Every place has something to offer. Sometimes it’s just a life lesson, like “You shouldn’t go to places this bad,” but this wasn’t one of those sometimes. After another hour of cycling on our Kita Senju round-trip extravaganza, what Torishu had to offer was chicken. I’m joking to humorous effect, of course. It offered so […]
sake
- izakaya
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Kaeru, Kitasenju (居酒屋 かえる)
‘Puerile’ is the word you’re looking for here. No, in fact, while we were eyeing this spot, the master of the shop was taking out some trash, saw us, and said “Oh, go ahead and park there.” As usual in Japan, flexible enforcement. After stumbling (rolling?) upon an entire kilometer of previously unexplored shotengai, it was an […]
- izakaya
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Edoichi, Otsuka ( 江戸一)
After mixed feelings at Konakara, Woodchips and I were keen to try another venue. I attracted a lot of laughter for my preparedness (when I went to Otsuka before by myself, I made a map showing the 5 likeliest places, and I had it with me tonight too), but I also knew exactly how […]
- izakaya
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Konakara, Otsuka (こなから)
Well well, we check another off the list of ‘Tokyo’s greatest sake pubs’. This was decent, just uninspiring and a bit expensive. Having been to a good sampling now, I can safely say that the ‘Gauntner list’ was written around 10 years ago, and that the 10 recommended drinking outlets on there no longer apply […]
- Kyoto
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Tsunoki sake, Nishiki market, Kyoto (津之喜酒舗)
Nishiki Market, ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’. Or if you ask a local, ‘kitschy Kyoto’ and “locals get their food at supermarkets nowadays”. Way fun to walk around in any case – touristy stuff is fun when you’re a tourist. It’s true that you can sense the tourist veneer on everything, but that’s not a big deal. Embrace it. Also, […]
- bar
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Jizake Bar Zen, Kyoto ()
Zen is really one of the best sake bars I’ve been to. Since I posted a long and loving review of my initial visit there, here’s a capsule view of the two consecutive nights we went during this trip. Which means I didn’t drink everything here, sadly. Highlights from my perspective were: Furosen. Can’t get enough […]
Fukagawahama, Monzennakacho (深川浜)
Fukagawahama. It’s not Fukahama, although that’s not far away (and very worthwhile; in fact,if you just came back from Kyoto I think you’ll agree the cost performance at Fukahama is amazing). Fukagawahama is just a normal izakaya in a normal back alley of Monzennakacho. It’s always been there, at least within the approaching-7-years that I’ve been there. […]
Okanaga Club, Nihonbashi Bakurocho (岡永倶楽部)
Errrrr…..this statue in Kanda, up near Awajicho (we went to Katsuman and got rattled by a big earthquake in the old building there) depicts the youth of Japan confidently ascending toward the future. Too bad about the salute. Too bad about Okanaga Club too – it has all the makings of a terrific sake-focused, upscale […]
- izakaya
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Shuan Suiko, Oshiage (酒庵 酔香)
It’s so tempting to make this another place-that-shall-not-be-named…but you oughta know about it. Not that the Suikos need any more business – Woodworth and I tried and failed several times to make bookings before finally firming our spines and locking it in 2 weeks out. Where did I find it? Not the cover of Tokyojin, on […]
Senmatsu, Monzen Nakacho (千松)
Late at night, and the mean streets of Monzen Nakacho are steaming. Positively malevolent, isn’t it? Yeah, not really. One of the greatest things about Japan is how safe it is. The steam here is just because it was a little wet, and the new paving was still hot. There’s always road construction going on […]