A product loved for over 50 years, Sake One Cups are available in various regional motifs and designs. These are slightly more expensive than the humble Ozeki One Cup®, which in 2026 costs about 230 yen. Almost every prefecture will have a couple of designs on sale, and you can easily find most of these at convenience stores or supermarkets across the country.
Icons of the Prefectures
Here are just a few of the many One Cups available all over Japan. Which one’s your favorite?
Kumamoto featuring one of the most popular mascot characters in the world, Kumamon.
No regional collection is complete without a little hint of sakura; for instance, you can find beautiful cherry blossom designs from Aichi during the spring season.
Aomori is known to be the largest producer of apples in Japan, and their cup reflects this beautifully with vibrant fruit illustrations.
Coastal Views and Festival Spirit
Other iconic designs include Matsushima Bay, dotted with dozens of tiny islands covered in pine trees, and the Kobe One Cup, which has a retro feel with depictions of its historic port area.
Akita, known for one of the biggest lantern festivals in Japan, features the Kanto (pole with lanterns) on its glass.
No surprises here, the Ueno One Cup features the famous pandas from the Ueno Zoo, and the most popular zoo in northern Japan, Asahikawa Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido, has an adorable animal-themed cup that is ideal to reuse as a vase or a pen holder in a room!
A Collector’s Paradise in Asakusa
If you want to see a comprehensive collection of these, head to the Ninja Bar in Asakusa, Tokyo, where you see these lined on the walls!
Address: 1-1-12 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan Asakusa Chika Shoutengai (Asakusa Underground Shopping St.), Under Exit 6 of Asakusa Station
Although it’s not always possible to find every regional design in Tokyo, Marugoto Nippon in Asakusa (now located on the 1st floor of the Tokyo Rakutenchi Asakusa Building) and Tokyu Plaza in Ginza (specifically the Fujimaki Department Store or the IMAMI shop) often have some of these in stock throughout the year.
A 2026 Souvenir Essential
In 2026, “One Cup” sake remains a perfect blend of Japanese tradition and modern graphic art. Because 2026 is the Year of the Horse, keep an eye out for limited-edition zodiac designs that make for a very special, time-specific memento of your trip.
