They are already blooming in Tokyo: the first sakura!
In Japan, this marks the start of hanami – the festival whose name literally translates as «looking at blossoms».
Friends, family and colleagues gather under the blossoming cherry trees to eat, drink and celebrate the beauty and transience of life together – with bento boxes, beer and sake.

HANAMI CITY - The picnic under Zurich's cherry trees
As spring awakens, Zurich's more than 1000 Japanese cherry trees begin to blossom - and a beautiful activity blossoms with them!
The Harubaru Copy Club - an association that explores the diversity of Japanese cuisine through various events and projects - has mapped out all the Japanese cherry trees in the city of Zurich on an online, interactive Zurich Hanami Map in 2021. This helps you find the perfect spot for your personal hanami picnic.

And in keeping with this, the makers of HANAMI CITY are preparing bulging Bento boxes for you for the sixth time this year, which can be picked up from April 10 to 19, 2026.
Back again, of course, is shizuku's small Cup Sake Yuki Otoko - a round, powdery, fresh as well as vivid Junmai for on-the-go enjoyment.

Be on time!
The picnic boxes are produced only on pre-order and in limited numbers. Order deadline is on Monday, March 30, 2026.

March 5, 2026

If you think sake is just 'Japanese schnapps', you're not alone - and that's where we come in. Because sake has nothing to do with distilled spirits...

Nihonshu is a fermented beverage with an alcohol content of about 15% or less. Sake is therefore drunk as a nice aperitif, with food or with dessert – just like wine.
And to help you relax and enjoy this taste adventure as a newcomer, we are happy to recommend a fine selection of nihonshu, all of which are delicious and ideal for sake newbies.

The premium drop for spring fever
With its fruity aromas, The Shunnouten immediately evokes spring feelings. An elegant and fresh Junmai Daiginjo, creamy, smooth and round on the palate, with a crisp and pure umami flavour - a nice, drinkable aperitif, even for sake beginners.

The floral explosion of taste
White tulips, lime blossom... and then boom: Gekkeikan Daiginjo! Let yourself be pleasantly surprised by this powerful and complex taste explosion. Fresh, mild, with a wonderful acidity - a tangy experience. Also available as a mini.

The hint of lilac on the nose
Goriki Junmai Ginjo is flattering with its pronounced acidity, fruity, bitter-sweet and exotically tangy. A racy, lively and expressive sake with a velvety, yeasty melt and a tangy finish. Also available as a mini.

The lively nihonshu with the kick
Noble and tasty? Then kanpai with the elegant and fruity-sweet Karaku Amakuchi. With notes of lychee and strawberries, combined with a balanced acidity and a long finish, it is guaranteed to bring life to your glass. An ideal drop, even for sake beginners.

The successful premiere in the sake glass
Still new to our range, the Tsuki no Katsura Junmai Ginjo is already proving very popular with our connoisseurs. A complex, floral, fresh, fruity, and extremely lively sake. Creamy on the palate, with a long finish and pronounced acidity, it is a distinctive, stimulating aperitif.

The round classic from cool to hot
Slightly salty, even leathery on the nose, the rather dry Inatahime Ryokan convinces with aromas of lime blossom, soy, bitter chocolate, coffee, tobacco and nutmeg. And this true classic scores particularly well from 10-50°C with hearty dishes and cheese dishes such as fondue and raclette.

As you can see, sake is not a mystery. It is a journey.
We hope you enjoy your first kanpai and would be happy to advise you personally in the shizuku Store. Because we make sake understandable, tangible and hopefully your personal newbie on the menu!

February 6, 2026

The racing experience with sake in pole position!

When the engines roar at the Japanese Grand Prix, it's all about precision, respect and absolute concentration - values that are deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
Racing Unleashed and shizuku combine the fascination of racing at the legendary Suzuka Circuit with the relaxing enjoyment of sake. Between the sound of racing and Japanese craftsmanship, we invite you to a unique experience that picks up speed and creates depth at the same time.

Welcome to the Japanese pole position
At Racing Unleashed, speed is not only experienced, but shared: virtual and astonishingly real, professionally staged and accessible to all. Take a seat in the cockpit and step on the gas in state-of-the-art high-end racing simulators at the Racing Lounge Zurich City.

And after the adrenaline rush, slow down with culinary delights during an enjoyable pit stop at the integrated Ascari Bar. Arrive together, take a deep breath and kanpai.
Sake becomes the connecting element between performance, action and pause, between racing spirit, team spirit and Japanese brewing culture.

