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Sake, whisky, wine, and craft beer are popular furusato nozei gifts because many come from small local makers. You can try drinks that are hard to find in shops. In Japan, people under 20 can’t drink alcohol, so plan for an adult to receive the delivery. This guide explains the main drink types, famous regions, and the rules to check.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- Gift value: The municipality can spend up to 30% of your donation on the gift. (MIC)
- Local products only: The drink must count as a local product of the municipality. (MIC)
- Age: People under 20 can’t drink alcohol in Japan. Sellers must not sell it to them and must check age. (e-Gov)
- Delivery: Check the gift page for delivery conditions. Plan for someone 20 or older to receive the box.
What types of sake can you get?
Sake (nihonshu, 日本酒) is grouped by how much the rice is polished and whether alcohol is added. The labels below are the ones you will see most.
| Type | Japanese | What it means | Taste in general |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junmai | 純米 | Made from rice, water, koji, and yeast only | Fuller, rice-forward |
| Ginjo | 吟醸 | Rice polished more, brewed at low temperatures | Lighter, fruity aroma |
| Daiginjo | 大吟醸 | Rice polished even more than ginjo | Delicate, fragrant |
| Junmai ginjo / junmai daiginjo | 純米吟醸 / 純米大吟醸 | Ginjo or daiginjo with no added alcohol | Fragrant and clean |
| Honjozo | 本醸造 | A small amount of brewer’s alcohol added | Light, easy to drink |
The polishing rate (seimai buai, 精米歩合) is the weight of polished rice compared with the brown rice. A 60% rate means 40% of the grain was polished away. (NTA)
| Type | Polishing rate required |
|---|---|
| Daiginjo, junmai daiginjo | 50% or less |
| Ginjo, junmai ginjo | 60% or less |
| Honjozo | 70% or less |
| Junmai | No limit |
Only sake made in Japan from Japanese rice can be labeled 日本酒. (NTA)
Daiginjo usually needs a higher donation. For everyday drinking, junmai or honjozo is often better value. Many gifts come as sets of several bottles to compare.
How should you store and serve sake?
Keep sake in a cool, dark place, away from sunlight. Once you open a bottle, keep it in the fridge and drink it within a few weeks.
| Style | How to serve it |
|---|---|
| Ginjo and daiginjo | Chilled, to keep the aroma |
| Junmai | Chilled, room temperature, or warm |
| Honjozo | Warm (atsukan, 熱燗) or chilled |
Unpasteurized sake (namazake, 生酒) must stay in the fridge from the day it arrives. Check the label for 要冷蔵, which means “keep refrigerated.”
Which regions are famous for sake?
Japan has sake breweries in almost every prefecture. Some regions are especially well known. Which gifts are listed changes often, so search a portal by region name.
| Region | Prefecture | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Niigata | Niigata | Many breweries, often a clean and dry style |
| Nada | Hyogo (Kobe and Nishinomiya) | One of the largest sake-producing areas |
| Fushimi | Kyoto | A historic sake town with soft water |
| Yamagata | Yamagata | Many ginjo-style sakes |
| Akita | Akita | A cold region with a long brewing tradition |
| Hiroshima (Saijo) | Hiroshima | A historic brewery town |
Famous sake regions, north to south
Search a portal by the region name to see what is offered now.
Tohoku
Akita
秋田
A cold region with a long brewing tradition
Tohoku
Yamagata
山形
Many ginjo-style sakes
Chubu
Niigata
新潟
Many breweries, often clean and dry
Kansai
Fushimi, Kyoto
伏見
A historic sake town with soft water
Kansai
Nada, Hyogo
灘
One of the largest sake-producing areas
Chugoku
Saijo, Hiroshima
西条
A historic brewery town
Breweries exist in almost every prefecture. Gifts change often. As of October 2026.
Browse sake on Rakuten Furusato Nozei or Amazon Furusato Nozei (in Japanese).
Can you get Japanese whisky?
Sometimes. Whisky gifts come from municipalities where the whisky is made. Popular bottles can sell out fast, so check the gift page for stock.
Check two things on the gift page:
- Where it was made. The whisky must count as a local product of that municipality. (MIC)
- Label terms. The Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association sets an industry standard for the term ジャパニーズウイスキー. The whisky must be distilled in Japan, aged in Japan for at least 3 years, and bottled in Japan. (JSLMA)
Browse whisky on Rakuten Furusato Nozei or Amazon Furusato Nozei (in Japanese).
Which regions make Japanese wine?
Yamanashi is the best-known wine region in Japan. It is famous for wines made from the koshu grape. Hokkaido and Nagano also have many wineries. Search a portal by region name to see current wine gifts.
| Region | Known for |
|---|---|
| Yamanashi | Koshu white wine, the oldest wine area in Japan |
| Hokkaido | Cool-climate wines |
| Nagano | A growing number of wineries |
Japanese wine is often light. It pairs well with Japanese food.
