Our Top Tokyo Wine Bar Picks in 2024
While wine production in Japan got off to a relatively late start, appreciation of wine has increased rapidly in the last decade, and signs are following. The best Tokyo wine bar is nearer to you than you might think.
Drinking culture in Japan is strong, with nomikais and after-work parties a near mandate for the average worker. However, the drink of choice is frequently beer or sake, with sake having over a thousand years of history in Japan. Wine production only began in the 1870s in Yamanashi, which makes it a relative newcomer in comparison.
Yet the wine industry in Japan has been growing. There are 331 wineries in Japan, based on figures provided by Japan's National Tax Agency. And according to a study published by Kirin, the present wine market has more than tripled compared to recorded numbers from 1989.
This bodes well for the oenophiles and the casual imbibers in Tokyo, or anyone looking for their next wine-based adventure. During these times, with travel options limited, exploring wines from far-off locales is not a bad second-place finish.
Word-of-mouth referrals are often the best way to navigate the Tokyo wine bar scene. Another trusty method is through GuruNavi or Tabelog, Japan's Yelp-styled review sites for eateries and drinkeries nationwide. But to start you off in your hunt for the best wine bar in Tokyo, we’ve gathered our favorites for you to look over.
BaCChus Wine Bar—for the wine lovers, a traditional wine bar in Ginza
An elegant wine bar in Ginza with a rotating list of rare wines and amuse-bouche menu, dedicated to helping you with serendipitous encounters in your wine journeys. Written up in several Japanese magazines and newspapers, it is still relatively unknown to visitors to Japan. With 11 seats, this is the perfect choice for when you want a quiet evening, a good conversation with a wine master, and an encounter with some gorgeous varieties.
No service fee until after midnight. Reservations preferred.
Access: Ginza Subway Station, Tokyo Metro Line, Exit 1
Tel: 03-5537-7037
Kiyosumi Shirakawa Fujimaru Winery—an urban winery in a trendy bistro
Kiyosumi Shirakawa Fujimaru Winery
Hidden in an average-looking building in the East Tokyo neighborhood of Kiyosumi Shirakawa lies a restaurant that produces its own wine in red, white, sparkling, and other varieties. The first floor is the winery, while the second floor is a restaurant that serves Italian cuisine out of an open kitchen.
There is both a dining room for meals and a second room for those who just want to share charcuterie while enjoying either the house vintages or one of the 200 or so bottles of other wines that are available. Tours are also available for those interested in the winemaking process, and the company also has a Nihonbashi wine shop with more than 1,000 wines as well as two Osaka locations.
Reservations can be made online, and wines from the shop can also be ordered online, but may confuse non-Japanese visitors. Consider asking MailMate’s bilingual assistant service to help you book a table or purchase some wine from the online store.
Access: Kiyosumi Shirakawa station on the Denentoshi Line, not far from the Fukagawa Edo Museum.
Tel: +81 03-3641-7115
Wine Stand Waltz—standing space only at this cozy nook in Ebisu
A cozy nook of a bar, Wine Stand Waltz is tucked away behind a metal entrance on a residential street that is not too far from Ebisu Station. Recognized by Parisians as someone at the forefront of Japan's natural wine movement, Mr. Oyama Yasuhiro began his career as a French chef but is now the owner of one of Tokyo's most popular natural wine bars.
Small finger foods are available, but this is a standing-only bar, so it is ideal for after-meal drinks when you aren’t ready to call it a night. Walk-ins only.
Access: Ebisu, JR Line, East Exit
Red Room—Non-traditional, yet perfect wine bar in Omotesando
A cozy wine bar that takes the best of European wine traditions and Japanese Izakaya-style comfort, serving a great selection of natural wines, Japanese wine, and okonomiyaki—and playing 70s and 80s records to set the mood. The interior is casual; the walls painted red.
This is a great date spot or a place to hit if you want to slip into another world. A sommelier is on call, and the owner-chef prepares vegetarian and spicy foods, too. Reservations are possible.
