Top Wine Bars in Japan

Fujimaru Winery Shimanouchi ★ 4.8 · Osaka

Dotonbori and Namba · 1-1-14 Shimanouchi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0082

Osaka urban winery established in 2013, producing Yamabudo wild-grape wine in-house and serving natural Japanese bottles by the glass in Shimanouchi.

The Nikka Bar Sapporo ★ 4.8 · Sapporo

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0804, Japan

Nikka Whisky's flagship Hokkaido bar in Susukino, pouring rare expressions of Taketsuru, Yoichi and Miyagikyo from the company's own cellar.

Tip: Reservations via the Nikka site; the Yoichi single-cask flights need a week's notice.

Hikidashi ★ 4.7 · Sapporo

maruyama · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0801, Japan

A sommelier-led natural wine bar 10 minutes from Maruyama Park station. Calming wooden interior with washi-paper walls; Hokkaido and French growers feature.

Tip: Reservations recommended; counter seats look across into the kitchen.

Ahiru Store ★ 4.7 · Tokyo

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0063, Japan

Ahiru Store in Tokyo's Tomigaya is sommelier Teruhiko Saito's natural-wine counter, sister Wakako's bread on the side. The 12-seat room queues from 18:00.

Tip: No reservations after 18:30; arrive at 18:00 for the second seating or before opening for the first.

Winestand Waltz ★ 4.7 · Tokyo

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021, Japan

Winestand Waltz in Tokyo's Ebisu-Nishi is the cellar-bar that built Tokyo's natural-wine ritual. Standing-counter only, 30 by-the-glass pours, no reservation.

Tip: No reservations. Walk-in standing room only; arrive by 19:00 for a counter spot.

Yoramu Sake Bar ★ 4.6 · Kyoto

karasuma-kawaramachi · Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0831, Japan

Israeli-born Yoram Ofer's koshu sake bar in a Nakagyo machiya in Kyoto. The most-cited aged-sake list in the country, served at a six-seat counter.

NOAM Wine Bar ★ 4.6 · Osaka

Shinsaibashi and Amerikamura · 1-17-27 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0083

A Shinsaibashi natural wine bar with over 300 references from small European producers; strong in Beaujolais, Loire, Georgian orange, skin-contact bottles.

Bar Kamata Sapporo Sake Bar ★ 4.6 · Sapporo

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0805, Japan

A Susukino sake bar stocking nearly 300 Hokkaido-produced sake bottles. Otokoyama, Kunimare and Chitosetsuru are the everyday pours; cellar bottles too.

Tip: Flight of three Hokkaido junmais is the easy intro; closed Sundays.

Komorebino Natural Wine Bar ★ 4.5 · Kyoto

gion · 123 Tominagacho, Higashiyama-ku, Hanami Kaikan 1F, Kyoto 605-0078

Komorebino in Gion's Hanami Kaikan pours 200 carefully chosen natural wines from Japan, France and Italy with a list rotating to 24 seasonal Japanese terms.

Tip: Counter seating with the sommelier is the only way to taste the off-list Japanese bottles; reserve a week ahead.

Bar nano gould ★ 4.5 · Sapporo

tanukikoji · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0063, Japan

A Tanukikoji wine-and-cocktail bar working under the concept cocktails as liquid cuisine. Hokkaido-foraged ingredients across both glassware.

Tip: Counter only; reservations via phone strongly recommended Glass-pour list rotates monthly.

Wineshop Flow ★ 4.5 · Tokyo

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0066, Japan

Wineshop Flow in Tokyo's Hatagaya is a cellar-bar behind the station, blond timber with a porthole-shaped cellar door. Natural wines and natural sake.

Tip: Drop in for a glass and a bottle to take home; the small plates are Japanese-seasonal, perfect for two.

I.N.U.wines Hakata ★ 4.4 · Fukuoka

hakata · Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 812-0018, Japan

I.N.U.wines is a pioneer of Kyushu's natural-wine scene, with a shop and tasting bar inside the KUOHKA food complex in Canal City Hakata's basement.

Tip: Bottles can travel inside the KUOHKA complex. Walk-in and reservation both work.

Sake Bar Yoramu ★ 4.4 · Kyoto

nakagyo · Matsuyacho 35-1, Nijo-dori, Higashinotoin Higashi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0831, Japan

Yoramu in Nakagyo in Kyoto is Yoram Ofer's eight-seat aged-sake counter, koshu flights from across Japan, small Israeli-Japanese plates, a hidden alley find.

Tip: Reserve by phone; the koshu flight changes weekly. Closed Sunday through Tuesday.

Bar Jazz Shinsaibashi ★ 4.4 · Osaka

Shinsaibashi and Amerikamura · 1-8-17 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0085

A Shinsaibashi record bar opened 2003; owner Keiji Maki selects from a 2,000-title vinyl library on custom JBL monitors with house vineyard wine.

Sake Naga Susukino ★ 4.4 · Sapporo

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0804, Japan

A small Susukino sake counter pouring exclusively Hokkaido sake. Twenty-plus producers by the glass, the kitchen leaning on sashimi and grilled fish.

Tip: Counter only; the staff speak basic English and will tailor flights.

