Tokyo's cocktail game is insane but tourists always end up at the wrong spots...

Skip: new york bar park hyatt (overpriced hotel nonsense), anywhere in roppongi hills tourist traps, robot restaurant adjacent bars in kabukicho

Go to: ben fiddich in shinjuku for gin distilled in-house that'll change your life... Bar high five in ginza basement for perfect classic cocktails... Zoetrope shibuya for japanese whisky selection that's basically a museum

Most tokyo bartenders trained internationally so quality is incredible. Expect ¥1200-2000 per drink in ginza but worth every yen. No tipping culture means price is final price

Timing: bars open 6pm, busy after 8pm when salarymen finish work. Go early for bartender chat, later for full scene energy in golden gai