Access: Omotesando Station, Tokyo Metro Line, Exit A5
Tel: 03-6883-4583
GinzaWineBar G5—Expect the best in this upscale Ginza wine bar
A fine wine bar that you can slip into, whether alone, after work, or with a date. They serve wine from 5 major chateaus, by the glass if you so prefer, and carefully selected aperitifs, such as prosciutto plates and cheeses from Fermier that will complement your wine tasting.
The interior is stylishly decorated with comfy seats and an excellent view of city lights. A lovely addition to an evening out and about. Service fee: ¥1,000. Reservations are possible.
Access: Ginza Station, Tokyo Metro Line, 3 Exits A2 and B3
Tel: 03-6263-9820
Izakaya Vin—big establishment with an even bigger wine list
Not far from the famous Shibuya Crossing lies Izakaya Vin, a three-story bar and restaurant with thousands of bottles available (mostly imported wines) and a large menu of cheeses, charcuterie, and other small and large plates. There is also an ever-changing menu of wines by the glass, including red, white, sparkling, and plenty more.
The first floor contains 9 counter seats, with levels 2 and 3 open for table seating. While it’s a big place with three levels, it can fill up, so it’s wise to reserve a table if you’re planning to eat food or coming with a large group of business acquaintances. You can make a reservation online through Tablelog, though the site is in Japanese. As with some other high-end establishments, perfume is not allowed as it interferes with the scent of the wine.
Access: Shibuya Station, King Building, just across the street from west exit of the Inokashira Line.
Tel: +81 03-3496-2467
The Garden Nakameguro—Elegant trattoria, café, and bar in Nakameguro
Upstairs is a trattoria, café, and bar with an open terrace garden and one full wall lined with books. Downstairs is Ristorante Scintilla, a fine-dining establishment with full courses that pair well with natural wines from Italy. Wine selection for both the upstairs café and the downstairs restaurant is carefully chosen by the owner and founder of HIBANA in Shinjuku.
There is a walk-in cellar where you can peruse available vintages and order a glass or a bottle from off the shelves. A delight to visit at any time of the day or night. Reservations possible through Tabelog.
Access: Nakameguro Station, Tokyu Toyoko Line / Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
Tel: 050-5456-7108
Bottega—Classic Italian cuisine + a delightful wine list in Hiroo
Near Hiroo Station, down a flight of narrow stairs, is this hidden treat. Chef Shohei Sasakawa studied in Italy and trained in Campagna and Tuscany, where he immersed himself in mastering the culinary techniques of the local regions he visited. Today, he has more than 20 years of experience and uses that to refine each dish he presents.
The wine list is masterful and can be found on their website. This is the place to go when you want food that will surprise and delight you before your day comes to a close, paired with a vintage that will help you unwind. Reservations are possible by phone.
Access: Hiroo Station, Hibiya Line
Tel: 03-6450-3933
La Nuit Blanche—Ginza’s high-end speakeasy for Francophiles
Tucked away in a Ginza basement, this 18-seat hideaway features a large selection of French wines and a menu of Italian food. Reservations are a must because of the bar’s small size and popularity, and smoking is not allowed – in fact, smelling of smoke or perfume is forbidden. Open until midnight, this is a great spot to bring a date or colleague for an intimate experience or pop in for a drink after a fancy dinner.
The website is in Japanese and French, and the online reservation system is only in Japanese. If you’d like to book a spot in advance but aren’t fluent in Japanese, consider using a concierge service like MailMate’s bilingual virtual assistant service that will help you reserve a space at this impressive speakeasy.
Access: Ginza Station – note: Google Maps has trouble directing people to the bar. Make sure to confirm the directions with your concierge before departing!
Tel: +81 03-6909-9561
Wineshop Flow—welcoming Mecca for the Japanese natural wine movement
If you’re new to Japanese natural wine and want to see why this trend has exploded in popularity both in Japan and around the world, you won’t find a better place than Wineshop Flow. The bright wooden interior is casual yet refined, a perfect place to try out wines grown from hybrid grapes grown organically in Japan with minimal chemical interference.
