Oct 18, 2019, 5:22 pm
Last edit by: armagebedar
This thread is about where to find whiskey in Japan. Extended discussion about where to find Japanese whiskey elsewhere is off topic and will be removed.
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Consolidated "Buy Whiskey in Japan" thread (was: Haneda/Narita Duty Free Whiskey)
Apr 5, 2017, 7:12 pm
#541
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,119
I was surprised that in southern TX (where I was for several days earlier this week) that every liquor store I visited had a decent Japanese whisky selection. One dive bar I visited in Brownsville had 10 whiskys on the bar, including Yamazaki 12, Hakushu 12, several NAS, and Yamazaki 18.
Prices weren't great--Hakushu was $99 US at every store I saw it--but I was surprised at the supply. Disappointed at the amount of NAS Nikkas out there, but still, better than the US situation has been in a while.
Prices weren't great--Hakushu was $99 US at every store I saw it--but I was surprised at the supply. Disappointed at the amount of NAS Nikkas out there, but still, better than the US situation has been in a while.
Apr 6, 2017, 2:36 pm
#542
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: JFK/LGA/EWR
Posts: 1,296
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/customs.htm
"Are cigarettes and alcohol duty-free?
Answer: up to 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars and up to 1.5 liters of alcoholic beverages (alcohol measure above 12 degrees) are duty-free either entering or exiting. More than the limited amount needs to be declared and a certain mount of duty needs to be paid."
If I buy more than 1.5 liters in Japan, do I pay a duty when entering and exiting? Does TWOV have any impact on this?
Apr 6, 2017, 4:26 pm
#543
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,912
Here are my observations from a 3-week trip all over Japan, which included visits to over three dozen liquor stores:
- Availability of liquors with age statement is tight. Most independently run stores I visited had nothing at all in stock. I assume what limited supplies they get is reserved for their regular customers. Big national chains are your best bet.
- Finding stuff is a matter of luck. On my trip, I saw almost no Hibiki 12, a good amount of Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12, a bit of Hibiki 17, the occasional Yamazaki 18 and Hakushu 18, and even some Yamazaki 25, Hibiki 21, Hibiki 30, and Nikka 40. Nikka 12 is available almost everywhere.
- There is really no standard price, and the differences between the lowest and highest prices can be 30-50%. For instance, the range for Nikka 12 was 4.5k to 6.9k, for Hibiki 17, 12k-15.8k, for Yamazaki 18, 24.8k-45.8k, for Nikka 40, 500k-780k.
- Generally, the best deals for mid-range stuff (12/17/18) can be had at Don Quijote and BIC Camera. Chains like Liquor Mountain generally have much higher prices on mid-range stuff, but often also have much better availability of high-end stuff (if at eye watering prices, e.g., Hibiki 30 @ 298k).
- Prices vary by location even within the same chain. Platinum Donki in Shirokanedai had Yamazaki 12 for 8980, but at Donki Fukuoka the same product ran 11.9k. Conversely, Nikka 12 was cheaper in Fukuoka than Tokyo. The Liquor Mountain in Kyoto (near Hyatt) had the best availability of any store I visited, but prices were much higher there than at their Shinjuku location.
- It’s completely unpredictable what a store will have in stock; often, there’s nothing at all, but sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Generally, if a store has a line of 80 people waiting for tax free processing, don’t expect to find anything.
- If you aren’t buying gifts, 50ml bottles are available much more widely and often will be better value than full size bottles. Many stores that have no full size bottles will have dozens of minis, and somehow the pricing of these hasn’t kept up with the big bottles. I saw Hibiki 17 as low as 680 (=9520 for .7l, about 2.5k less than the cheapest full size bottle).
- Unless you have the time to visit dozens of stores, you’ll have to buy whatever you can get. If you see Hakushu/Yamazaki 12 around 10k, Hibiki 17 around 12k, or Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 around 25k, don’t hesitate to buy. You may find them slightly cheaper elsewhere, but unless you visit a ton of stores, there’s a real chance that you won’t see any more supplies of the stuff you passed up.
- As others have pointed out, you may find decent stock and prices outside Japan. I can get Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 in Portland @ $250 – 10% more than the cheapest I saw in Japan, but almost half of the most expensive. And no hours of shopping around required, although, as you can probably tell, I enjoyed the hunt.
