Family Dining · Practical guide
Liquor Mountain
Guide to Japan's 211-Store Whisky, Vintage Bottle & Spirits Retail Chain
Prices, ordering steps, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.
Quick Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Japanese name | リカーマウンテン (Liquor Mountain) |
| Brand Name | Liquor Mountain / リカーマウンテン (株式会社リカーマウンテン / Liquor Mountain Co., Ltd.) |
| Store Type | Premium spirits specialty chain, rare whisky salon, vintage old-bottle boutique & tasting room |
| Target Audience | Discerning whisky connoisseurs, vintage spirits collectors, nightlife revelers, and travelers hunting for elusive Japanese single malts |
| Ordering Style | Browse spirits in retail stores; paid tastings or 10ml-by-measure service are offered at selected locations, including Ginza 777. Tax-free purchasing is branch-specific. |
| Membership Required? | No membership or Japanese resident ID required for general shopping; physical foreign passport required for Tax-Free purchase registration |
| Approximate Price Range | Everyday drinks, bottles and rare whiskies have widely different shelf prices; ask for current product tags. Ginza 777 officially lists illustrative 10ml paid tasting/measure prices from ¥200 upward for selected spirits; verify the live menu. Tax-free refund rules apply only to qualifying purchases at certified shops, not drinks consumed on-site. |
| Multilingual Support | Product names and some information may be available in English, but individual-store spoken-language and menu availability are not guaranteed; ask the store directly. |
| Payment Methods | Payment options depend on the branch and transaction; ask at the register rather than assuming every listed card, IC or QR brand is accepted. |
| Store Network | 211 domestic stores, according to the company; opening hours, services and tax-free designation vary by branch. |
What it is
Liquor Mountain (株式会社リカーマウンテン), also called Likaman, was established in February 1990. The company operates 211 shops, selling wine, beer, whisky and other spirits. Certain branches, including Ginza 777, also offer paid measures of spirits.
For visitors, Likaman Ginza 777 in Tokyo is a well-documented specialty store for rare spirits and paid 10ml sampling. SHIBUYA313 is another listed Tokyo branch. Kyoto shoppers can also check the RAKZAN Sanjo Omae location in the official store finder. Merchandise and tasting services differ by location.
How to order
Step 1: Choosing a Store, Including Ginza 777 and RAKZAN Sanjo Omae
- For the ultimate whisky experience, visit specialized concept flagships:
- Tokyo: Liquor Mountain Ginza 777 and SHIBUYA313; consult the official directory for their current addresses, services and hours.
- Kyoto: RAKZAN Sanjo Omae (三条御前), as listed in the company store directory.
- Interior design, display cases and paid sampling are store-specific. Confirm service and opening hours from the official location profile.
Step 2: Exploring Paid Sampling at Ginza 777
- Ginza 777 advertises an assortment of around 1,000 whiskies and spirits available in 10ml measures; some may be tasted for a fee. The current offering and rules must be checked at the counter.
- Its official tasting-price list includes selected 10ml examples such as Chita at ¥200 and The Macallan 18 at ¥1,500 (prices may change). Do not treat these examples as Yamazaki or Hibiki prices.
- For a Kyoto store or another branch, ask specifically whether paid tasting is offered; do not assume that a named flagship includes the same service.
- Samples consumed in Japan cannot be counted as goods exported for the tax-free refund.
Step 3: Inspecting Vintage Old Bottles & Single Casks
- Likaman is famous for acquiring pristine vintage "Old Bottles" from the 1970s and 1980s (look for the "特級" [Special Grade] tax label from pre-1989 Japan).
- Ask staff before touching or examining a vintage bottle; display and inspection arrangements vary by shop.
Step 4: Checkout & 2026 Tax-Free Refund Procedure
- Tax-free purchasing is offered only at authorized locations. The official listings identify Ginza 777 and SHIBUYA313 as tax-free shops; do not assume Kyoto or other branches have the same designation.
- Inform the staff: "Tax-Free kudasai" and hand over your original physical passport (photocopies or digital images are strictly prohibited by Japanese tax law).
- Japan's tax-free refund system (effective November 1, 2026):
- At an authorized tax-free store, eligible visitors buy qualifying export goods at the full tax-inclusive price and register their passport and a refund method with the merchant.
- The eligible tax-excluded purchase total must be at least ¥5,000 per store per day. The former legal split between "general goods" and "consumables" has been abolished; drinks consumed in Japan are not eligible.
- For international flights, standard spirits bottles larger than 100ml purchased in the city must travel in checked baggage. Finish customs tax-refund confirmation at the departure airport or port before handing over any baggage containing these goods.
- Complete export confirmation within 90 days of the purchase, using a customs kiosk or, at supported airports, Visit Japan Web. Customs may request the goods; retain every item on the purchase record for export.
- After customs confirmation, the tax-free shop refunds the tax amount via the registered refund method. The method need not be the original payment card. Ask the shop about its refund arrangements.
What to order first
1. Likaman Exclusive Private Single-Cask Japanese & Scotch Bottlings
- Japanese Name: リカーマウンテン限定 プライベートカスク ウイスキー
- Price: Check the current product listing or shop tag; single-cask bottlings vary by release.