Located in Hatagaya, not far from the Shibuya and Shinjuku neighborhoods where many business travelers stay, Wineshop Flow is both a wine shop and a bar, so you can be as adventurous as you want to be with your tastings, and if you find something you like, purchase a bottle that will make a great thank-you gift for your friends and colleagues in Tokyo. Reservations are possible, but the online form is only in Japanese, so if you want to make sure your group can be accommodated, have a hotel concierge or virtual assistant reach out beforehand.
Access: Hatagaya Station, Shinjuku Line
Tel: +81 03-6804-7341
Osozakura—experience the variety of domestic vino in Nishi-Azabu
Visitors to Japan who’ve sampled plenty of wines from Europe and America but are unfamiliar with the Japanese wine industry may enjoy an experience dedicated to local wines. A small, quaint, unassuming shop in the less-touristy neighborhood of Nishi-Azabu, Osozakura is dedicated to Japanese wine, with around 250 domestic bottles.
For those interested in sampling the different types of wines made in Japan, tasting flights are available, and the knowledgeable staff can share some insights about Japanese wine or provide gift wrapping of bottles available to purchase. The shop closes at 6pm, after which all activity moves upstairs to the wine bar, where more than a dozen domestic wines are available by the glass.
Access: Walking distance from Hiroo Station, Roppongi Station, and the Grand Hyatt Tokyo.
Tel: +81 03-6427-5090
No. 501—a cool, contemporary shop where wine is treated as an art form
You’ll notice the difference between No. 501 and other restaurants and bars right away, from the utilitarian furnishings to the brightly-colored modern wine racks. Located not far from Meiji Jingu Stadium, the space was designed to focus solely on the wine and everything is picked to enhance the wine-tasting experience, from the food selection to the music being played. There are 10 or so wines available by the glass, as well as a stocked wine shop focused heavily on organically-grown and produced wines.
Perhaps not the most stylish place for a business dinner, No. 501 is for those who want to focus on wine and gain an appreciation for what Japan’s wine scene has developed into. You’ll learn where the wine comes from and who produced in a cool yet unpretentious space.
Access: Four-minute walk from Gaienmae Station on the Ginza Line.
Tel: +81 03-6721-0510
apéro.—homey, refined dining and a carefully-curated wine selection
Combining respect for French tradition with a deep respect for Japanese producers, apéro offers a bright and welcoming space to enjoy thoughtful cuisine and wine, ideal for get-togethers with Japanese colleagues. There is a large selection of natural wines of many varieties, and an emphasis on sustainable producers.
The restaurant offers pasta and a variety of shared plates. Sourcing is important to the proprietors in terms of both wine and food, so you can see where the ingredients come from on their website. The restaurant is open for lunch on Saturday and for dinner the rest of the week, and there is an omakase menu available based on local organic ingredients.
Thankfully, the restaurant has an easy online reservation system so you can book a group of up to six, as well as an online shop that offers a wine box subscription service. They also have a physical shop in Kyojima that has tastings and a selection of bottles.
Access: Aoyama, walking distance from Omotesando Station on the DT line or Gaienmae Station on the Ginza Line.
Tel: +81 03-6325-3893
Frequently asked questions
What types of wine can I find in Tokyo wine bars?
Many wine bars in Tokyo offer a wide variety of wines, including both domestic and international options. Natural wines are particularly popular.
Do Tokyo wine bars offer other experiences besides wine tasting?
Yes, many of Tokyo's wine bars offer remarkably French experiences. Some also serve food and offer a casual bar atmosphere.
What is the price range for wines in Tokyo wine bars?
The price range varies depending on the wine bar and the specific wines. Some wine bars in Tokyo are known for offering a wide variety of wines at very affordable prices.
What is the atmosphere like in Tokyo wine bars?
The atmosphere can vary from bar to bar. Some offer a traditional wine bar experience, while others are more non-traditional. Some have standing space only, while others are more spacious.
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