There are around 1300 breweries in Japan, many making more than one brand of sake (and under each umbrella brand, several varieties). That’s quite a lot of bottles to get through to find a good drop. Throw in the language barrier in the mix, and the resulting confusion is enough to make the less adventurous drinker give up the search.

Fret not. There is a definitive list of most popular sake brands that you can use as you begin your exploration. Here’s the top 5 sake brands in Japan – three of them are even available in Australia! Print it and take with you on your next trip to Japan. Or keep it handy for your next online sake shop.

Be mindful that I am just scratching a surface here. There are dozens of famous, standout brands, and hundreds of very good ones in Japan. But one has to start somewhere, and why not with the brands below? Each of them is very famous.

#1 Juyondai

Juyondai enjoys a cult status both in Japan and around the world. It is hard to find. Juyondai is produced by Takagi Shuzo brewery, which was established in the 17th century. Hence, the name that translates as “Fourteenth Generation.” I heard that strictly speaking, it is the 15th generation that is at the helm currently, but oh well – the name is too, too famous to change! Where possible, they use centuries-old methods but also experiment a lot, making the brewery both traditional and ground-breaking. A lot of their sake is not pasteurised. Such labour of love, of course, means that production quantities are limited. If you see Juyondai on the drinks menu, consider yourself lucky and order it immediately!

Expect it to be fragrant, fruity, delicate and very drinkable.

#2 Nabeshima

Nabeshima, from Fukuchiyo Shuzō brewery in Saga prefecture, is another artisanal, unpasteurised, hard-to find sake. We, Australians, are quite lucky that a local company, Black Market Sake, imports it into Australia. I have already written a review of Nabeshima, so won’t go too deeply into the flavour profile of this stellar daiginjō. I will simply add that this sake has a top reputation in Japan and is the Black Market’s besteller in Australia. Quick, order it, before the stocks run dry.

# 3 Hakkaisan

Hakkaisan is anything but a small-production sake. Instead, Hakkaisan brewery exports all over the world and dominates in both domestic and international markets. Despite large-scale operations, Hakkaisan’s reputation as a top brand is well deserved. Hakkaisan is, fortunately, another sake available in Australia. I have seen it online as well as in many Japanese restaurants. You might consider its Junmai Ginjō, as its clean and crisp flavour is sure to please crowds. Read my review of Hakkaisan here.

#4 Isojiman

It’s quite lucky that all the top sake brands have such catchy names! Easy to remember, easy to say. Here, I give you another powerhouse of sake. Isojiman brewery in Shizuoka has been active on the international scene for at least 7 years, entering sake challengers and winning gold medals. Isojiman can also boast that it was the sake served at the G8 meeting in Hokkaido. The brewery has a reputation of producing elegant, well balanced, perfect sake. A lot of sake coming out of Shizuoka prefecture is highly drinkable, and Isojiman certainly is. The rising popularity in Japan and overseas has put a strain on supply, so this is another sake to seek out and snap up!

In Australia, you won’t find Isojiman, but can find another wonderful Shizuoka sake – Wakatake.

#5 Michisakari

Michisakari brewery is old and much celebrated – in Japan and overseas, winning a gold medal in 2013 London sake challenge. It is famed for pioneering a light and dry sake style at the time when most sake was overwhelmingly sweet. Michisakari is indeed sold in Australia.

So, here’s some sake to start with. If you’d like to read more about Japanese top sake, check out my personal Top 5 of 2014 list, or Dancyu magazine’s top modern sake of 2014 list.

Want to read more about sake? I am the official Australian reseller of Sake Today magazine, the first ever English-language publication dedicated solely to sake.