Let's step on the gas for the premium experience
Whether you're getting in for the first time or chasing the best times, thrills, fun and maximum enjoyment are guaranteed.
Book your ride now - as a Single Racer, Speed Duo or strong Suzuka Crew - and experience with us how motorsport, team spirit and conscious enjoyment unfold a new dynamic.

February 3, 2026

A fixed date in the shizuku event calendar – so save the date!

Because this year we will once again be at the Japan Basar in Worb and we are really looking forward to welcoming you in person and inspiring you with something new.
The fine drops are already well chilled – all that's missing is you. Will you be there?

Stroll, discover & enjoy Japanese culture
Small but particularly fine: the Japan Basar in Worb has plenty of charm. In addition to numerous stands, culinary highlights, demonstrations and workshops, we will once again be offering selected sake specialties and fruity Japanese liqueurs.

Spend your Sunday afternoon in the centrally located Bärensaal, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and discover the surprising variety of high-quality Japanese flavours.

shizuku looks forward to welcoming you, advising and inspiring you – for what we hope will be a perfect start to your sake summer (including direct sales).

January 31, 2026

Over 11'000 enthusiastic guests, 30 booths and an all-day program of events over three days – the Japan Food Fest marks a new chapter this Easter and shizuku will join this highlight with you!

After record attendance last year, the festival is celebrating its 5th anniversary this Easter weekend. Preparations are in full swing in Zurich-Oerlikon. As the largest Japanese festival in Zurich and the only Japan Food Fest in Switzerland, it will be even more diverse, enjoyable and inspiring in 2026.
Celebrate, share and connect with Japanese flavours on a culinary journey of discovery full of taste, culture and encounters.

shizuku at Japan Food Fest Zurich 2026
Whether you're a foodie, a culture lover or looking for a special Easter highlight, the Japan Food Fest is growing and offers Japanese food, cultural performances and workshops on a bigger space. With 30 unique booths and a three-day cultural and show program, we bring the Japanese street food scene to life.

And, of course, the perfect drink is also provided: shizuku is back for the anniversary and is serving up everything from exciting sake tastings to refreshing cocktails.

Find more information about this event right here.

January 30, 2026

Shochu - The distilled drop of Japan.

Shochu is Japan's second traditional drink besides sake (nihonshu). Sake, the Japanese rice wine, is often mistakenly understood as a distillate. But this is where Shochu comes in, which is actually distilled and, depending on the main ingredient, has a completely different basic taste.

From mugi (barley) to imo (sweet potato), kome (rice) to goma (sesame) - Shochu is extremely diverse in its aromatic facets and, depending on the basic ingredient and drinking method, is suitable as an aperitif, digestive or as an excellent accompaniment to a meal.

10 years in the barrel
The Toki no Choetsu Superiore is a mild, sweet and very rounded barley shochu. Aged for 10 years in French oak barrels, the ideal drop for whisky and rum lovers.

Tasty and lots of umami
The Takeyama Gensui as well as the Kurozaru are two intensive, round sweet potato shochu. Matured in clay pots, both have a great umami taste and a long lasting finish.

Elegance and power
The Mellowed Kozuru Limited (Single Cask) as well as the Mellowed Kozuru Excellence are two incredibly elegant, velvety rice shochu, strong in taste and balanced on the palate.

Gold in the tumbler
The Beniotome Gold - the king with a maturation period of about 8 years - as well as the Beniotome Maru are both extremely mild and elegant barley shochu with a pleasant touch of sesame.

Let yourself be surprised once again by Japan's art - this time with a fine drop of shochu.

January 23, 2026

Is it cooler, we too turn up the heat....

Because drinking a nihonshu warmed up and discovering the resulting aromas and flavours anew is not only fun, but also warms the sake heart. We are happy to recommend different drops, which offer an enjoyable experience from cool to room temperature to hot. Let's warm up...

The Asahimai Junmai| Smooth from 10-50°C
This velvety, full-bodied Junmai will flatter any sake fan. Smooth, with a sweet note and long-lasting finish, this premium sake made from organic rice delights subtly aromatic, with a fresh, minty acidity.

The Kuzuryu Ippin | Crisp and spicy from 10-45°C
Slightly sweet, fruity and with a soft texture, this elegant nihonshu crisp-spicy delights on the palate and, with its fair amount of umami, is also an exciting pairing partner to autumnal, more flavourful dishes.

