Gerry <222ggg@spam.really.sucks> wrote in message news:<240120041910165644%222ggg@spam.really.sucks>...
> There's a great place in Kyoto (sorry the name escapes me), for sake
> tasting.  I've become a big fan in recent years.  An Israeli guy, who
> speaks perfect English, runs it.  He has many sakes to try that I would
> never find in the US and of such limited production I wouldn't know to
> ask for it in Japan.
> 
> Is there a place similar in Tokyo others could recommend? First: a good
> ambiance and plenty of interesting sakes to try. 2) Particularly with
> knowledgeable English-speaking guides. 3) In tasting sets (small
> glasses of 3 or more brands/typres) would be nice. 
> 
> Number one above is the only critical item; the others are just bonuses.

There are sooo many good bars in Tokyo that you don't need any
recommendation.  Just walk around the neighborhood you find yourself
in (except for Kabukicho)and walk into one of those places with a red
lantern and ask for nihonshuu.  (Most of the better places don't have
red lanterns.) As for ambiance you can get everything from a Frank
Lloyd Wright designed bar in the Imperial Hotel to ultra-chic theme
bars in Aoyama and Shibuya to Meiji era rustic bars in Iidabashi. 
However, very few bartenders speak English so you should hook up with
a Japanese speaking friend as soon as possible and go bar hopping with
him/her.  It'll be funner.  The best part about Tokyo is making your
own discoveries (kind of like a Nintendo game). :)

If you're close to Yurakucho eki (next to Ginza), try one of those
yakitori places under the train tracks.