Where to Buy Whisky in Tokyo – Part 4

Sometimes, the bottle you’re looking for might just be found in a duty-free store...

Here are two well-known ones, located just a few minutes apart.

The main advantages of these places are that the prices are tax-free (of course), and you can request to collect your purchased items directly at the airport just before boarding—giving you more space in your luggage for other things.

1. Lotte Duty Free

The 9th and 10th floors of Tokyu Plaza Ginza are dedicated to this Korean store.

You’ll find bottles on both floors, but the most interesting ones are only available through a lottery system or if you spend a certain amount in the store—depending on the time of year.

So it will depend on your luck and the time of year you’re traveling.

Personally, I “won” the chance to purchase a Yamazaki Smoky Batch through the lottery in 2023, but in 2024, that lottery was no longer available.

I also managed to get a limited edition Yamazaki 18 Year Old in 2023. To do so, I had to be the first customer of the day to request the bottle, and I also had to spend a certain amount across both floors.

By autumn 2024, this option was no longer available.

They carried out a lot of renovations in 2024, and I haven’t seen the final version of the place yet—so I’ll let you discover this charming spot for yourself.

2. Ginza Mitsukoshi

The second interesting spot is Ginza Mitsukoshi, specifically the 8th floor of the building.

There’s less selection than at Lotte, but the rest of the building is well worth a visit.

They offer bottles that can also be found at airport duty-free shops, as well as some that are more or less rare in those locations—such as the Yamazaki Smoky Batch and the Hakushu Japanese Forest Bittersweet.

The bottles mentioned above can potentially be obtained by requesting them at the counter, depending on the day’s stock and if you purchase other items on the same floor.

To conclude :

Addresses :

Lotte Duty Free : 8F & 9F TOKYU PLAZA GINZA, 5-2-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Ginza Mitsukoshi : 4-chōme-6-16 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-8212, Japan

Choices of bottles : 🥃🥃 / 5

Bottle prices : Distillery base prices and tax-free.

The staff : Numerous and ready to help.

Websites :

Lotte : www.lotteginza.com

Mitsukoshi : mistore.jp.e.az.hp.transfer.com/store/ginza.html