Kurand Sake Market Asakusa

Their all-you-can-drink stand bar concept proved a hit in Ikebukuro, so sake festival organisers Kurand are now setting up a second branch in Asakusa, just a stone's throw from the Kaminarimon. The concept remains the same, with all customers required to pay a ¥3,240 entrance fee in exchange for unlimited access to a selection of around 100 varieties of nihonshu. The bottles sit in fridges around the counter, and you're allowed to browse freely, pick out any bottle and cup of your choice and pour drinks for yourself and your buddies. Bringing your own food is allowed too, making this one an attractive spot for drawn-out weekend drinking sessions. More a casual living room than a watering hole suited to quick boozing, the Sake Market can be expected to attract an international crowd on these tourist-infested streets. If you read Japanese, take part in their lottery before the end of August – you could win free sake for life.

Open September 2, 2015