Hiding on the western side of JR Shinjuku Station is a great shochu izakaya with a diverse bottle selection (150+!) and decent food. Bonus! There is an English menu for folks who are not comfortable with the Japanese language.
Tokuri’s cozy interior and knowledgeable staff make for a great shochu and awamori drinking spot on any day of the week.
Tokuri always has at least one shochu comparison set that is worth a try. This is a good way to see how widely the flavors and aromas can vary even when they are made from the same base ingredient. There is also an all-you-can-drink deal (nomihoudai) for those that are so inclined.
Sit at the counter if you’re alone or with one guest. The tables around the room can be moved to accommodate larger parties.
Be careful on the way out. Those steps are steep! A tumble all the way from the third floor will likely necessitate much more shochu to recover.
**Shochu is good.
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