Shinshu Osake Mura (Nagano Sake Village)

As mentioned in other reviews, the first challenge is finding it. Tiny room with standing/counter space for 12-16 people though they have some knocked-together tables outside to stand your beer on. Initially went for the sake sample trays, 3 glasses 550 - 750 yen depending on the set. Didn't really know what I was drinking (as is mentioned) as the menu is not in English. They have a beer dispenser with two draft beers just inside the door. This was accompanied by a board with a full description of both beers in English. Back storeroom is wall-to-wall Sake, but one of the refrigerators is full of Japanese craft beer. Noticed on the wall there is a full list of the beers they stock with an equivalent English translation. Just brewer, style and price but enough. They have small dishes of food available with, again, an English translation (I think) courtesy of Google translate. The locals were drinking a mixture of sake and beer and the two gentlemen that appeared to be running the show kept sprinting off to the back. Just have a look at the cans and pick your own, pay at the counter, even received a correctly branded glass. Was busy and may get more so as the IBREW beer bar chain has opened a branch a couple of doors down. Some of the cans were around 300 yen each, which is an absolute steal in Tokyo.

One of the best places I ever been. Small, personal with amazing service if you speak Japanese, Sake and beer from small breweries in Nagano, Sake also from other places. Crazy cheap for Tokyo. Went there some 5 times while in Tokyo.

Really great place in Tokyo to find lots of sake and get all the styles. Cheap too! A little small so I’m sure it can get very crowded during evening hours. Went early afternoon on a Friday and it wasn’t too busy. A bit hard to find at first and standing room only but I can imagine there is much better a place to tick sake in Tokyo. Some beer as well but didn’t have any of that.

Located in a 1970s style building by Shimbashi station is this Nagano Prefecture liquor shop/bar Prices are basically retail so it’s a great place to try sake, beer and cider from Northern Japan. Very popular place with a "Kura" or storehouse room in the back with to go bottles. Grab something yourself if your kanji isn’t up to reading the menu taped to the cash register. Fun cheap place for tickers.

Cool little standing bar in the small shopping court, focused on Nagano products. 2 taps of solid recent brews, served in one size, good bottle selection of most Nagano classics and seasonals. Amazing selection of sake, better ask the bartender for sampler suggestions. Great prices, a must-stop dive bar when in the Shimbashi area.

Stopped here for a bit with TimE and Tim during a pub crawl. Small standing room bar with mostly bottled/canned craft beer and a good amount of sake. A bit of wiggling around necessary when it’s a bit packed. Nice assortment of Shiga Kogen and other stuff in the backroom. Nice prices. Nice small plates of Japanese eats. Think the menus were all in Japanese but you could probably make it by with some basic English. Left with a good amount of mostly Shiga Kogen for cheaper than expected.

Tiny little sake shop that has craft beer as well. Standing only so a little tight, but the draw is the great prices. Bottles in the back fridge were super cheap for Japan. Convenient location makes this a great little spot.

First stop on a great RB pub crawl organized by TimE and his co-conspirators in March 2013, which I can now rate since I’ve documented #1k. Small place primarily devoted to sake from Nagano (duh), but with two interesting beer taps up front, and a fridge with decent bottles in the back. Friendly, flexible, helpful staff. Worth seeking out.

Small place that is half store half stand up bar. Same price if you get it there or take away. Just grab what you want from the fridges in back and pay in front. Great selection of sake, even if I’m not a sake expert. Great selection of Nagano micros.

Amazing place. Went on a Wednesday afternoon and it was just me a couple of old sake-drinking men. Barman was very helpful and really friendly. Prices are very good and the selection is nice too. Quite unusual to drink bottles here. Saying that, I did have the two taps and then went on to sake. Sake selection was bewildering so went with the recommendation of the barman. Tasting set of three for ¥500. Pretty good value. Was speaking to someone who said it gets busy in the evening, but the weekday afternoon thing really worked for me.