Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about KIKI (利き), the free app that tells you what a sake, shochu or awamori is from a photo of its label: taste, ratings, value and the cheapest shop, launching in early December 2026.
The app
Is there an app that tells you what a sake or shochu is from a photo of the label?
KIKI is built for exactly that. Point your phone at the label and it identifies the bottle and shows its taste, ratings, value score, the cheapest shop and foods it goes with, for 20,000+ sakes, shochus and awamoris.
What is KIKI?
KIKI (利き) is a free app that tells you what a sake, shochu or awamori is from a photo of its label: taste, ratings, value and the cheapest shop. It covers 20,000+ sakes, shochus and awamoris and launches in early December 2026.
When and where can I get it?
In early December 2026, on the App Store and Google Play at the same time, for iPhone and Android.
Which drinks does it cover?
Sake, honkaku shochu and awamori: 20,000+ bottles from 1,200+ breweries and distilleries. Kōrui shochu, the neutral base for chūhai, is not covered.
Does it work if I can’t read Japanese?
Yes. The app reads the label for you, and the app and bottle pages switch between English and Japanese.
Can I buy sake from KIKI?
No. KIKI doesn’t sell alcohol. It compares prices at shops such as Rakuten Ichiba and Yahoo! Shopping and links to the shop; you buy from the shop. Some shop links are affiliate links and are marked “PR”.
Where can I learn the basics of sake and shochu?
KIKI’s Learn section explains how they are made, the types, regions, history, serving and seasons, with a glossary of label words, free, in the app and on this site.
Scanning
How do I look up a bottle?
Point the camera at the label: it takes the picture by itself as soon as the label is in view and identifies the bottle. You can also press the shutter or use a photo you took. When several bottles look alike, you pick the right one from a short list.
Can I use it to choose from an izakaya drinks menu?
Yes. Menu scan reads the sake and shochu on a photographed menu and shows ratings, taste and how well each fits you. Free accounts get 10 menu scans a month (a menu of several pages counts once); Premium up to 20 a day.
What if a bottle isn’t found?
Tap “not in the list” on the result and KIKI looks the bottle up and adds it to the catalogue. The label photo you sent may be used as that bottle’s picture.
What happens to my scan photos?
Label photos are sent to KIKI’s server to identify the bottle, and an AI (Google Gemini) reads the text on them. They are not published unless you send “not in the list”; then the photo may become the bottle’s picture. Menu photos are only read and not stored.
Travel and menus
Is there an app that reads a Japanese izakaya drinks menu and tells me which sake to order?
KIKI’s menu scan does that. Photograph the menu and each sake, shochu and awamori line shows its taste and rating, and the dishes are translated. It is free for 10 menus a month.
Does it translate the food menu?
Yes. Photograph the food pages and each dish shows its name, an English name, a short description and the price. Drinks and food pages of one menu are read together.
Can it tell me if a dish contains my allergen?
It cannot guarantee that. The “Contains” and “Likely contains” flags are guesses from the dish name. If you have an allergy, ask the staff before you order.
Does it work on handwritten or vertical menus?
It is built to read printed, handwritten, vertical and chalkboard menus, but messy handwriting or a photo with glare can make some lines unreadable.
Price
Is it free?
Yes. Label scanning, bottle pages, ratings and reviews, the stamp book and Learn are free. Menu scan is free 10 times a month and the watchlist for up to 3 bottles.
Data and prices
Where do the prices come from?
From shops on Rakuten Ichiba and Yahoo! Shopping, checked every day. Shops set their prices and they can change. Sold-out offers don’t count towards the lowest price.
How is “the cheapest shop” decided?
It is the shop with the lowest price per bottle for that exact bottle. Whether shipping is included is shown, packs such as 6 bottles are compared per bottle, and the price per 720 ml lets you compare sizes.
What is the value score?
A 0–100 guide that compares a bottle’s online rating with its price per 720 ml. It is shown for bottles with 5 or more online reviews.
Who rates the bottles?
“Online rating” is the shops’ customer reviews converted to a 1–10 scale. “Your rating” is the score you give from 1 to 10, and you can read other KIKI users’ reviews too.
Where does the taste data come from?
From specs such as the sake meter value and acidity, and from shop and brewery descriptions. For bottles with little information, the taste is an estimate from the type.
How does KIKI make money?
Some shop links are affiliate links: when you buy through them, the shop pays a referral fee. They are marked “PR”. There is also the paid Premium plan (¥600 a month).
Account
Do I need an account?
No, you can scan and read bottle pages without one. With an account your ratings and favourites work on every device, and you get the stamp book, friends and rankings. Sign up with Google, LINE or an e-mail address.
Can people under 20 use it?
No. It is an app about alcohol, for people aged 20 and over.
Are my ratings and profile public?
Your profile (name, KIKI ID, photo, ratings, reviews, favourites) is visible to other signed-in users by default. Make it a private account and only your friends see it. Reviews appear on bottle pages; a private account’s reviews are shown without name and photo.
Can I delete my account?
Yes, at any time in the app’s settings. Your profile, ratings, favourites and other data are deleted with it.
Something else? Get in touch. Contact