- Availability of liquors with age statement is tight. Most independently run stores I visited had nothing at all in stock. I assume what limited supplies they get is reserved for their regular customers. Big national chains are your best bet.
- Finding stuff is a matter of luck. On my trip, I saw almost no Hibiki 12, a good amount of Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12, a bit of Hibiki 17, the occasional Yamazaki 18 and Hakushu 18, and even some Yamazaki 25, Hibiki 21, Hibiki 30, and Nikka 40. Nikka 12 is available almost everywhere.
- There is really no standard price, and the differences between the lowest and highest prices can be 30-50%. For instance, the range for Nikka 12 was 4.5k to 6.9k, for Hibiki 17, 12k-15.8k, for Yamazaki 18, 24.8k-45.8k, for Nikka 40, 500k-780k.
- Generally, the best deals for mid-range stuff (12/17/18) can be had at Don Quijote and BIC Camera. Chains like Liquor Mountain generally have much higher prices on mid-range stuff, but often also have much better availability of high-end stuff (if at eye watering prices, e.g., Hibiki 30 @ 298k).
- Prices vary by location even within the same chain. Platinum Donki in Shirokanedai had Yamazaki 12 for 8980, but at Donki Fukuoka the same product ran 11.9k. Conversely, Nikka 12 was cheaper in Fukuoka than Tokyo. The Liquor Mountain in Kyoto (near Hyatt) had the best availability of any store I visited, but prices were much higher there than at their Shinjuku location.
- It’s completely unpredictable what a store will have in stock; often, there’s nothing at all, but sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Generally, if a store has a line of 80 people waiting for tax free processing, don’t expect to find anything.
- If you aren’t buying gifts, 50ml bottles are available much more widely and often will be better value than full size bottles. Many stores that have no full size bottles will have dozens of minis, and somehow the pricing of these hasn’t kept up with the big bottles. I saw Hibiki 17 as low as 680 (=9520 for .7l, about 2.5k less than the cheapest full size bottle).
- Unless you have the time to visit dozens of stores, you’ll have to buy whatever you can get. If you see Hakushu/Yamazaki 12 around 10k, Hibiki 17 around 12k, or Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 around 25k, don’t hesitate to buy. You may find them slightly cheaper elsewhere, but unless you visit a ton of stores, there’s a real chance that you won’t see any more supplies of the stuff you passed up.
- As others have pointed out, you may find decent stock and prices outside Japan. I can get Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 in Portland @ $250 – 10% more than the cheapest I saw in Japan, but almost half of the most expensive. And no hours of shopping around required, although, as you can probably tell, I enjoyed the hunt.
Apr 6, 2017, 5:04 pm
#544
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: Anything that still flies F
Posts: 66
Here are my observations from a 3-week trip all over Japan, which included visits to over three dozen liquor stores:
- Availability of liquors with age statement is tight. Most independently run stores I visited had nothing at all in stock. I assume what limited supplies they get is reserved for their regular customers. Big national chains are your best bet.
- Finding stuff is a matter of luck. On my trip, I saw almost no Hibiki 12, a good amount of Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12, a bit of Hibiki 17, the occasional Yamazaki 18 and Hakushu 18, and even some Yamazaki 25, Hibiki 21, Hibiki 30, and Nikka 40. Nikka 12 is available almost everywhere.
- There is really no standard price, and the differences between the lowest and highest prices can be 30-50%. For instance, the range for Nikka 12 was 4.5k to 6.9k, for Hibiki 17, 12k-15.8k, for Yamazaki 18, 24.8k-45.8k, for Nikka 40, 500k-780k.
- Generally, the best deals for mid-range stuff (12/17/18) can be had at Don Quijote and BIC Camera. Chains like Liquor Mountain generally have much higher prices on mid-range stuff, but often also have much better availability of high-end stuff (if at eye watering prices, e.g., Hibiki 30 @ 298k).
- Prices vary by location even within the same chain. Platinum Donki in Shirokanedai had Yamazaki 12 for 8980, but at Donki Fukuoka the same product ran 11.9k. Conversely, Nikka 12 was cheaper in Fukuoka than Tokyo. The Liquor Mountain in Kyoto (near Hyatt) had the best availability of any store I visited, but prices were much higher there than at their Shinjuku location.
- It’s completely unpredictable what a store will have in stock; often, there’s nothing at all, but sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Generally, if a store has a line of 80 people waiting for tax free processing, don’t expect to find anything.
