Yakoboku

Kumamoto, Japan

Shinya Koba learned the cocktail trade at bars in Tokyo and Singapore – he also worked for famous Japanese bartender Michito Kaneko at Lamp Bar in Nara – before opening Yakoboku in Kumamoto. The first-floor establishment is located in a former storehouse on a street where many buildings date to pre-World War II times; the design of the understated space is a study in minimalism, with almost no frivolous decor to detract from the show of the bartender mixing drinks behind the long, dramatically lit counter. Expect fantastic seasonal cocktails made with fresh, regional ingredients like beetroot, persimmon and sudachi; drinks that feature Japan's signature flavors like shochu and hinoki; and options that feature forward-thinking wild ferments Koba makes in-house, like housemade yuzu tepache and mango kombucha.

Key Information

• Average price per cocktail $14
• Mon — Sun
• +81 90 8408 5211
• Visit Yakoboku's Website

Location

5-21 1 F , Minamitsuboimachi, Kumamoto, 860 0848