Sake Cups and Sake Carafes

Sake — nihonshu (日本酒) — has been brewed and enjoyed in Japan for over a thousand years, and the vessels used to serve it are considered as important as the sake itself. A traditional sake set consists of a tokkuri (徳利), the narrow-necked ceramic carafe used for warming and pouring, and small cups known as ochoko (お猪口) or guinomi (ぐい呑み) for sipping.

The shape of the tokkuri is not merely decorative. Its narrow neck slows the cooling of warmed sake while concentrating the aroma, allowing drinkers to appreciate the full character of the rice wine. Ochoko cups are intentionally small — typically holding just 30 to 60 ml — because sake is meant to be sipped slowly and poured frequently by others at the table, a gesture of hospitality and connection in Japanese culture.

At Great Zakka, our sake sets are sourced from Japan's finest ceramic traditions. Kutani ware sets feature vivid hand-painted designs in the classic gosai (五彩) five-color palette of red, blue, yellow, purple, and green — originally developed in the Kaga region of Ishikawa Prefecture in the seventeenth century. Mino ware sets offer a more understated beauty, with earthy glazes and subtle textures that let the quality of the clay speak for itself.

Beyond their use for sake, these sets are equally beautiful for serving cold barley tea, warm amazake, or small measures of Japanese whisky. They are among our most popular gifts for men, for couples, and for anyone celebrating Japanese culture or cuisine.

All sake sets are made in Japan and ship from our US warehouse.