- Why It Is Essential: Selected independent and limited whisky releases may appeal to collectors. Read the exact label, bottler, cask information and price; origin and bottling method vary by release.
2. Rare Japanese Whiskies (Suntory Yamazaki, Hakushu & Hibiki)
- Japanese Name: サントリー 山崎 / 白州 / 響 (ノンヴィンテージ・12年・限定品)
- Price: Check current shop inventory and individual bottle tags; Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki allocations are not guaranteed.
- Why It Is Essential: These labels are popular among visitors, but supply can be limited or allocation-based. Do not assume a named expression will be on sale when you arrive.
3. Discontinued Showa-Era Vintage Old Bottles (特級表示ボトル)
- Japanese Name: 特級表示 オールドボトル (サントリーオールド・ローヤル・ニッカ特級)
- Price: Check current bottle condition and pricing; vintage stock is highly variable.
- Why It Is Essential: A historical “Special Grade” liquor-tax label can help identify a pre-1989 bottle. Its malt content, blend and flavor must be assessed bottle by bottle; the label alone does not establish a particular whisky recipe.
4. Ichiro's Malt (Chichibu Distillery) Craft Whiskies
- Japanese Name: イチローズモルト (モルト＆グレーン / クラシカルエディション)
- Price: Check the current shelf price for the specific Ichiro's Malt expression; stock varies.
- Why It Is Essential: Ichiro's Malt includes several widely discussed expressions. Check the label and exact bottling rather than assuming every Leaf Series release is on the shelf.
5. Ginza 777 Paid 10ml Spirits Sampling
- Japanese Name: 銀座777 店頭有料試飲（10ml）
- Price: Ginza 777 lists selected 10ml tasting examples from ¥200 to ¥4,000 on its official special page; confirm the live selection and tax-inclusive price at the counter.
- Why It Is Essential: Try a small measure of a selected spirit before considering a full bottle. The exact lineup and price depend on the Ginza 777 menu.
Payment & practical info
Prices and details checked: November 2026.
- Accepted Payment Modes: Confirm the supported credit cards, cash and electronic payments at your chosen store, and separately check the payment methods for any tasting service.
- Tax-Free Refund Rules (effective November 1, 2026):
- Only purchases of qualifying goods at an authorized tax-free branch are eligible; tax-excluded purchases must total at least ¥5,000 at that store on that day.
- Pay the tax-inclusive price and register a refund method. Complete customs confirmation before checking in any baggage holding the purchase and within 90 days. Bring all goods included on the purchase record for export; goods consumed in Japan cannot receive a refund.
- The shop refunds by the registered method after customs confirmation. The former "consumables" tax-free goods category is not part of the new regime.
- Operating Hours: The official Ginza 777 listing gives 11:00 AM–2:00 AM on ordinary weekdays, 11:00 AM–10:00 PM Saturday and 11:00 AM–8:00 PM Sunday/public holidays. Holiday exceptions and other stores' hours must be checked individually.
- Late-Night Service: Ginza 777 advertises opening until 2:00 AM on ordinary weekdays. For all other stores, verify the individual opening times; night-time service is not chainwide.
- Promotional Discounts: Promotional discount campaigns or digital payment promotions may be held during specific seasonal windows. Check in-store signage for current details.
Good to know / Common mistakes
- Legal age: You must be at least 20 years old to purchase or drink alcohol in Japan.
1. Tastings Do Not Count Toward Tax-Free
Only qualifying goods bought from an authorized tax-free shop at ¥5,000 or more before tax per store per day can be eligible; on-site tasting drinks are not export goods.
2. Pack Bottles in Checked Luggage
For international flights, bottles over 100ml purchased in the city must normally go in checked baggage; check airline limits for quantity and alcohol strength, and present tax-free export goods to Customs before checking the bag.
3. Check Vintage Bottle Fill Levels
Inspect fill level and sealing condition before buying vintage spirits. Ask the store whether an item can be examined before purchase.
FAQ
Q1: Is Likaman Ginza 777 open to walk-in tourists?
A: Yes, Ginza 777 is a retail store with advertised opening hours and 10ml spirits service. Visitors can enter during opening hours; ask staff about any sampling rules, availability or temporary restrictions.
Q2: Can I taste multiple whiskies at the tasting bar?
A: Ginza 777 lists many spirits in 10ml portions. Ask the counter which are available for sampling; do not assume specific Yamazaki or Hibiki editions are on the current menu.
Q3: How do I receive my tax refund under the 2026 customs system?
A: At a certified tax-free branch, pay tax-inclusive, register your passport and refund method, and keep the eligible purchase for export. Complete customs confirmation at departure within 90 days and before checking luggage containing those goods. The retailer refunds via the registered method after confirmation.
Sources
- Liquor Mountain Co., Ltd. Official Corporate Portal (Verified: 2026-11-12)
- Liquor Mountain Ginza 777 Official Store Listing (Verified: 2026-11-12)
- Japan Customs: Visitor Tax-Free Refund Program (effective November 2026) (Verified: 2026-11-12)