- If you aren’t buying gifts, 50ml bottles are available much more widely and often will be better value than full size bottles. Many stores that have no full size bottles will have dozens of minis, and somehow the pricing of these hasn’t kept up with the big bottles. I saw Hibiki 17 as low as 680 (=9520 for .7l, about 2.5k less than the cheapest full size bottle).
- Unless you have the time to visit dozens of stores, you’ll have to buy whatever you can get. If you see Hakushu/Yamazaki 12 around 10k, Hibiki 17 around 12k, or Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 around 25k, don’t hesitate to buy. You may find them slightly cheaper elsewhere, but unless you visit a ton of stores, there’s a real chance that you won’t see any more supplies of the stuff you passed up.
- As others have pointed out, you may find decent stock and prices outside Japan. I can get Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 in Portland @ $250 – 10% more than the cheapest I saw in Japan, but almost half of the most expensive. And no hours of shopping around required, although, as you can probably tell, I enjoyed the hunt.
- Availability of liquors with age statement is tight. Most independently run stores I visited had nothing at all in stock. I assume what limited supplies they get is reserved for their regular customers. Big national chains are your best bet.
- Finding stuff is a matter of luck. On my trip, I saw almost no Hibiki 12, a good amount of Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12, a bit of Hibiki 17, the occasional Yamazaki 18 and Hakushu 18, and even some Yamazaki 25, Hibiki 21, Hibiki 30, and Nikka 40. Nikka 12 is available almost everywhere.
- There is really no standard price, and the differences between the lowest and highest prices can be 30-50%. For instance, the range for Nikka 12 was 4.5k to 6.9k, for Hibiki 17, 12k-15.8k, for Yamazaki 18, 24.8k-45.8k, for Nikka 40, 500k-780k.
- Generally, the best deals for mid-range stuff (12/17/18) can be had at Don Quijote and BIC Camera. Chains like Liquor Mountain generally have much higher prices on mid-range stuff, but often also have much better availability of high-end stuff (if at eye watering prices, e.g., Hibiki 30 @ 298k).
- Prices vary by location even within the same chain. Platinum Donki in Shirokanedai had Yamazaki 12 for 8980, but at Donki Fukuoka the same product ran 11.9k. Conversely, Nikka 12 was cheaper in Fukuoka than Tokyo. The Liquor Mountain in Kyoto (near Hyatt) had the best availability of any store I visited, but prices were much higher there than at their Shinjuku location.
- It’s completely unpredictable what a store will have in stock; often, there’s nothing at all, but sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Generally, if a store has a line of 80 people waiting for tax free processing, don’t expect to find anything.
- If you aren’t buying gifts, 50ml bottles are available much more widely and often will be better value than full size bottles. Many stores that have no full size bottles will have dozens of minis, and somehow the pricing of these hasn’t kept up with the big bottles. I saw Hibiki 17 as low as 680 (=9520 for .7l, about 2.5k less than the cheapest full size bottle).
- Unless you have the time to visit dozens of stores, you’ll have to buy whatever you can get. If you see Hakushu/Yamazaki 12 around 10k, Hibiki 17 around 12k, or Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 around 25k, don’t hesitate to buy. You may find them slightly cheaper elsewhere, but unless you visit a ton of stores, there’s a real chance that you won’t see any more supplies of the stuff you passed up.
- As others have pointed out, you may find decent stock and prices outside Japan. I can get Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 in Portland @ $250 – 10% more than the cheapest I saw in Japan, but almost half of the most expensive. And no hours of shopping around required, although, as you can probably tell, I enjoyed the hunt.
Apr 6, 2017, 9:12 pm
#545
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,912
The >$1000 stuff is out of my price range, and I can get the Hak/Yam 18 here for $250. (Actually just swung by the liquor store three blocks from my house on my way home from work and they had 6 bottles, more that I saw at any store in Japan). Thus, we brought back about a dozen Hak/Yam 12 and Hibiki 17 minis, two Hibiki 17 full size bottles, a Nikka 12, and a Kurayoshi 18 (which I had never tried before, but a Donki sold it for a possibly erroneously low 12k yen). Declared at PDX customs, and were waived right through.
