Great Balls of Fiery Okinawan Spirits
Up four flights of stairs in Shimokitazawa is this drinkery I don’t know the name of, but it’s got a killer light-up bar and specializes in an Okinawan spirit called awamori. Made from Thai rice, awamori is not for the weak. It packs a 60-86 proof punch and is traditionally served with ice and water. But like shōchū, it’s rumored that even if you get yourself around enough that the next day photos of you doing the hula with a flower in your bellybutton show up all over the interwebs, you won’t have a hangover. (Um, test this at your own risk…!)
If you’d like to visit Shimo-kitazawa the next time you’re in Tokyo, a map ison my website, The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had.
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Jonelle Patrick View All
Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!
We have 4 bottles in our basement from my dad who rec’d as gifts from visiting Okinawans. Need to break them out and partay!! Fun to read this —