Like wine, different sake have distinct flavor profiles -- some are light and fruity, while others are heavy and rich. Trying to distinguish between different sake in a kikizake (blind taste-testing), however, is harder than it sounds. At Sake Plaza in the Kasumigaseki district, you can put your taste buds to the test while enjoying a variety of nihonshu -- all for free.
Run by the Japan Sake Brewers Association, Sake Plaza is also a great place to learn about sake. The fourth floor of the building houses a library with more than 5,000 reference books, videos on sake and sake labels archived in albums.
In one corner of the library is the kikizake table. To take the taste-test challenge, simply ask the staff for a small ochoko (sake cup) and an answer sheet.