Apr 7, 2017, 9:56 pm
#546
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 2
Apr 7, 2017, 9:57 pm
#547
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 2
The >$1000 stuff is out of my price range, and I can get the Hak/Yam 18 here for $250. (Actually just swung by the liquor store three blocks from my house on my way home from work and they had 6 bottles, more that I saw at any store in Japan). Thus, we brought back about a dozen Hak/Yam 12 and Hibiki 17 minis, two Hibiki 17 full size bottles, a Nikka 12, and a Kurayoshi 18 (which I had never tried before, but a Donki sold it for a possibly erroneously low 12k yen). Declared at PDX customs, and were waived right through.
Here are my observations from a 3-week trip all over Japan, which included visits to over three dozen liquor stores:
- Availability of liquors with age statement is tight. Most independently run stores I visited had nothing at all in stock. I assume what limited supplies they get is reserved for their regular customers. Big national chains are your best bet.
- Finding stuff is a matter of luck. On my trip, I saw almost no Hibiki 12, a good amount of Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12, a bit of Hibiki 17, the occasional Yamazaki 18 and Hakushu 18, and even some Yamazaki 25, Hibiki 21, Hibiki 30, and Nikka 40. Nikka 12 is available almost everywhere.
- There is really no standard price, and the differences between the lowest and highest prices can be 30-50%. For instance, the range for Nikka 12 was 4.5k to 6.9k, for Hibiki 17, 12k-15.8k, for Yamazaki 18, 24.8k-45.8k, for Nikka 40, 500k-780k.
- Generally, the best deals for mid-range stuff (12/17/18) can be had at Don Quijote and BIC Camera. Chains like Liquor Mountain generally have much higher prices on mid-range stuff, but often also have much better availability of high-end stuff (if at eye watering prices, e.g., Hibiki 30 @ 298k).
- Prices vary by location even within the same chain. Platinum Donki in Shirokanedai had Yamazaki 12 for 8980, but at Donki Fukuoka the same product ran 11.9k. Conversely, Nikka 12 was cheaper in Fukuoka than Tokyo. The Liquor Mountain in Kyoto (near Hyatt) had the best availability of any store I visited, but prices were much higher there than at their Shinjuku location.
- It’s completely unpredictable what a store will have in stock; often, there’s nothing at all, but sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Generally, if a store has a line of 80 people waiting for tax free processing, don’t expect to find anything.
- If you aren’t buying gifts, 50ml bottles are available much more widely and often will be better value than full size bottles. Many stores that have no full size bottles will have dozens of minis, and somehow the pricing of these hasn’t kept up with the big bottles. I saw Hibiki 17 as low as 680 (=9520 for .7l, about 2.5k less than the cheapest full size bottle).
- Unless you have the time to visit dozens of stores, you’ll have to buy whatever you can get. If you see Hakushu/Yamazaki 12 around 10k, Hibiki 17 around 12k, or Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 around 25k, don’t hesitate to buy. You may find them slightly cheaper elsewhere, but unless you visit a ton of stores, there’s a real chance that you won’t see any more supplies of the stuff you passed up.
- As others have pointed out, you may find decent stock and prices outside Japan. I can get Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 in Portland @ $250 – 10% more than the cheapest I saw in Japan, but almost half of the most expensive. And no hours of shopping around required, although, as you can probably tell, I enjoyed the hunt.
- Availability of liquors with age statement is tight. Most independently run stores I visited had nothing at all in stock. I assume what limited supplies they get is reserved for their regular customers. Big national chains are your best bet.
- Finding stuff is a matter of luck. On my trip, I saw almost no Hibiki 12, a good amount of Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12, a bit of Hibiki 17, the occasional Yamazaki 18 and Hakushu 18, and even some Yamazaki 25, Hibiki 21, Hibiki 30, and Nikka 40. Nikka 12 is available almost everywhere.
- There is really no standard price, and the differences between the lowest and highest prices can be 30-50%. For instance, the range for Nikka 12 was 4.5k to 6.9k, for Hibiki 17, 12k-15.8k, for Yamazaki 18, 24.8k-45.8k, for Nikka 40, 500k-780k.
- Generally, the best deals for mid-range stuff (12/17/18) can be had at Don Quijote and BIC Camera. Chains like Liquor Mountain generally have much higher prices on mid-range stuff, but often also have much better availability of high-end stuff (if at eye watering prices, e.g., Hibiki 30 @ 298k).
- Prices vary by location even within the same chain. Platinum Donki in Shirokanedai had Yamazaki 12 for 8980, but at Donki Fukuoka the same product ran 11.9k. Conversely, Nikka 12 was cheaper in Fukuoka than Tokyo. The Liquor Mountain in Kyoto (near Hyatt) had the best availability of any store I visited, but prices were much higher there than at their Shinjuku location.
