Don't Embarrass Yourself By Trying To Order This Common Alcoholic Drink At Bars In Japan

One of the thousands of reasons to travel to Japan is to immerse yourself in an entirely different culture. But along with the excitement that this brings, many of us worry about accidentally offending in a country that's so different from our own. Travelers often turn to lists of things tourists should never do in Japan to avoid inadvertently causing offense. Those lists are brilliant, but they often overlook one crucial tip: Don't try to order a sake bomb in Japan. 

The origins of the sake bomb are hazy (which, incidentally, is how people feel after drinking one too many of them). Some sources claim they were invented by Japanese businessmen in the States to copy another drink called the boilermaker — a shot of whisky dumped in a beer. Many others trace the sake bomb's roots to American servicemen in Japan. 

Wherever they came from originally, sake bombs have become favorites of U.S. college students, who drop shots into beer, often to mask the taste of cheap sake. The thing is, the taste of sake isn't something to mask when in Japan. Sake is a delicacy to savor slowly and appreciate for its flavor. Mixing it with beer and throwing it down the hatch is not only unnecessary but also not the way sake is traditionally enjoyed. And that's why ordering a sake bomb in Japan is potentially pretty embarrassing. 

First, let's dispel some sake myths. Sake is made from polished, fermented rice but it's not rice wine, as it's often referred to in the West. In fact, sake is brewed more like beer. Also, if you want to fit in, you won't order "sake" at all. The drink we know as sake is usually called nihonshu in Japan, whereas sake refers to all alcoholic drinks. Finally, there isn't just one type of sake — the flavors and methods of drinking vary substantially, even from region to region. If you want to drink some of the country's best sake, head to Niigata, a hidden gem city you'll want to add to your Japan bucket list. 

If you're at a bar or restaurant and don't know what to order, chat with the bartender. They'll probably ask about your preferences — sweet or dry, fruity or savory — and ask if you want your sake chilled, at room temperature, or warm. Don't shy away from warm sake. Some varieties are best served heated up. You may also want to choose between nama (raw) or nigori (cloudy) sake. If all of that seems overwhelming, simply ask for the most popular option. And if there's a language barrier, plug that phrase into a translation app, and away you go! 

Drinking sake is a quintessential experience in Japan. Whether you end up in a budget-friendly Michelin-starred restaurant or a cozy izakaya, skip the beer and sip your sake slowly. And instead of saying "Ichi, ni, san... sake bomb," raise your glass with a hearty, "Kanpai!"