Japanese Whisky Yamazaki & Hibiki Official Price Guide 2025: Complete Buying Guide for Beginners & Gifts

Tokyo Mate

September 16, 2025

🥃 Still choosing Japanese whisky just by the Yamazaki or Hibiki name?
This complete guide covers official prices, beginner recommendations, gift suggestions,
and everything you need to become a Japanese whisky expert!
Updated with 2025 latest information.

Japanese whisky Yamazaki Hibiki official price guide

✅ STEP 1. Understanding Japanese Whisky (Suntory vs Nikka)

To understand Japanese whisky, you first need to know the two major rivals: Suntory and Nikka. Currently, Suntory holds about 70% of the Japanese whisky market, while Nikka holds about 25%.

Category	Suntory	Nikka
Founder	Torii Shinjiro (Businessman)	Taketsuru Masataka (Technician)
Pursuit	'Harmony' and 'Balance' (Smooth and elegant)	'Character' and 'Power' (Bold and smoky)
Signature Whiskies	Yamazaki, Hibiki, Hakushu	Yoichi, Miyagikyo, Taketsuru
Summary	Popular and refined balanced taste	Traditional and authentic bold flavor

✅ STEP 2. What Should You Buy? (Recommendations by Situation)

I’ve carefully selected the best choices for you when facing countless whiskies.

1. For Beginners: Fail-Proof First Japanese Whisky

① Highball Beginner? → Suntory Kakubin (2,101 yen tax included) The most optimized whisky for Japanese whisky highballs. The perfect choice if you want to taste that izakaya flavor.

② Premium First Whisky? → Hibiki Japanese Harmony (8,250 yen tax included) Flawless balance. Smooth and elegant taste that everyone will love.

③ Single Malt Beginner? → Yoichi & Miyagikyo (7,700 yen tax included) Nikka’s flagship products. Discover your preference with bold and smoky ‘Yoichi’ or elegant and fruity ‘Miyagikyo’.

Suntory Kakubin and Chita whisky — (From right) Suntory Kakubin, Suntory Chita Whisky

2. For Gifts: Choices That Capture Both Elegance and Satisfaction

① Symbol of Japanese Single Malt → Yamazaki 12 Year (16,500 yen tax included) Japan’s undisputed #1 best-seller. The highest satisfaction rate for recipients, the ultimate fail-proof choice.

② Elegant Duty-Free Exclusive → Hibiki Harmony Master’s Select Japanese Harmony’s blending + aged malt from Yamazaki Distillery, the exclusivity of being available only at duty-free shops makes it the perfect gift.

3. World’s Best Japanese Whisky Rankings (World Whiskies Awards 2024)

🏆 World’s Best Single Malt

Yamazaki 25 Year - (This year's world #1) Selected as the world's best single malt whisky with overwhelming maturity and complex flavors.

🏆 World’s Best Blended

Hibiki 21 Year - (2 consecutive years) Maintained the world's best blended whisky position again with perfect harmony of malts aged over 21 years, following 2023.

🏅 Best Japanese Single Malt

Hakushu 18 Year Peated Malt - Selected as Japan's best single malt with Hakushu's characteristic freshness combined with deep peat aroma.

🏅 Best Japanese Blended Malt

Taketsuru Pure Malt - Nikka Whisky's pride. Received top evaluation with exquisite blending of Yoichi and Miyagikyo malts.

✅ STEP 3. How Much Do They Cost? (Official Japan Prices)

These are the recommended retail prices (700ml basis, tax included) listed on the official Japanese website.

Currently in Japan, due to scarcity, most are sold at much higher prices (premium prices) at liquor shops and department stores. Use this price list only as a reference point for comparison!

Yamazaki 山崎 - The Standard of Japanese Single Malt

Product Name	Official Japan Price	Characteristics
Yamazaki 25 Year	396,000 yen	Noble wood aroma, complex sweetness, long deep finish Whisky blended from very rare malts aged over 25 years, including Mizunara (Japanese oak) casks. Limited production of only a few thousand bottles annually
Yamazaki 18 Year	60,500 yen	Deep overwhelming maturity Full-bodied whisky blended primarily with sherry cask malts aged over 18 years. Boasts overwhelming maturity
Yamazaki 12 Year	16,500 yen	Delicate, complex, and deep taste Japan's representative single malt whisky. Characterized by complex flavors that never tire, with worldwide popularity
Yamazaki Non-Age Statement	7,700 yen	Smooth and gorgeous aroma, sweet and silky taste New attempt whisky combining wine cask-aged malts with Yamazaki's signature Mizunara cask malts and various other malts

Yamazaki Whisky (Ginza Lotte Duty Free)