Browse wine on Rakuten Furusato Nozei or Amazon Furusato Nozei (in Japanese).
What about craft beer and other drinks?
Many towns have a small brewery that offers craft beer sets. Beer gifts are often a good way to use a small part of your limit.
You can also find shochu (焼酎), plum wine (umeshu, 梅酒), and local liqueurs. Shochu is common in Kyushu, especially Kagoshima and Miyazaki.
Browse craft beer, shochu, and umeshu on Rakuten Furusato Nozei or Amazon Furusato Nozei (in Japanese).
What rules apply to receiving alcohol?
In Japan, people under 20 can’t drink alcohol. Sellers must not sell alcohol for their use, and must check age. (e-Gov)
How age is checked can differ by portal and gift. If a gift page asks for your age or birth date, fill it in. Follow the page’s instructions.
Delivery has its own rules:
- Plan to be home. Check the gift page for how the box is delivered. Make sure someone 20 or older can receive it.
- Check the delivery date. Some sake and beer ship chilled and can’t wait long.
- Use redelivery if you miss it. Book redelivery with the delivery company quickly.
Can you take alcohol abroad?
Yes, but each country has its own limits. Check the customs rules of your destination country before you pack. Limits on bottles, volume, and duty vary a lot.
Airlines also have rules for liquids in carry-on bags. Pack bottles in checked luggage, wrapped well.
How do the October 2026 rules affect drink gifts?
Sake, whisky, and wine are processed products. From October 1, 2026, the maker must certify what share of the product’s value was created in the municipality. The municipality must publish that share for each gift. (MIC)
A processed gift counts as local only if more than half of its value comes from work done in the municipality. The maker must certify this using a standard price-based method. The gift page must also explain the local steps. (MIC Q&A)
Drinks brewed at a local brewery are less likely to change. Drinks bottled locally but made mostly elsewhere may disappear.
Read more in Furusato Nozei Changes 2025–2027.
How much should you donate?
There is no fixed price. Amounts depend on the drink, the maker, and the number of bottles. Compare the volume in milliliters and the number of bottles.
Your total donations should stay within your deduction limit. Check yours with Rakuten’s free simulator (in Japanese). For a large limit, see Best Furusato Nozei Gifts for High Earners.
How do you search for drinks on a Japanese portal?
Search with Japanese words. English searches find few gifts.
| You want | Search for | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Sake | 日本酒 | nihonshu |
| Junmai daiginjo | 純米大吟醸 | junmai daiginjo |
| Tasting set | 飲み比べ | nomikurabe |
| Whisky | ウイスキー | uisuki |
| Wine | ワイン | wain |
| Craft beer | クラフトビール | kurafuto biru |
| Shochu | 焼酎 | shochu |
| Plum wine | 梅酒 | umeshu |
| Regular delivery | 定期便 | teikibin |
Combine words to narrow results, such as 新潟 日本酒 飲み比べ. For a step-by-step portal guide, see How to Use Rakuten Furusato Nozei in English.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Not being home for delivery. Plan for someone 20 or older to receive the box.
- Choosing only famous labels. Small local breweries often offer better value.
- Ignoring storage. Some sake needs the fridge. Check the label after it arrives.
- Forgetting customs rules. Check your destination’s limits before taking bottles abroad.
- Missing the one-stop deadline. Send the form so it arrives by January 10 of the next year. (Takasaki City) See One-Stop Exception Form in English.
What should you do next?
- Check your deduction limit.
- Choose a drink type and a region you want to try.
- Check the delivery date and make sure someone 20 or older can receive it.
FAQ
What is the difference between ginjo and daiginjo?
Daiginjo uses rice polished to 50% or less, and ginjo to 60% or less. (NTA) Daiginjo usually has a more delicate, fragrant taste and needs a higher donation.
Can I get sake if I’m under 20?
No. In Japan, people under 20 can’t drink alcohol. (e-Gov) Choose another gift type instead.
Can I send a sake gift to my parents in Japan?
Some gifts let you set a different delivery address, but not all. Check the gift page. Make sure the person receiving it is 20 or older.
Can I take Japanese whisky back to my home country?
Usually yes, within your country’s customs limits. Check those limits and your airline’s rules before you pack.
Why did some drink gifts disappear?
Gifts must be local products. Since October 2026, municipalities must publish what share of a processed product’s value was created locally. (MIC)
Is a regular delivery of sake or beer possible?
Some municipalities offer regular deliveries (teikibin, 定期便) of sake or beer. Check the delivery schedule and make sure someone can receive each box.
This article is general information, not tax advice. Information is as of October 2026. Gift availability and donation amounts change often. Check customs rules in your destination country before taking alcohol abroad. Sources: NTA: Sake labeling standard, JSLMA: Japanese whisky labeling standard, e-Gov: Act prohibiting drinking under 20, MIC: Q&A on local products, MIC: 2026 rule revision, MIC notice (April 1, 2026), Takasaki City guide.