I went to Shotto Okame, located under the elevated tracks in Akihabara, as I heard that it will be closing at the end of June.
30 years in Akihabara
Standing bar under the overpass
Akihabara has a strong image as an electronics district and a mecca for otaku, but once you get off the station and cross Showa-dori, the atmosphere changes and you'll find a lively drinking district. If you walk under the Sobu Line overpass towards Asakusabashi, you'll come across Shotto Okame-san, an incredibly cool and electrifying building with a smiling Okame painted on its sign.
Rock and roll interior
The walls of the bar are covered with rock band records, guitars, and photos of the owner and regulars having fun, and you can sense the warm, rock-infused relationship between the bar and its regulars. This unique space, where Akihabara's otaku culture meets a "standing bar and music bar," has unfolded beneath the elevated railway.
The store will continue to use its existing space and the name will remain the same.
About 30 years ago, an acquaintance invited the owner to use an existing property, and with absolutely no money, he set about opening a business under the same name. This story is truly rock and roll! Apparently, when the bar first opened, it had a tough time attracting any customers, but word gradually spread through word of mouth among old rock friends and customers, and it has grown into this unique and famous bar.
A standing bar with great food and drinks
There is an L-shaped counter and several tables, and you can grab a spot at the end of the counter as soon as you enter. From there, you can order your favorite snacks and drinks from the cash-on counter, and the bar manager will pay for them as you go.
Start with canned chuhai and spring rolls
The three-tiered refrigerated display case has canned beer and highballs lined up on the top shelf, while the middle and bottom shelves are filled with a wide variety of Takara canned chuhai drinks, a must-have for alcohol lovers. It's the ultimate drinker's refrigerator, with nothing unnecessary and nothing missing.
( ´ー`)｡o○(What a great lineup)
The first snack we chose was the addictive "Spring Rolls with Vegetable Sauce" (250 yen), a soft spring roll covered in thick vegetables.
A hearty selection of pickles
Next, we ordered a pickled vegetable platter (250 yen) with three kinds of pickled vegetables: pickled shibazuke, pickled Chinese cabbage, and pickled cucumber.
For a refill, I ordered a chuhai (280 yen) made by the chef in a glass, rather than a can. It was quite strong, exceeding the estimated alcohol content of 121 TP4T. Apparently, this strength has become a specialty, and it's a hardcore drink that satisfies even the rock-loving regulars.
Very satisfying hamburger
I was drawn to the hamburger steak, which I don't usually eat, so I decided to finish off my meal with cheese. The generously sized hamburger steak with melted cheese was served with spaghetti underneath, and it also came with vegetables and an egg, all for a shocking 400 yen. If I could have this for lunch, I'd be completely satisfied.
Black belt customer
To reduce the chef's burden, regular customers properly separate their empty cans and trash before leaving. I felt sentimental seeing a regular customer who doesn't use social media say, "I wonder if we'll meet again somewhere, Mr./Ms. X," sad that the everyday life they'd taken for granted at this restaurant would soon be over. Thank you for the meal. Thank you for your hard work over the years.
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