The Inatahime Ryokan | Round from 10-50°C
Slightly salty, even leathery on the nose, this rather dry sake surprises with aromas of lime blossom, soja, bitter chocolate, coffee, tobacco and nutmeg. And this true classic scores especially with hearty & cheesy dishes such as fondue & raclette.

The Goriki Junmai| Powerfully aromatic from 15-50°C
Tangy, oily, smoky and with lots of umami you will be spoiled with this exciting food companion. Intense notes of paprika, olive tapenade and smoked ham make this sake an aromatic experience even at room temperature.

The Kozaemon Yamahai Junmai| Taste expedition from 10-45°C
Brewed according to the traditional yamahai method, this nihonshu convinces with intense, earthy flavours and makes literally sake hungry. For from cheesy to floral to aromatic-fiery, this drop offers a truly veritable adventure...

The Miyabi | Strong sake art from 15-45°C
This intense Tokubetsu Junmai - brewed according to the traditional kimoto method - is quickly reminiscent of a stone fruit brandy. Earthy, dry and pleasantly sweet on the palate, this Japanese drop is an exciting food companion to meat dishes and your upcoming raclette.

January 9, 2026

1 sake, 2 toasts and a trilogy of the finest cheeses. As simple. As good.
Meikel inspires us in exactly this way again with his latest greeting from the kitchen, adding a touch of gold to the snack.

MEIKEL'S KITCHEN by shizuku | A golden TOAST to TOAST

He loves food, he loves cooking and he enjoys sake.
Meikel - Graphic Designer, Artist and Sake Addict - tries out, combines and discovers.

This time: Toast the bread until golden brown. Briefly fry some juicy ham and turkey slices in a pan. Top the toast with a trio of hearty cheese classics: raclette, Gruyère, and red Tilsiter. Season to taste and pop it in the oven - that's it.
Aside: A drop of gold from Yonago in Tottori, the Inatahime Junmai Daiginjo 40. Delicately bitter, with a slight sharpness in the finish, this Junmai Daiginjo conjures up a beautiful balance of intensity and elegance and, with its creamy structure, goes perfectly with melted cheese. A powerful toast to toast.

Culinary conclusion: 'We have succeeded in turning a simple idea into something truly delicious. A classy ham and cheese toast, prepared with love and accompanied by this elegant premium sake: you couldn't ask for a better snack!
The flavours complement each other wonderfully, the consistency is perfect, and you'll want to take another bite and another sip. My tip: make sure you make enough from the start!' laughs Meikel with relish and reaches for the next toast - in the glass and on the plate ;)

As simple. As good. MEIKEL'S KITCHEN by shizuku.
Please discover more culinary recommendations on Instagram with #shizuku_ch and #meikelskitchen or in our section 'recipes'.

January 9, 2026

You are a group and want a tasting in a cozy, private setting?
Or are you still looking for a tasty idea for your celebratory team event?
How about a sakelicious tasting?

The team event with the kanpai...
Enjoy with friends, team colleagues, partners or customers, but try something new: We are happy to pour!
Spoil your team with a special treat and give them a culinary experience - with an exquisite Japanese drop.
Sake expert Marc Nydegger will take you to Japan and invites you to live the convivial drinking culture and to taste the different varieties based on handpicked premium drops in a cozy atmosphere.

Would you like to hold your private event at shizuku Store? Great!
Whether it's a birthday party, a team aperitif or the degustation among friends... shizuku is pleased to show you the variety of Japanese works of art so that your team event will be positively surprising and pleasantly remembered.

Please contact us with your wishes, questions and ideas by e-mail to event@shizuku.ch and nothing will stand in the way of your festive kanpai.

Already thirsty? We look forward to you & your guest!

January 5, 2026

Cooking with sake? Of course!
Deglaze or boil down - for a nice, flavourful sake note in your dish.
Nihonshu in the kitchen makes a good figure not only in the glass...

COOKING SAKE - For more umami in the pan
Whether in mushrooms, tomatoes or cheese - umami is omnipresent and can also be found in our kitchen more than you think - and in sake even more.

umami is another flavour alongside the traditional ones of sweet, sour, salty and bitter. And although umami is difficult to describe in words, tasters notices it immediately. This is because umami intensifies certain flavours and dominates & corrects negative taste sensations. For this reason, umami can generally be described as 'especially delicious' and 'perfectly rounded'.

And with our high-quality cooking sake, you too can bring even more flavour to the pan. Discover Kimoto Junmai, brewed according to the traditional kimoto method. A dry, intense sake in a convenient, resealable 1.8 liter Tetra Pak.

Cook with us, kanpai and enjoy your meal!

January 5, 2026