offers tours, that needs to be...

The air was so clean and the scenery was beautiful. I liked the kind and friendly staff on the 1st floor. However, food they had was kind of disappointing... not much selection and it wasn’t very good. If they had better food, I would have enjoyed the sake much more but I’m looking forward to come back...