Simmering Mist

Yawatajuku "Yakitori Torisen" The first station I got off at was Yawatajuku. There were yakitori restaurants lined up around the rotary, but I skipped them and walked towards the sea. Yawatajuku "Torisen" In the darkness, the neon sign reading "Taishu Sake Brewery" stood out in stark contrast...

Hirano "Daimaru" On this day, I had my sights set on two famous Hirano doteyaki restaurants, "Takeda" and "Inui," but unfortunately, both had been closed for a long time, so I headed towards JR Hirano Station, checking out their appearance. These two famous restaurants hadn't been open for a while. It was more of a worry than a disappointment...

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...

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...

Founded in 1949 (Showa 24) just after the war, when many famous bars were born, Taisho "Krasno" got its name from the fact that the first owner was a prisoner of war and went to Krasno, Russia. Now run by the second and third generation owners, they are truly like the "general commander of the Taisho era."

Zeus opened in 1993 and closed in 2002. IKEA opened in 2006. And in October 2025, LaLaport will undergo a major renovation. In the area around Minami-Funabashi Station, there used to be a dizzying array of pretentious buildings that came and went...

Minami-Suna "Hyotan" I was introduced to "Hyotan" by a black belt at my favorite Minami-Suna restaurant, Yamashiroya. It's a 15-minute walk from Nishi-Oshima and a fair distance from Minami-Sunamachi. It's definitely worth the walk, and this long-established izakaya, beloved by locals, has been around for a long time. It's been renovated and the exterior is brand new, but...

あっちも寿司屋。こっちも寿司屋。 やたらと町のお寿司屋さんが多い千葉・蓮池エリア。調べてみると、かつては料亭などが立ち並び栄えた花街だったらしく、今でもどこかその名残を感じる。その蓮池をぐるりと一周ロケハンした中で、1番オーラを感じ...

On the way back from Haneda Airport, if I feel like stopping off for a drink, I can think of several izakayas to stop by, such as Omori's "Tsutahachi," Tachiaigawa's "Torigata," and Shinagawa's "Mikasa." To broaden my options, I decided to stop by Heiwajima's "Sansui" before my flight on my way to Haneda.

Hot Pot Flavor-Changing Items The delicious season for hot pot, as well as stews, has arrived! I love spicy food, but after about the second bowl of hot pot, I feel like changing the flavor! So, I always keep some hot pot flavor-changing items in the fridge...

Matsue "Sushi Hide" I arrived at Yonago Airport at 8 PM. After a safe drive, I arrived in Matsue's downtown area around 9 PM. Feeling disheartened after being turned down by four restaurants, including "Yamaichi" and "Nikaku," I finally found "Sushi Hide" after relying on information that it was open late.

Ozone "Tsunekawa" A liquor store, a fish shop, a supermarket. Just adding the word "drinkable" to everyday establishments somehow makes them seem more appealing. Especially if it's a traditional establishment, you might wonder, "Why can you drink alcohol?" and "What kind of atmosphere can you drink in?"

It was the middle Sunday of the long weekend. I wanted to go to Naruko in Yonago, which is closed on Sundays, but I went there with a slight hope that it might be open since it was a three-day weekend, but it was closed. So I sharpened my sense of smell and finally found...

Kita-Kagaya "Oku" is a popular bar in Kita-Kagaya that has been open for half a century and is open from 2pm. The previous day, I took a gamble and tried to sneak in just an hour before closing, but was firmly turned away. Today, I was the first to arrive, eager to get in. The L-shaped counter...

Koiwa "Uo Kei" Located in a residential area of Koiwa, Uo Kei is a local fish shop where locals come to get takeout sashimi. The freshness and reasonable prices are reflected in the drinks served inside the shop, making it a representative Tokyo "fish shop where you can drink." The second-generation head chef is in charge of butchering the fish, while the third-generation chef...

Shimokitazawa's "Yocchan": There's a bar with a suction power stronger than a Dyson, a Shark, or even a Makita dust collector. I thought about exploring new places in Shimokitazawa, but I always ended up being drawn to "Yocchan." It was closed for a while, so I...

Kagaya, Tokiwa Shokudo, Wadaya, Ikomakken... There are several well-established, well-known restaurants in Tokyo that are "unmistakable" branch stores. Meanwhile, there's another branch in Osaka and Hyogo called "Masamuneya," whose name alone makes you want to pop in. "Masamuneya" in Amagasaki, Hanshin...

Awajiya Direct Sales Center in front of Higashiichiba Market Heading north from Higashiichiba-mae Station on the JR Yamatoji Line, you'll find Higashiichiba Market, which supports the food needs of Osaka residents. A further 10 minutes' walk from there will bring you to the Awajiya Direct Sales Center, a striking green tent with a well-worn shop curtain hanging from it. The tent...

Torimatsu in Shin-Maebashi is a local yakitori restaurant that has been in business for over half a century and is now run by the second generation. No blood relation to the original owner, Torimatsu has inherited the restaurant name and has been in business for about 10 years. I was drawn in by the rope curtain and...

Nihonzutsumi "Maru Chiba" Just a 10-minute walk from both Minamisenju and Minowa. While not particularly conveniently located, Maru Chiba is a popular bar that captivates drinkers from all over Tokyo, and is always full to capacity. I'm one of them, and I try to get to the neighborhood at least once a year if I can...