LCBO Food & Drink Travel 2025

TOKYO INSIDER INSIGHT

Tokyo With its skyscrapers and dazzling neon-lit neighbourhoods, Tokyo has a rep for being hyper-modern. At the same time, though, this is a city very much steeped in tradition, as visitors soon discover while exploring the pristine gardens, castles, temples and the many rituals associated with food, drink, arts and daily life in general.

DRINK LIKE A LOCAL People in Tokyo are serious about hospitality. A great place to experience this is an izakaya, a Japanese pub where the vibe is casual and friendly, and the provisions simple. There’s beer on tap, but also plenty of sake and shochu to go ‘round. The food varies widely from place to place, but omelettes, sashimi, fried tofu tempura and pork katsu sandos are classics. On rare days off from the bar, Suzuki likes to hike Mount Takeo . It’s less than an hour from the city and it affords a spectacular view of Mount Fuji. Former Toronto bartender Atsushi Suzuki, now owner of the award-winning Tokyo cocktail bar The Bellwood , suggests check ing out Kappabashi Street , an area close to Asakusa that’s home to many over-the-top kitchen supply stores.

GOOD FORTUNE The historic Asakusa neighbourhood is home to Japan’s oldest and most significant Buddhist temple, Senso-ji , which is also famous for its Omikuji (fortune-telling) feature. Don’t stress if your fortune isn’t great. People tie bad fortunes to a rack in the temple to release themselves from that destiny. Then, everyone heads outside to the open-air market to shop for crafts and eat snacks.

TO DO

A TASTE OF TOKYO

Sapporo Premium LCBO 459818, 6 pk, $20.50

This light and refreshing rice lager is a staple at the izakaya for a good reason, namely, it drinks well with comfort food, from dumplings to breaded pork sandos. With a light biscuit note livened up by zesty hops, it’s the perfect foil to rich food.

Tsukasabotan Yama Yuzu Shibori Sake LCBO 26386, 720 mL, $22.95 Subtle, citrussy and lightly sweet, this lower alcohol sake is at its best when it’s served cold, on the rocks or with a splash of tonic. Pairs nicely with sushi, tempura shrimp or freshly shucked raw oysters.

Yokaichi Barley Mugi Honkaku Shochu LCBO 37669, 720 mL, $44.10 This lower-proof barley spirit is full-bodied, earthy and has a little note of bright candy on the finish that livens things up. Perfect for mixing with tonic or ginger.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAMELAJOEMCFARLANE/E+ VIA GETTY IMAGES (OSAKA STREET FOOD); MATTEO COLOMBO/DIGITALVISION VIA GETTY IMAGES (TOKYO STREET)

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TRAVEL 2025 ————————