Mojito aficionados in Tokyo rejoice! You don’t have to hop on a plane anymore to enjoy one of the best mojitos around. Located in the Ginza area of Tokyo, you can find the “Most Authentic Mojito in Japan” at 300BAR Ginza.
This isn’t your everyday mojito though, it is officially backed by a certificate from the Cuban Embassy in Tokyo and made from organic ingredients to provide an amazing and refreshing experience.
To learn more about what makes 300BAR’s mojito so special, we recently sat down with bartender Kawahata Yuichiro of 300BARNEXT to give us more insight on this popular cocktail.
“It’s all due to our homegrown mint. That’s the biggest difference,” Kawahata says. “The story all begins at our Tohoku Bokujo (farm) where we plow the field, plant the seeds, and harvest the herbs.”
Located in Aomori prefecture in the north of the main island of Japan, is the organic Tohoku Bokujo where the bartenders plant and harvest all of their own herbs. This includes the organic mint used in their famous mojitos, along with other herbs such as basil, rosemary, thyme, and more that are used in the majority of their dishes.
“As for special our mojitos, we use the Cuban Rum HAVANA CLUB which is made from Cuban organic sugar canes.”
Combining the best of their organic Aomori mint and Cuban sugar cane, 300BAR is able to create a unique mojito while providing it at a low price of only 300 yen.
Of course, it wouldn’t truly be a mojito without some Cuban rum. 300BAR uses Havana Club 3-year rum in their mojito in order to keep with the genuine spirit of a Cuban mojito. This faithfulness to the Cuban mojito is what helped the 300BAR receive the “Most Authentic Mojito in Japan” recognition by the Cuban embassy in Japan.
“Before studying at the Cuban embassy, I studied about the history of Cuba, their organic farming, and more.” Kawahata stated. “After attending these seminars several times, they awarded me the certificate on July 21st, Hemingway’s birthday.”
Kawahata’s dedication to making the best mojito has lead him all the way to Cuba, to La Bodeguita. The bar itself made famous by Ernest Hemingway’s quote: “My mojito in La Bodeguita, My daiquiri in El Floridita.” With such enthusiasm behind Kawahata and the 300BAR team, it’s no wonder that the mojito has become so popular at their establishments.
The mojitos are so popular in fact, that the bar sold over 40,000 mojitos in 2016 alone. A record for Japan! However, the original mojitos are served only while the ingredients are fresh and in season. Mint from the Tohoku Bokujo are only available until the end of November, so if you want to try one of these authentic mojitos, you will have to visit before December.
In case you are unable to make it before then, you can also try one of 300BAR’s signature mojitos, the “Wajito”. Prepared with Shiso (Japanese Basil) and yuzu (Japanese citrus), the Wajito is available during the spring season.
To celebrate one last time before the mint goes out of season, 300BAR will be holding a special event on November 23rd, starting at 5:00 p.m.
“There will be a mojito-only booth and we will be playing Cuban music and have videos in the background.” Kawahata says. “You could have a Cuban sandwich or Cuban meals. Anyone can join free of charge. Please stop by.”
Providing a relaxing and spacious atmosphere, either of 300BAR’s three locations in the Ginza area are a great place to enjoy a piece of Tokyo nightlife. The majority of the drinks and food at 300BAR are all 300 yen and instead of an entry fee, 300BAR uses a ticket system for patrons in order to simplify the cost of items on the menu that has been in use since their opening in 1992.
Gentlemen must purchase a minimum of 3 tickets while ladies must purchase 2 tickets. If you purchase a total of 10 tickets at once, you get an extra ticket as a bonus. If you have extra tickets by the end of the evening, you can always use them on your next visit.
With over 150 kinds of cocktails, beer, and great food on the menu, there is a lot to choose from. Aside from the original mojito, you can try a variety of special lemonades, margaritas, gin and tonics, as well as a great selection of whiskey. All for 1 ticket!
If you are looking for something to perfectly match your mojito though, we highly recommend ordering one of 300BAR’s original Cubano sandwiches. Normal Cubano sandwiches have ham, mayonnaise, pickles, and tomatoes, but 300BAR adds cooked pork and a twist of lime flavor to the mix. The pickles are also original homemade pickles as 300BAR prides themselves on serving the best and freshest foods.
If the Cubano isn’t your cup of tea, you can also choose from their mouth-watering pizzas, hamburger steaks, jerk chicken, or their signature brochette.
300BAR opens up at 5:00 p.m. and their happy hour runs from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. all week long. The staff are all very friendly and the menus also have English on them, so you can enjoy the evening without worry.
With only a few weeks left to enjoy this record-breaking mojito, make sure to drop by 300BAR before November 23rd to try one for yourself. With three locations in the Ginza area, access is easily available via the Tokyo Metro subway lines and the JR East lines. So, what are you waiting for? Drop by soon and experience this popular cocktail for yourself!
