Simply put, Japan is a pissheads dream. In Japan, alcohol is lightly taxed and is available 24 hours a day at any local convenience store (or on-the-corner vending machine), and oddly in most cases, the stronger the proof of the brew, the cheaper the cost of it.

Looking at the beer fridge you'll find most of the brands you would expect to see in Japan, namely Asahi, Sapporo, and Kirin, each battling for their portion of the shelf with their own assortment of brews. You can discover two or three different varieties from each one, catering with their own tier prices for the cheapskates and the wealthy out there, and there being Japan - you can also expect to see a constant turnover of new ranges, especially during season change. Something to be said though, is that even the so called 'cheapy' beers of Japan probably offer more quality than you would imagine.

So, nothing new, Japan sells beer, what else?

Well, for the fellow rednoses out there, Japan has a number of native concotions to get you shagging the staircases.

Since we're on the subject of beer, lets start with the recent newcomer, Happoshu. Though it isn't classified as beer, but 'sparkling alcohol', due to it's lower malt content, Happoshu pretty much tastes like clear, thin beer. I can't say I adore the stuff, but I have friends that do. The reason it's popular is because it is a fair few yen cheaper than real beer. Tastewise it's a world apart.

Next on the list is Sake.The Last Samurai's favourite. Sake comes from nothing much more than rice and water, and though it comes in a million varieties, the gardenshed one has a starchy yet almost tasteless flavour. Sake tastes better if heated, and like sangria, it's one of those drinks that gets you hugging the toilet before you know it. In fact, if you're going to go the whole hog and have a sake booze-up, why not get yourself a couple of proper little choko cups that you're supposed to drink it in. They make all the difference, I swear! Just for your interest, sake is probably the cheapest piss-up available in Japan. Oni Koroshi (Demon Slayer!haha!), is a cheap 100 yen per carton sake drink you can buy in almost every convenience store in Japan. You will suffer a hangover. It's ugly brother, Ozeki One Cup, is the one you see most of the bums on the streets have in their hands, and thus you know it's got to taste like shite. Perhaps that's being too harsh a criticism though, because it's quite drinkable after you've numbed your taste buds with something quality first, and leaves a clear, vinious aftertaste.

Shochu is fundamentally Japanese vodka, though most would agree the taste is a little more earthy and not as alcoholically potent. It's a strong spirit distilled from many things but predominantly sweet-potato or sugar cane. Apparently, the oldest guy in the world (until just recently), drank shochu every day of his life. He'd have probably lived even longer if he didn't, truth be told.

Chuhai can be found in the fridge, and are a cocktail of shochu and flavours such as Strawberry, Grape, Lemon, and Apple. Real men don't drink them because of their soda sweet taste and feeble alcohol content.

Umeshu deserves a mention. Made from sour Japanese plums, umeshu is a syrup-like, yet enjoyably rich wine drink that comes often with the plum at the bottom of the bottle. Because of its sweetness, umeshu is hardly the drink to broaden over the entire nights drinking with, yet, with a reasonably high alcohol content of 10-15%, and frequently found for as little as 100 yen a bottle, you'd be a fool not to suck down one or two to get the blood flowing before hitting the streets on a Friday night.

Finally, Japanese Whisky. OK, it's standard, no thrills whisky, same as back home, but you'll do a double-take when you glance at the price tag. What can I say? Another reason to love Japan. I have never seen whisky at such affordable prices. Black Nikka costs only 300 yen for a 180ml bottle, and is a smooth, dry blend with an indistinguishable taste. Even cheaper is Tory's Whiskey, which goes for 280 yen and even comes with a plastic shot cup.

Those in Japan who do not relish sitting on street curbs and don't mind paying a little extra to sit down in some cosy bar, will be delighted to hear that many restaurants, and bars offer an All-You-Can-Drink (飲み砲台Nomi-houdai) service where for a period of time you can order as much alcohol as you like. Price ranges vary, and are measured by time and type of alcohol. Cheap hi-ball type cocktail all-you-can-drinks usually can be found for around 1500 yen for an hour and a half. Beer is a little more costly, more like 2000 yen for the same amount of time.

The most common and cheapest places to find a nomihodai are at the karaoke centers. And nobody says you have to sing, just go and drink.

Rarely found Alcoholic drinks in Japan

Ciders

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Page Contributors - Kris