Bar Garbo Susukino ★ 4.4 · Sapporo

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0804, Japan

A Susukino whisky bar with a one-piece wooden counter and an exceptional Japanese whisky inventory. The Suntory bottle bar in the city's neon spine.

Tip: Counter only; reservations preferred for Friday and Saturday seats.

Fuglen Tokyo (evenings) ★ 4.4 · Tokyo

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0063, Japan

Fuglen Tokyo in Tokyo's Tomigaya flips at 19:00 from Norwegian cafe to natural wine and cocktail bar. The vintage Scandinavian furniture stays the same.

Tip: Weekday late seating after 21:00 is the calmest window. Cocktails are champion-level under bartender Halvor Digernes.

Senrogiwa ★ 4.4 · Tokyo

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0022, Japan

Senrogiwa in Tokyo's Ebisu-Minami is an izakaya-DJ-bar hybrid above the tracks near Garden Place. Natural wines, yakiton skewers, 90s vinyl on the decks.

Tip: Saturday nights tilt DJ-set late; arrive by 19:00 for the dinner-shaped first seating.

Apero Wine Bar Aoyama ★ 4.4 · Tokyo

Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan

Apero in Aoyama in Tokyo is the Dupeperier family wine bar opened 2014, natural French selection shortlisted by Simon Bianco, family-recipe bistro plates.

Tip: Reserve via the official site for the counter; bottle list rotates seasonally.

Le Cabaret Vin ★ 4.4 · Tokyo

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0053, Japan

Le Cabaret Vin in Tokyo's Yoyogi is sommelier-couple Suzuki's natural-wine bar near Shinjuku. Twenty by-the-glass pours, candle-lit standing-and-sitting room.

Tip: Closed Mondays. Walk-in friendly; arrive before 20:00 for counter seats.

Bistro Rojiura ★ 4.4 · Tokyo

Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-0024, Japan

Bistro Rojiura in Tokyo's Sangenjaya is the back-alley wine bar pouring natural Beaujolais and Loire. Long communal counter and Japanese-French bistro plates.

Tip: Closed Mondays. The pate en croute and the Beaujolais cru flight are the canonical pair.

Hermitage ★ 4.3 · Fukuoka

daimyo · Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0041, Japan

Hermitage in Daimyo is a French bistro off the main street with a natural-wine cellar and chemical-free cooking. Organic vegetables and a healthier kitchen.

Tip: Reserve through Tabelog or by phone. Counter and four tables. Closed Sundays.

Carbo Imaizumi ★ 4.3 · Fukuoka

imaizumi · Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0021, Japan

Carbo runs an Italian and Spanish leaning natural-wine bar in Imaizumi with pasta-forward small plates. Meat and Wine Fukuoka participant. Priced at ¥¥¥.

Tip: Reserve through Tabelog. Counter and two tables.

Wine no Maruyama Ya ★ 4.3 · Sapporo

sapporo-station · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0004, Japan

A Sapporo wine bar with a Hokkaido-leaning natural-wine list and a charcuterie program built around Hokkaido pork and lamb. Easy walk from Sapporo Station.

Tip: Around 40 bottles by the glass; ask for a Hokkaido vintage in the natural section.

Shibuya Cheese Stand ★ 4.3 · Tokyo

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0047, Japan

Shibuya Cheese Stand in Tokyo's Okushibu makes mozzarella and burrata on-site each morning and pours Italian wines to match. The wine flight is the order.

Tip: The 5pm fresh mozzarella batch is the one to time it for. Reserve online to avoid the wait.

Casime ★ 4.2 · Fukuoka

daimyo · Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0041, Japan

Casime is a Daimyo gastropub at the entrance of Keyaki Street with craft beers, natural wines and a wood-fired Mediterranean Middle Eastern kitchen.

Tip: Walk-in and reservation. Wine flight is the entry order. English menu, English-speaking manager.

Mashica ★ 4.2 · Osaka

Nakanoshima and Kitahama · 1-19-15 Edohori, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0002

A Higobashi neighbourhood natural wine bar focused on biodynamic French and Italian producers, with Osaka obanzai small plates that pair by design.

Kusuriya San no Wine Bar ★ 4.2 · Sapporo

maruyama · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0801, Japan

A Kitayama natural wine bar set into a former pharmacy. Biodynamic French and Hokkaido pours, plus a cheese board of Hokkaido fromage producers.

Tip: Closed Tuesdays; bookings via Tabelog for Friday and Saturday only.

Wine to Yakiniku Maruyama JIN ★ 4.1 · Sapporo

maruyama · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0801, Japan

A Maruyama room marrying Hokkaido wagyu yakiniku with a curated Hokkaido and Burgundy list. Counter and table seating with a charcoal-grill centrepiece.

Tip: Book the shin-shin and Hokkaido pinot pairing; reservations through Tabelog.

Winestand Perche ★ 4.0 · Osaka

Tenma and Tenjinbashi · 2-3-2 Tenma, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0043

A standing natural wine bar in Tenma near Tenmabashi; sommelier Toshiya Kinoshita pours organic and biodynamic bottles from a compact daily list.