- It’s completely unpredictable what a store will have in stock; often, there’s nothing at all, but sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Generally, if a store has a line of 80 people waiting for tax free processing, don’t expect to find anything.
- If you aren’t buying gifts, 50ml bottles are available much more widely and often will be better value than full size bottles. Many stores that have no full size bottles will have dozens of minis, and somehow the pricing of these hasn’t kept up with the big bottles. I saw Hibiki 17 as low as 680 (=9520 for .7l, about 2.5k less than the cheapest full size bottle).
- Unless you have the time to visit dozens of stores, you’ll have to buy whatever you can get. If you see Hakushu/Yamazaki 12 around 10k, Hibiki 17 around 12k, or Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 around 25k, don’t hesitate to buy. You may find them slightly cheaper elsewhere, but unless you visit a ton of stores, there’s a real chance that you won’t see any more supplies of the stuff you passed up.
- As others have pointed out, you may find decent stock and prices outside Japan. I can get Hakushu/Yamazaki 18 in Portland @ $250 – 10% more than the cheapest I saw in Japan, but almost half of the most expensive. And no hours of shopping around required, although, as you can probably tell, I enjoyed the hunt.
Where did you see Yamazaki 25 please and for what price?
Apr 7, 2017, 10:48 pm
#548
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,912
Apr 8, 2017, 4:33 am
#549
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
Apr 8, 2017, 6:55 am
#550
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,912
I'm looking around for the Yama 18 for days but just saw it once in Osaka for a crazy price. I already visited so many small and big stores but almost only find unaged bottles but nothing more. I'm in Tokyo right now any tip where to find the Yamazaki 18 for a reasonable price would be welcome
Apr 11, 2017, 10:57 am
#551
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: TYO
Programs: UA MM *G, NH Plat/SFC, HH Diamond, GE
Posts: 238
I'm looking around for the Yama 18 for days but just saw it once in Osaka for a crazy price. I already visited so many small and big stores but almost only find unaged bottles but nothing more. I'm in Tokyo right now any tip where to find the Yamazaki 18 for a reasonable price would be welcome
Apr 11, 2017, 12:04 pm
#552
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 2
Tokyo was at the end of my trip, so I had stopped taking notes of the crazy prices. I did see some Yamazaki 18 in Kyoto (45.8k, Kentboy's), Fukuoka (44.9k, Donki), and Nagasaki (45k, Aeon). The best bet for reasonable prices is BIC Camera -- IF they have availability (a big IF!) Hakushu 18 or Yamazaki 18 will run ~25k. Better deals may be available abroad -- my local liquor store in Portland, OR has the Yamazaki 18 for $249.80 and Hakushu 18 for $252. There are long dry spells with no availability at all, and then all of a sudden a large shipment comes in, only to sell out again in a matter of days.
Apr 11, 2017, 12:16 pm
#553
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
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Posts: 5,336
Apr 11, 2017, 12:35 pm
#554
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
This may not help since Hibiki is not in stock, but Bic Camera has a reserve in-store inventory option for pick-up
Domestic Whiskey:
http://sake.biccamera.com/bs/disp/CS...o=001290010&q=
I believe the website states online reservation with in-store pick up will give the most advantageous price if there are price increases after reservation or in-store price differences. They offer the in-store reservation in a few languages.
http://www.biccamera.com.e.lj.hp.tra...keep-howto.jsp
It is also handy if you have some online shopping to do and want to combine it with tax-free.
Domestic Whiskey:
http://sake.biccamera.com/bs/disp/CS...o=001290010&q=
I believe the website states online reservation with in-store pick up will give the most advantageous price if there are price increases after reservation or in-store price differences. They offer the in-store reservation in a few languages.
http://www.biccamera.com.e.lj.hp.tra...keep-howto.jsp
It is also handy if you have some online shopping to do and want to combine it with tax-free.
Apr 11, 2017, 1:57 pm
#555
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,912
Forgive the OT: http://www.oregonliquorsearch.com/ will search the entire state for inventory, price, and specific store location(s).
Note that counts of 1-2 on this site may represent phantom availability, and places that have 10+ may have some reserved for bars or regular customers. The site shows the unsold, but not necessarily correct and available, inventory.