High Five In Tokyo

Aside from a handful of well-publicised hotel bars, the city’s dense maze of must-visit drinking dens can be quite intimidating to navigate, especially for inevitably overwhelmed and overstimulated Westerners. One of the top cocktail bars in the upscale Ginza neighborhood of Tokyo, Bar High Five is a tiny space on the 4th floor of an office building where Hidetsugu Ueno crafts exquisite cocktails. There's no menu, Hidetsugu simply asks for your tastes and will make you something accordingly. Packed to the brim with bars, clubs, and all-night revelers, Roppongi is without a doubt one of Tokyo’s most famous nightlife districts.

Located on the Ginza Corridor, a street containing a string of restaurants and bars between JR Yurakucho and Shimbashi stations, this location — while featuring the same prices and menu as the other two bars — is known for its nightlife. Head out a little later in the evening to Ginza 300 Bar 8-Chome and you will be able to not only eat and drink for just ¥300 but also enjoy live music events almost every night, with sets by regularly performing DJs and artists! Meet your friends and enjoy a premium cocktail or two together before heading out to dance the night away. Shuzo Nagumo of Tokyo’s Codename bar group agrees, citing the fresh fruit cocktail movements beginning between 2007 and 2009. Nagumo opened his first drinking den, Codename Mixology, shortly after Bar Orchard in 2009. “Ten years ago, when we started our business, nobody used fresh fruits for cocktails, except for lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit,” says Sumire.

The lounge and bar carries the energy of NAMIKI667 into the night, and is the perfect venue for casual get-togethers with friends and family. Lounge around from early afternoon with coffee, our signature menu items, and sweets before changing it up in the evening with one of our original cocktails that feature a variety of Japanese spirits. Join us for our weekly music nights and NAMIKI667 Happy Hour for a fantastic end to your evening—there’s definitely a drink with your name on it here.

The interior is coolly stylish and spacious, making it an ideal location for groups or those wanting a little privacy. Close to Shimbashi Station, drop by for a couple of drinks as you pass through. Ginza Bar Tender is home to Mr. Hard Shake himself, Kazuo Ueda, the inventor of Japan’s biggest contribution to the world of cocktails. Well into his seventies, Ueda is still going strong, maintaining his bar’s reputation as one of Tokyo’s best. The drinks are famously strong, and although pricey, the cosy ambience makes a tipple or two well worth it.

Rather, they serve drinks in the style of Japanese bartenders, with precision and delicacy, and they serve spirits and cocktails with Asian concepts and twists. Signing up for a cocktail tasting menu might sound like a recipe for 銀座 a hangover, but Yamamoto estimates that his drinks contain only around 10 percent ABV. It’s about imbibing a beautifully blended, seasonal expression of Tokyo. Male hosts pour drinks and will often flirt with their clients, more so than their female counterparts. The conversations are generally light-hearted; hosts may have a variety of entertainment skills, be it simple magic tricks or charisma with which to tell a story. Some host clubs have a dedicated stage for a performance, usually a dance, comedy sketch, etc.

With seating fees factored in, Tokyo’s high-end cocktails can cost up to $30 a drink, so you might want to save these outings for special occasions. Reservations are a good idea if the bar accepts them, but you shouldn’t have trouble getting a seat at any of these spots. Basic English is widely spoken at most high-end establishments — just be cordial and patient when making requests. Fortunately for the budding cocktail maven, it’s relatively easy to imbibe that history simply by hitting some of Tokyo’s best cocktail bars, many of which neatly preserve a moment in time. What follows is one suggested agenda that starts with a classic establishment and progresses toward bars at the vanguard of cocktail culture. Orchard is a seventh-floor hideaway in Ginza with salmon-toned walls, comfy white chairs, and glassware chilling in a refrigerated cabinet. As the name suggests, fresh fruit cocktails are the specialty here, and husband-and-wife bartending team Takuo and Sumire Miyanohara will present you with a basket laden with seasonal fruits in lieu of a menu.