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Is it cheaper to buy Japanese Whisky in Japan?

Author

Matthew Cannon

Updated on February 23, 2026

Is it cheaper to buy Japanese Whisky in Japan?

Considering the sky-high prices, “affordable” in the world of Japanese whisky is under $125. Buying whisky in Japan can be cheaper for certain bottles, while others are around the same price (see below for more). The Japanese whisky industry is dominated by Suntory, with Nikka coming in a distant second.

Keeping this in view, is Hibiki cheaper in Japan?

Hibiki 17 Is One Of Japan's Most Sought-After Whiskeys, But It Can Be Bought Cheap. 14 miniature bottles of Hibiki 17. The equivalent of one 700ml bottle of Hibiki for 11,760 yen, 240

Also Know, how much does Yamazaki cost in Japan? The aged varieties are particularly sought after. The online retail price of a 700-milliliter bottle of Suntory's Yamazaki 12 Year Old has risen to above 20,000 yen in recent weeks, according to price comparison site Kakaku.com.

Thereof, is Yamazaki cheaper in Japan?

Yamazaki 12 used to cost around 50 bucks, but now you can expect to pay at least triple the price at any liquor store that actually has it in stock. So why does Japanese whisky cost so much, and is it really worth it? Whatever the reason, the effects are real; Japanese whisky is now officially rare and expensive.

Where can I buy Japanese whiskey in Tokyo?

  • Ginza: Matsuya, Mitsukoshi, Shinanoya, Liquor Mountain 777, Liquor Express, Don Quijote, Yamaya.
  • Ikebukuro: Shinanoya, BicCamera, Tanakaya, The Whisky Plus, Yamaya, Seiyu.
  • Shibuya: Tokyu, BicCamera, Yamaya.
  • Shinjuku: Isetan, Takashimaya, Yodobashi Camera, Yamaya.

How do you drink Hibiki?

You add block ice to a highball glass and stir with a bar spoon to chill the glass, then discard any melted water from the glass. Add 1 to 1.5oz of whisky and stir thirteen and one-half times clockwise. Add two to three times as much sparkling water as whisky and then stir three and one half times more clockwise.

How much does Whisky cost in Japan?

Considering the sky-high prices, “affordable” in the world of Japanese whisky is under $125. Buying whisky in Japan can be cheaper for certain bottles, while others are around the same price (see below for more).

Why is alcohol cheap in Japan?

It's the tax structure. Basically one of the things Japan taxes alcohol on is malt content which means that beer is relatively expensive as well as some high end whiskeys. Clear liquor by virtue of not having malt is cheaper.

Is hikikomori a mental disorder?

Cases of hikikomori are often, but not always, classifiable as a variety of existing DSM-IV-TR (or ICD-10) psychiatric disorders. Hikikomori may be considered a culture-bound syndrome. Hikikomori merits further consideration and research into whether it is a new psychiatric disorder.

What is the best Japanese whiskey?

Read on and discover the best-selling Japanese whiskies of 2017.
  • 8 – Yoichi Single Malt Moscatel Finish.
  • 7 – Hibiki Harmony.
  • 6 – Hibiki 17 Year-Old.
  • 5 – Nikka Coffey Malt.
  • 4 – Yamazaki 18 Year-Old.
  • 3 – Hibiki 21 Year-Old.
  • 2 – Yamazaki Limited Edition 2017.
  • 1 – Yamazaki 12 Year-Old.

How long is hibiki aged?

approximately 20 years

What is Yamazaki?

Yamazaki distillery (Japanese: ?????, Hepburn: Yamazaki jōryūsho) is a Japanese whisky distillery located in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Opened in 1923, and owned by Suntory, it was Japan's first commercial whisky distillery.

Is Japanese Whisky Scotch?

Japanese whisky is a style of whisky developed and produced in Japan. Broadly speaking the style of Japanese whisky is more similar to that of Scotch whisky than other major styles of whisky. There are several companies producing whisky in Japan, but the two best-known and most widely available are Suntory and Nikka.

How much is a bottle of Yamazaki?

As whisky prices keep rising, and the market for luxury whisky rapidly expands, Japanese whisky hit a new milestone on January 30: A bottle of 50-year-old Yamazaki became the most expensive bottle of Japanese whisky ever sold at auction, fetching a price of HK$2.3 million ($299,000).

How is Whisky made?

Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak.

Is single malt whiskey the best?

Single malt scotch may get all the accolades, but the truth is that the best-selling whiskies coming out of Scotland are actually the blends. No, not all single malt scotch is smoky, although Islay in particular is known for using peat in the malting process, which gives its whisky that smoky flavor.

What is Suntory whiskey?

Suntory Beverage & Food Limited (?????????????????, Santorī Hōrudingusu Kabushiki-Gaisha) (commonly referred to as simply Suntory) is a Japanese brewing and distilling company group. Established in 1899, it is one of the oldest companies in the distribution of alcoholic beverages in Japan, and makes Japanese whisky.

What is Suntory Whisky made from?

What is Suntory whisky made from? Suntory produces a diverse array of malt and grain whiskies. A core ingredient is the pure waters used for mashing. Our malt whiskies are made with malted barley, and our grain whiskies with corn.

What does single malt mean?

A single malt is defined as whisky made from malted barley, at a single distillery, aged for at least three years in either American oak or European (Spanish) oak casks, and bottled at a minimum ABV of 40%. You'd be amazed at the number of people that think 'Single Malt' means 'single cask'.

What is Yamazaki whiskey?

Yamazaki® Whisky is Suntory's flagship single malt whisky, from Japan's first and oldest malt distillery, multi-layered with fruit and Mizunara aromas. 1 single malt whisky in Japan, but is enjoyed in more than 35 countries.

What is a good Japanese whiskey?

For the best ji-whisky experience on a budget we recommend you try: Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries by Chichibu. Ichiro's Malt & Grain Blended Whisky by Chichibu. White Oak Akashi.

Where is the Hibiki Distillery?

Its sister distillery, Hakushu, is located high up in foothills of the Japanese Alps, about a three-hour drive from Tokyo. And Chita, in the Aichi Prefecture, is responsible for producing the grain whisky used in many of Suntory's blends.