Did you know that there is a magnificent gassho-style building in front of Sakuragicho Station in Yokohama? It's called "Ichinokura," an izakaya named after Miyagi's famous sake, Ichinokura, and has been in business for 40 years. The restaurant is spacious and offers a variety of seating options, from a relaxed counter for solo drinking to table seating and a large hall. Currently, the restaurant focuses on serving rare local sake...

Tachibana, Sumida Ward, is a neighborhood with a strong downtown atmosphere. A swaying ride on the Tobu Kameido Line took me to Yabusoba Tachibana, a renowned restaurant that impresses not only soba lovers but meat lovers alike. Stepping through the venerable shop curtain, I was greeted by an extraordinary "extra-thick katsudon" (pork cutlet bowl). It's one of the largest in the downtown area I know. A great afternoon beer...

Asakusa is not just a tourist destination. The restaurants that have long been popular with locals are all of high quality. We would like to introduce you to Nitenmon Yabu, located right in front of Nitenmon Gate, an important cultural property. Established in 1954 (Showa 29), this long-established restaurant has been in business for three generations and is open all day, making it a great place for a late lunch or...

Nihonbashi, in the heart of Tokyo. Just a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets, along the Nihonbashi River, lies a renowned soba restaurant serving local Fukui cuisine. Oshozuan Kiyoe is a renowned restaurant serving authentic Echizen oroshi soba, a rare find even in Tokyo. The owner, who opened the restaurant in his 50s...

There are alcohol cultures that are popular in localized areas. One example is "Milk Wari," a drink that can only be experienced in the Itabashi area of Tokyo. I once visited several establishments that serve milk wari for a magazine article, and among them, there was one that I fell in love with, regardless of its milk wari. The laughter of the local regulars...