Fukuoka, Kyushu
While I'd occasionally allow myself a treat in a night bar like here with this Nikka Taketsuru 17 years (delicious !), I gave up on buying these whiskies even in duty-free shops
at the airport be cause
the prices have risen so much due to the influx of wealthy Chinese tourists eager to spend on Japanese prestige brands. But on the side of spirits there's a hidden side European tourists don't look into enough, it's the cheaper whisky range, often from unknown or lesser-known brands. You'll not find them in duty-free but rather in retail stores in the cities or even in supermarkets. You have a wide range to choose from and some of these bottles are surprisingly cheap, that's the ones I decided to try this time. I took some risks as I brought back 7 bottles in my checked bags (maximum for spirits is one liter), Airlines serving Japan often let you check two 23-kg bags which encourages shopping. I relied for my purchases mostly on two liquor stores in Fukuoka, I stumbled into their branches while crisscrossing the city by foot, these are Alliq and Yamaya. You can also find whiskies in the 24-hour supermarket chains Sunny and MaxValu Express as well as in the liquor department of Bic Camera.
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