This standing bar is located in the heart of Japan's most famous shopping street, a highly competitive area. Enjoy fresh fish and sake at a price you wouldn't expect given its location, and it's a miraculous establishment. I visited it for the first time in a while, and it was so good I couldn't resist sharing it with you. Read more...

Naoetsu Station is the birthplace of Niigata Prefecture's railways. This station is home to a famous restaurant worth stopping by during your trip. Naoetsuan is run by Hotel Heimat, a renowned ekiben (station bento) maker. Here, you can enjoy tempura made with the rare local fish, Megisu, paired with local sake, Notaka. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a train journey...

Kaneda in Jiyugaoka: Just outside the north exit of Jiyugaoka Station, you'll find a shopping street lined with charming shops, including the eel restaurants Hosakaya and Katoriya. Located in one corner of the street is Kaneda, a mainstay of the area. Surrounded by laminated ash wood, the shop features a wide selection of cool...

Located in a back alley in Kasumicho, near Yamagata Station, Nakano is a restaurant serving handmade soba noodles and a la carte dishes. At night, the restaurant and izakaya lit by red lanterns attracts local regulars. Enjoy Akaboshi with their specialty potato stew, then finish off with a bowl of exquisite chicken soba noodles. We'll introduce you to a night at a bar that feels just like home, a place we encountered on our travels...

Fukushimaya, located in front of Komaba Todai, is a long-established soba restaurant with over 90 years of history, popular with locals and known primarily for its drinks. The bar is primarily table seating, and while there is a counter in front of the kitchen, the receipts are placed there and it's in the line of the staff's movements...