Conveniently located near Tokyo Station and Ginza Station, Shimbashi has long been known and loved as a classic after-work drinking district for Japan’s office workers. Even today, it remains lively day and night, weekdays and weekends alike.
Shimbashi Ekimae Building, directly connected to Shimbashi Station’s Shiodome Exit via an underground passage, is home to some of the area’s most authentic and deep-rooted watering holes.
And tucked away in this retro, Showa-era setting—like something out of a movie set—is “Tachinomi Kuri,” where you can enjoy Japan’s local drinking culture in true tachinomi (standing bar) style.
A must-visit for sake lovers all across Japan
Tachinomi bars are popular for their casual, affordable drinks and snacks.
The standing bars of Shimbashi are especially lively, even on weekdays, packed with nearby office workers grabbing a drink after work. It’s the perfect place to experience the energy of a typical Japanese night out.
Tachinomi Kuri is a hidden gem specializing in Japanese sake.
The moment you step into this compact 100-square-foot bar, you’re greeted by a striking wall of sake labels—each carefully framed like a piece of art in a gallery.
These stunning displays are part of an impressive private collection amassed by proprietress Itsuko Kurihara since 1983.
Tachinomi Kuri is based on a family-run sake shop and offers approximately 40 carefully selected varieties of Japanese sake that change with the seasons.
The sake lineup features robust flavors with distinctive characteristics.
The selection is so impressive that sake enthusiasts visit from all over the country, and you can encounter rare brands that can’t be found elsewhere.
Since they purchase by the bottle and replace them with new brands as they run out, there’s always something new to discover with each visit.
Sake’s flavor profile changes significantly depending on the brewing process, including factors like the rice polishing ratio, the addition of distilled alcohol, and whether it’s been pasteurized.
Even if you’re not familiar with sake, Tachinomi Kuri makes it easy—they display tasting notes and flavor descriptions in English to help you choose.
A wide variety of Japanese sake at reasonable prices
The Umami bites editorial team recommends starting with the “Omakase Set.” This set allows you to enjoy three recommended sake varieties of the day at a reasonable price, and you can make requests according to your preferences, such as “only sweet sake” or “only dry sake.”
“店主おまかせセット,” Omakase Set 1,000 JPY (tax included)
The bar uses a cash-on-counter payment system common in Japanese tachinomi spots. Simply place your money in the basket in front of you on the counter when ordering—preferably using 1,000 JPY bills or coins.
Single servings start from just 150 JPY (tax included) for a 40 ml (about 1.4 oz) glass, and there are regularly featured bottles too—like the bar-exclusive “Sakaya no Nyōbō no Nusumi-zake” (roughly “The Liquor Store Wife’s Secret Sake”), a mellow, slightly sweet sake that gently soothes the drinker.
“酒屋の女房の盗み酒,” Sakaya no Nyōbō no Nusumi-zake 500 JPY per cup (80 ml/ 2.8 oz) (tax included) per glass
Chilled, room-temperature, or hot sake options are available, so you can explore different ways to enjoy it.
Since sake typically has an alcohol content around 15%, pace yourself and sip slowly. Drinking water in between is also recommended to avoid getting tipsy too fast.
Snacks that pair perfectly with Japanese sake!
At Tachinomi Kuri, you can also enjoy approximately 20 varieties of daily-changing snacks (small dishes) that pair well with Japanese sake.
(top left) “マカロニポテトサラダ,” Macaroni Potato Salad (top right) “酢の物,” Pickled Vegetables (center) “新じゃがいもフライ,” New Potato Fries 100 JPY (tax included) each
All snacks are served in small portions, allowing you to enjoy them bit by bit alongside your sake. Prices are reasonable, ranging from 100 to 300 JPY (tax included). Regional dishes and fermented foods are also available, letting you taste uniquely Japanese snacks.
During our visit, snacks using seasonal ingredients included “Plum Bamboo Shoots” and “Matsumae-zuke,” a famous Hokkaidō regional fermented dish.
“梅たけのこ,” Plum Bamboo Shoots (right) “松前漬,” Matsumae-zuke 100 JPY (tax included) each
What truly sets Tachinomi Kuri apart—besides its fantastic sake and food—is the warmth and hospitality of the owner and her daughter, who run the bar together.
Whether you’re a regular or a first-time visitor, everyone is treated with kindness and respect.
(left) Proprietress Itsuko Kurihara and (right) assistant proprietress Takako Kurihara
Sharing drinks in this cozy, intimate space—elbow-to-elbow with fellow patrons—is an exceptional experience. You can take in the local bar culture rooted in Japan that isn’t found in guidebooks.
It’s also not uncommon for people sitting next to each other to strike up friendly conversations—even first-timers. That kind of spontaneous connection is part of the magic of tachinomi bars.
That said, the bar isn’t a loud or rowdy place like a pub. Out of courtesy, keep your voice down and maintain respectful etiquette.
Since Tachinomi Kuri is a specialty shop visited by sake fans from across the country, it’s very busy even on weekdays.
After 8:00 PM, the place is often full, so going earlier in the evening is recommended.
Lingering isn’t the norm at standing bars—part of the charm is enjoying a quick drink and moving on. Stop by casually and savor a sake you’ve never tried before.
Information
| Store name | 立ち呑み 庫裏 Tachinomi Kuri |
|---|---|
| Address | Shimbashi Ekimae Building 1 1F, 2-20-15 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Shimbashi Station Short-walk from Shimbashi Station Shiodome Exit
|
| Phone number | 090-3690-6363 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
|
| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | Mon-Sat. 17:00-23:30 |
| Closed | Sunday & National Holidays |
| Seating | 15 standing bar counter seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://www.instagram.com/tachinomi.kuri/ |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of June 2025.