Hakushu 白州 - Single Malt Whisky

Product Name	Official Japan Price	Characteristics
Hakushu 25 Year	396,000 yen	Rich and majestic maturity Whisky blended from carefully selected Hakushu malts aged over 25 years: creamy and woody malts, smoky peated malts, and fruity sherry cask malts. The pinnacle of majestic maturity
Hakushu 18 Year	60,500 yen	Ripe fruit aroma, subtle smokiness, pleasant finish Characterized by fresh and deep aroma of malts aged over 18 years. Perfect harmony of complex flavors, sweetness, and fragrant oak barrel aroma
Hakushu 12 Year	16,500 yen	Sweet and smooth smokiness, fresh greenery aroma, refreshing fruit scent, clean finish Single malt whisky made from carefully selected malts aged over 12 years at Hakushu 'Forest Distillery'. Released in 1994
Hakushu Non-Age Statement	7,700 yen	Fresh aroma, refreshing and light clean taste Whisky combining 'lightly peated malt' with fresh forest-like subtle smokiness and various complex and deep malts

Hakushu Whisky (Ginza Lotte Duty Free)

Hibiki 響 - Blended Whisky

Product Name	Official Japan Price	Characteristics
Hibiki 30 Year	396,000 yen	Luxurious and majestic pinnacle of maturity Very rare limited edition whisky produced only a few thousand bottles annually. Malt and grain malts aged at least 30 years carefully hand-blended by Suntory craftsmen, presented in a 30-faceted crystal bottle showcasing jewel-like beauty
Hibiki 21 Year	60,500 yen	Rich maturity and harmonious taste Whisky blended from carefully selected malt and grain malts aged over 21 years. Luxurious harmony created by Suntory's diverse malts
Hibiki Japanese Harmony	8,250 yen	Gorgeous aroma and deep smooth taste Whisky combining Japan's four seasons and craftsman techniques, Hibiki's flagship product combining various malts regardless of aging years, 24-faceted bottle symbolizing 24 solar terms and traditional Japanese paper (washi) label

Hibiki Whisky (Ginza Lotte Duty Free)

⭐ For more in-depth information about Suntory’s flagship lineups (Yamazaki, Hibiki, Hakushu) including history, lineup characteristics, and distillery tour information, please refer to the post below.

▶️ Suntory Whisky Lineup, Prices, Distillery Tour Complete Guide

Nikka Whisky - Malt Whisky

Product Name	Official Japan Price	Characteristics
Taketsuru Pure Malt	7,700 yen	Mellow and smooth oak barrel aging aroma and fruit scent, rich malt umami, subtle peat aroma with sweet-bitter finish Pure malt whisky named after Nikka Whisky founder 'Taketsuru Masataka', father of Japanese whisky. Achieves delicate and comfortable taste by blending distinct malt malts from Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries
Yoichi Single Malt	7,700 yen	Bold and powerful, complex and deep taste. Intense peat flavor and aroma, oak sweetness and smoky finish Single malt whisky produced at Hokkaido 'Yoichi' distillery, chosen by the founder as the ideal whisky production site. Bold and powerful taste through coal direct-fire distillation method
Miyagikyo Single Malt	7,700 yen	Gorgeous and fruity, smooth taste. Harmony of sweet and gorgeous aroma like apples or pears with smooth vanilla scent Single malt whisky produced at 'Miyagikyo' distillery located in Sendai, the 'forest city'. Gorgeous and smooth taste through steam distillation method

Taketsuru Whisky, Miyagikyo Whisky (Ginza Lotte Duty Free)

✅ STEP 4. Where Should You Buy? (Characteristics by Purchase Location)

1. Duty-Free Shops (Airport/City) Generally the cheapest. If you’re lucky, you can purchase near official prices. However, stock is unstable, so ‘opening run’ is essential.

⭐Want to know about Ginza Lotte Duty Free whisky stock and latest information?

➡️ [Details] Ginza Lotte Duty Free Whisky Buying Guide (Yamazaki, Hibiki, Free Tasting)

Ginza Lotte Duty Free Suntory whisky section — Ginza Lotte Duty Free Suntory Whisky Section

2. Specialty Liquor Shops (Jule’s Whisky Collection, etc.) Highest probability of finding rare whiskies, but most expensive. Compare with official prices before buying!

⭐Want to know about Ginza Six specialty liquor shop information?

➡️ [Details] Ginza Six Whisky Shopping, Imadeya Ginza, Jule’s Whisky Collection Prices

3. Premium Supermarkets Good for shopping with other alcohols like wine or sake.

➡️[Details] Tokyo Roppongi Hills Shinanoya Celebrity Supermarket Shopping Review

4. Don Quijote/Bic Camera Good accessibility, but popular products are often unavailable or sold at expensive premium prices. Price comparison essential!

Conclusion

Are you now ready to meet the best Japanese whisky that perfectly matches your taste and budget? I hope you enjoy successful whisky shopping with this guide.

⭐Want to know about Dassai Japanese sake information?

➡️[Details] Dassai 23, 45, 39 Official Japan Website Price Complete Guide

⭐Want to know about Suntory whisky complete lineup and Yamazaki distillery tour?

➡️[Details] Suntory Whisky Lineup, Prices, How to Drink, Distillery Tour Complete Guide

⭐Want to know how to buy cheaply at Ginza Lotte Duty Free?

➡️[Details] Ginza Lotte Duty Free Whisky Buying Guide (Free Tasting, Tips)

Editor's Note

This article is based on the author's actual experiences and original content from blog.naver.com/tokyomate. It has been translated and adapted to provide authentic travel information about Tokyo for global readers.