Mitsuya’s Liquor

June 22, 2007
Take Chuo line (on JR system) from shinjuku. Asagaya is maybe the 4th stop (150yen). Exit to the south (minami). There is a mile long path of shops under a covered walkway. Mitsuya is near the end on the left. the stores on the way are interesting, especially on a rainy day with the covered walkway. A decent beer store if you are in the area, but it’s better worth going to Takanaya, which is 210yen away on the subway. Takanaya has 3X the selection, with no macro beers. Mitsuya’s prices are lower, so maybe it’s better for everyday purchases.

June 6, 2007
Mitsuya’s is simply The Beer Store to me. I have not seen a place with a better selection of import beers in Japan. The owner is a friendly Japanese guy who goes by the name of Sam. He speaks fluent American English, and knows every beer he stocks (all 170!) by heart. He’s a guy who loves beer and it shows. Most of the time, you can see the shop’s cat lounging in a box above the cash register. A bit out of the way, but worth the trip (use the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line’s Minami-Asagaya Station or the JR Sobu Line’s Asagaya station). After you stock up on rare and interesting beers, have a look around the little residential streets of Suginami-ku, overflowing with greenery and flowers.