How to Choose a Japanese Sake Set: A Buyer's Guide

Sake tastes different depending on how it is served, and the right set makes a real difference. Whether you enjoy it warm on a winter evening or chilled with sushi, this guide explains the pieces of a Japanese sake set, the materials and the sizes, so you can choose with confidence.

The parts of a sake set

• Tokkuri: the narrow-necked flask used to serve sake. Its shape keeps the sake warm and makes pouring easy.
• Ochoko: the small cups. Their size encourages sipping and refilling each other's cups, a key part of drinking sake in company.
• Guinomi: a slightly larger cup, popular with people who like to savour premium sake.
• Warmer: a bowl or pot that holds hot water around the tokkuri to heat the sake gently.
• Tray: some sets include a tray to serve everything together.

Hot or cold sake?

Many everyday sakes are delicious warmed (atsukan), while fragrant premium styles are usually served chilled (reishu) to keep their aroma. If you mostly drink warm sake, look for a ceramic set, ideally one with a warmer. If you prefer it cold, a glass set shows off the clear colour of the sake and feels fresh in the hand.

Ceramic, porcelain or glass

• Ceramic is the classic choice. It holds heat well and comes in a huge range of glazes and patterns, from cherry blossoms to simple earthy tones. Most of our sake sets are ceramic.
• Porcelain is thinner and smoother, with crisp painted designs.
• Glass is ideal for chilled sake. The Sake Set Yoyogi, for example, combines a 150 ml glass bottle with 50 ml cups.

Choosing the right size

Check the capacity of the bottle and cups on each product page. As a guide, a small tokkuri holds around 150 to 180 ml, enough for two people to share a few rounds, while larger bottles of about 300 ml suit bigger groups. Ochoko cups usually hold between 20 and 50 ml. Our Sake Set Osaka pairs a 180 ml bottle with 20 ml cups, and the frosted glass Sake Set Mika has a 300 ml bottle, 50 ml cups and a 580 ml warmer.

Sets with a warmer

If you love warm sake, a set with a warmer is the easiest way to serve it at the right temperature. Fill the warmer with hot water, place the filled tokkuri inside and wait a few minutes. The Sake Set Katachi includes a 145 ml bottle, small 18 ml cups and a 320 ml warmer.

A sake set as a gift

A sake set is one of the most popular Japanese gifts for weddings, housewarmings and birthdays. Choose a design that matches the person's style, check how many cups are included for the people who will share it, and consider a set with a tray for a complete presentation. The Sake Set Ishikari, for instance, comes with a wooden tray.

How to care for your sake set

Wash ceramic and glass pieces by hand with mild soap and warm water, rinse well and let them dry completely before storing. Avoid sudden changes of temperature, such as pouring boiling water into a cold ceramic flask.

Find your sake set

Browse our full collection of Japanese sake sets, and complete your table with cups and glasses and sushi plates.