<strong>Trophy case:</strong> Given there are thousands of hole-in-the-wall bars in Tokyo, sometimes it's hard to know where to start. But Bar High Five -- ranked the third best bar by Asia's 50 Best Bars 2017 and 13th by World's 50 Best Bars 2017 -- tends to draw a crowd.
Trophy case: Given there are thousands of hole-in-the-wall bars in Tokyo, sometimes it's hard to know where to start. But Bar High Five -- ranked the third best bar by Asia's 50 Best Bars 2017 and 13th by World's 50 Best Bars 2017 -- tends to draw a crowd.
Bar High Five
<strong>Meet the master: </strong>Helmed by Hidetsugu Ueno, who has appeared on American chef David Chang's TV show "Mind of a Chef," the 12-seat bar can be found in the glitzy Ginza district, in central Tokyo not far from the Tsukiji Market.
Meet the master: Helmed by Hidetsugu Ueno, who has appeared on American chef David Chang's TV show "Mind of a Chef," the 12-seat bar can be found in the glitzy Ginza district, in central Tokyo not far from the Tsukiji Market.
Tessa Chan
<strong>Signature sips: </strong>Ueno doesn't have a menu, insisting that drinks should be tailored to each guest, but he does have a few signatures. A White Lady (gin, cointreau and lemon juice) has become Ueno's calling card, along with a beloved Bellini (made with fresh Japanese peaches) and 200-plus whisky collection.
Signature sips: Ueno doesn't have a menu, insisting that drinks should be tailored to each guest, but he does have a few signatures. A White Lady (gin, cointreau and lemon juice) has become Ueno's calling card, along with a beloved Bellini (made with fresh Japanese peaches) and 200-plus whisky collection.
Bar High Five
<strong>Branching out: </strong>Last year, Ueno collaborated on beautiful <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fattire-house.com%2Fbar" target="_blank" target="_blank">Bar De Luxe</a>, in Hong Kong. His new project, Locker Room, opened in Bangkok this July.
Branching out: Last year, Ueno collaborated on beautiful Bar De Luxe, in Hong Kong. His new project, Locker Room, opened in Bangkok this July.
Tessa Chan
<strong>The neighborhood: </strong>Ueno says most of his favorite spots are just a few feet from his bar. "I'm a citizen of the Ginza village!" Ueno tells CNN. "I hardly ever leave. It's the best."
The neighborhood: Ueno says most of his favorite spots are just a few feet from his bar. "I'm a citizen of the Ginza village!" Ueno tells CNN. "I hardly ever leave. It's the best."
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Keeping with tradition:</strong> In Japan, sushi is a skill passed down from master to apprentice. Ueno recommends three sushi restaurants: Kagura, in the Tsukiji fish market; Sushiko, an affordable chain with famous salmon belly; and Sushiko Honten, a famous restaurant in Ginza.
Keeping with tradition: In Japan, sushi is a skill passed down from master to apprentice. Ueno recommends three sushi restaurants: Kagura, in the Tsukiji fish market; Sushiko, an affordable chain with famous salmon belly; and Sushiko Honten, a famous restaurant in Ginza.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Expert sushi</strong>: "Sushiko is a very very traditional sushi restaurant," says Ueno. "They don't have a menu, and you don't know how much it costs until the end... I went here once with my best friend from London. It was my first time there, and I was nervous, wondering if I was good enough to be there." Photo courtesy @<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fcheekeongfoo%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">cheekeongfoo</a>.
Expert sushi: "Sushiko is a very very traditional sushi restaurant," says Ueno. "They don't have a menu, and you don't know how much it costs until the end... I went here once with my best friend from London. It was my first time there, and I was nervous, wondering if I was good enough to be there." Photo courtesy @cheekeongfoo.
cheekeongfoo
<strong>Seeing stars: </strong>"I trained with Mr Kishi (Hisashi Kishi) at Star Bar, when it opened in 2000. It sounds a bit strange but since Mr Kishi is my master bartender, he introduces customers to me -- and not the other way around. It never goes back the opposite way," says Ueno. "But of course, I recommend Star Bar. The drinks are phenomenal and Mr Kishi is there to make them."
Seeing stars: "I trained with Mr Kishi (Hisashi Kishi) at Star Bar, when it opened in 2000. It sounds a bit strange but since Mr Kishi is my master bartender, he introduces customers to me -- and not the other way around. It never goes back the opposite way," says Ueno. "But of course, I recommend Star Bar. The drinks are phenomenal and Mr Kishi is there to make them."
World's 50 Best Bars
<strong>Beer fest:</strong> "There is a beautiful beer hall in Ginza, as well," Ueno tells CNN. "It's called Lion. It was built in the 1930s and was the very first beer hall in Japan."
Beer fest: "There is a beautiful beer hall in Ginza, as well," Ueno tells CNN. "It's called Lion. It was built in the 1930s and was the very first beer hall in Japan."
Sapporo Lion
<strong>Good neighbors: </strong>"There is a bar I always introduce to international customers that's just 20 steps from my bar. It's called Mimi. It's quite small, smaller than mine, with downstairs basement seating. The bartender (Fumiyasu Mimitsuka) won an IBA (International Bartender Association) World Cup Championship and he is a good guy."
Good neighbors: "There is a bar I always introduce to international customers that's just 20 steps from my bar. It's called Mimi. It's quite small, smaller than mine, with downstairs basement seating. The bartender (Fumiyasu Mimitsuka) won an IBA (International Bartender Association) World Cup Championship and he is a good guy."
Hidetsugu Ueno
<strong>Coffee stop: </strong>"I'm practically made of coffee," says Ueno, pointing to his ice coffee. "There is one place near my bar that's my favorite (called Ranzu). It's very classic. There's a long counter here and you just go to have a little sip of coffee."
Coffee stop: "I'm practically made of coffee," says Ueno, pointing to his ice coffee. "There is one place near my bar that's my favorite (called Ranzu). It's very classic. There's a long counter here and you just go to have a little sip of coffee."
Hidetsugu Ueno
<strong>Social club:</strong> "Sometimes I like to go to the Asakusa district," says Ueno. "It's about 20 minutes on the metro from Ginza. This bar called Kamiya Bar is near the Sensō Temple. It's called a 'bar' but not the kind you're thinking of. It's more of a social club, in the local style -- more like a neighborhood gathering place."
Social club: "Sometimes I like to go to the Asakusa district," says Ueno. "It's about 20 minutes on the metro from Ginza. This bar called Kamiya Bar is near the Sensō Temple. It's called a 'bar' but not the kind you're thinking of. It's more of a social club, in the local style -- more like a neighborhood gathering place."
Hidetsugu Ueno