Guinomi sake cups come in various designs, with some shaped like small bowls and others like little teacups. Their diverse forms allow for a generous pour, often offering more capacity than the traditional ochoko sake cup found in a Japanese sake set, providing a delightful way to savor your sake.

Originally, the guinomi was used to serve delicacies during kaiseki meals before Japanese tea ceremonies. After enjoying these dishes, people began to pour sake into the empty guinomi and drink from it, which is believed to be its origin.

Typically larger than an ochoko, guinomi sake cups provide a more substantial vessel for enjoying sake. Sake can be poured directly from the bottle into a guinomi, rather than using a carafe.