What I learned about sake from Saga!

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Sharing what I learned about sake from Saga

My image before moving into Karatsu was that the Kyushu people are crazy shochu drinkers, not sake.

But it turns out that Saga is a big sake area of Japan, winning many awards.

Working in Choko Bar that serves a variety of Saga sake in Karatsu ware cups, I'm amazed that a lot of people from even Tokyo area come all the way here to try the local sake that doesn't get shipped to big cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

Especially the seasonal ones are produced only in limited quantities, only enough to be consumed within Saga. So we have guests from Fuokuoka as well telling us they want to try the limited ones that don't get shipped there.  

Choko Bar lets you try 4 local sake of your choice with a local appetizer for 1500JPY, and 4 limited/seasonal local sake for 2000JPY, so customers tell me that it's the best way to try good local sake at the same time.

Fair enough. A small glass will usually cost around 500~1000JPY, and it's actually too much sake to have 4 glasses. So the 1 cup tasting size seems to be the right amount.  I agree that this is a really good experience that's worth trying when you are in Kyushu.

The 4 main sake from Saga to try

Sake of Saga: Nabeshima


Nabeshima is the premium brand of sake from Saga.

It won the IWC International Wine Challenge.

I had a local customer drink Nabeshima because our emperor had it during the National Sport Even held in Saga recently.

I've tried it it's so diffferent from the ones from Hokkaido in a good sense.

I was based in Hokkaido before, and I thought I liked dry sake, like Otokoyama.

But when I had Nabeshima, it's aromatic, fruity, rich, and sharp. Very balanced
 and it feels as if I'm drinking a different drink.

Not to say which one's better, Nabeshima is probably a good sake to enter the sake world of Saga.

Their limited edition, Summer Moon was also fruity and easy to drink sake, but just nice.

I can't imagine it going wrong.

Nogomi


I'm originally a beer and wine drinker, so I'm a beginner in sake.

So when I have the chance I ask the regulars which local sake they like. Then, I have a lot of feedback that Nogomi is their favorite.

It's rich but yet not intense at all, and has a slight fruitiness that is really just nice.

The men seem to like Taiko, the cheaper local sake that is served during the Kunchi Festival which I also agree, it's very good lol. But especially the ladies recommended me Nogomi a lot.

My Favorites:)

Out of all the local sakes I tried at Choko Bar, my two best were Taki and Shichida.

Shichida is also a very good sake that I kept drinking.

You would have a sip, then move onto the next. Then a sip.

But Taki and Shichida was the first I would finish.


There was a sake sommelier with me when I was having it, and when I told him I like Shichida a lot he told me it has a balanced acidity to the sake it pairs very well with seafood.

No wonder I like it. I need to have it with Aji namerou one of these days.

Taki

Taki became my signature sake because its local to Karatsu, 

Like Shichida, it has a balanced acidity and it stays as an enhancer of sashimi and seafood dishes I like eating.

Honestly, all the sake were very good, but when I blind tasted it I kept drinking Taki and Shichida more than the others.

I wanted to choose between Taki and Shichida for my personal favorite, and decided to make my Taki honestly because Taki is local to Karatsu, and Taki 瀧 means water dragon. My name is Ryu, which means dragon. My pen name is Ryu Aomi which means Dragon Blue Ocean.

So I just feel lucky drinking it.

There is a sake chart you can refer to know your best sake


Choko Bar has a chart that tells you which one is 辛口(dry) to 旨口(richer), 濃口(full body) to 淡口(mineral.) 

From the chart two of my favorites fall in the dryer and mineral category, which is the same when I drink wine.

Interesting.

Now I know how to ask the restaurants when I need recommendations.

I will say, "Which of these local sake is dry and mineral?"

This was the best thing I learned from trying the sakes from Saga for now :)

My sake journey has just started. So I look forward to discovering more to come!

Come see me in Choko Bar just in front of Karatsu Station

I work as a sake bartender at Choko Bar, a bar/cafe where you can try local sake and light meals with Karatsu dishes and cups.


I'm currently in charge of Thursdays, on Friday it will be someone who used to run a jaz kissaten cafe in Sapporo, and on weekends and public holidays a very nice and gourmet lady from Kitakyushu.

The owner wants me to make it a place for international travelers to know more about Karatsu, and I'll do my best to connect you with the local regulars that know a lot about this small but very interesting Bushido and foodie town!

Come join me on the journey at Karatsu. 

I moved into Karatsu on March, 2025 from the variety of fish it has.

But I want to try to work with the local businesses and the government to show you hints of the samurai town.

It has great traditional content that is interesting, but it's still hidden.

It will be my pleasure to show you the charms of the samurai city as an experience that we all can learn from to better our lives.

    Where to stay in Karatsu:

    松 Higher Class: Yoyokaku, Mizuno Ryokan
    Apartment style with kitchen: Hotel Nine States Karatsu

    Where to eat in Karatsu:

    What to do in Karatsu:

    Thanks for Reading! 

    Follow me on my journey discovering the best fish dishes of Japan. I will open a fish laboratory in my akiya abandoned house I'm going to live soon.

    I would love to connect with people interested in fishes, cooking, and Japanese food. Share me your interests, and let's hang out!

    This will be my long game, and I look forward to sharing what happens.

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