Simmering Mist

Fujisawa "Asataro" Hisasho closed in 2017, and my personal favorite "Ittoku" closed at the end of 2023. Furthermore, three buildings in front of the station, including the Fujisawa Meiten Building, will close in 2027, and the area in front of Fujisawa Station is about to be reborn. With such a rapid turnover...

Nakanobu "Chūya" on the Tokyu Oimachi Line. As a Chuo Line user, I rarely ride this line. The last time I rode it, I think it was to go to Chuya in Nakanobu. Chuya is a renowned Tokyo bar that's worth making the effort to visit, and it even has a sister location in Yutenji.

Honjo Azumabashi "Meijiya Sake Shop" Just from its name, Meijiya Sake Shop seems to have a long history. The main liquor store is on the right, and the entrance to the kaku-uchi bar is on the left. Founded in 1883 (Meiji 16), it's a very long-established establishment with 140 years of history. About five years ago, they reopened the kaku-uchi bar after a 30-year hiatus....

A famous stew restaurant reopens after an eight-month hiatus. "Osakaya seems to be reopening today," I heard from my drinking buddy, Mr. Taniguchi, the owner of Sasa Taniguchiya, a venerable bar in the "Sasamoto" style of skewered stew in Tokyo. Founded in 1924, this year marks its 100th anniversary...

Akita "Miyoshi" Located in Kawabata, Akita, this quietly located restaurant in a back alley is called "Miyoshi" because it means "beautiful taste"...or rather, it's "delicious" read backwards. Its appearance is irresistible for any drinker, and once you step through the noren curtain, an even more spectacular view awaits. Let's head to the spectacular view...

Torihana in Shinjuku has been a yakitori restaurant for 39 years! Torihana is a yakitori restaurant near Golden Gai. Lines start forming before 6 PM, when the restaurant opens, and the seven-seat counter quickly fills up. The proprietress now handles everything from preparation to service and cleanup all by herself...

When I visit the countryside, the first thing I do is make a reservation at my favorite restaurant without being lazy. I'm the type of person who doesn't make reservations and just goes with the flow, so I've ended up crying countless times without making a reservation. Not being able to get in because of a temporary closure is a big blow, but not being able to get in because the restaurant is fully booked is 100% worse...

Akitsu, home to West Hoppy Street, is a city lined with famous stew restaurants, including Yakitori Nojima, Salaryman, and Harukoma. I was so busy trying stews that I almost missed it, but I found an incredible restaurant: High Rabbit...

Yaesu "Toryaki Miyagawa" Located in a corner of the Yaesu Exit of Tokyo's business district, this space feels like a time travel back to the Showa era. While tall buildings continue to pop up one after another, "Toryaki Miyagawa" has been in business for over 70 years. It's a long-established sake shop that's rarely seen in Marunouchi, on the other side of Tokyo Station.

Omura City's "Torichiyo" Located in Omura City, just a stone's throw from Nagasaki Airport, floating like Pocari Sweat in Omura Bay, is Toriichiyo, a large bar established in 1977 near Omura Station. I called before opening time and was shocked to find they were fully booked... What?! Today was my only chance to stay in Omura, so I was in awe...

Nishi-Ogikubo South Exit Bar District: Nishi-Ogikubo Station on the Chuo Line is a bar district that spreads out from the moment you exit the station. The bar district is crammed into a small space, with izakayas like Yakitori Ebisu, Yoneda, and Chidori, as well as the tanmen noodle restaurant Hatsune, where customers often line up...

Narita, the gateway to Japan I haven't had a drink in Narita in about 10 years. I haven't had a drink in Narita since I went to the Tomisato Watermelon Road Race in the neighboring town. I remember that the izakaya we went to at that time was a very nice place. I think it was in this direction... ...

A-Sign First, a little bit about the "A-Sign". The "A sign" is the U.S. military's official business license for restaurants and adult entertainment establishments in Okinawa.

Eiraku Shokudo, a popular izakaya in Akita, is located in front of Akita Station. They have a huge selection of sake, and their "tasting set" is a great value and fun deal. Choose three varieties and have them poured into your glass for just 900 yen! Eiraku Shokudo before the relocation Eiraku Shokudo after the relocation...

Akita's Kawabata Area: Akita Prefecture's leading entertainment district, commonly known as "Kawabata," is located a 15-minute walk from Akita Station. Kawabata, once a thriving geisha town, has seen a sharp decline in the number of shops due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the town is noticeably less lively than when I visited before the pandemic, there are still many historic shops scattered around...

Chiba's local stews: doteyaki, nakamashijiru, otaguri, dengaku... There are "local stews" all over Japan, each deeply connected to the history of its region, with ingredients, seasonings, and other culinary cultures thrown into one big pot and simmered for many years.

I arrived in Matsuyama, Shikoku's largest city, at 8 p.m. Given the time, there were only two places I could go drinking in Matsuyama tonight. Of several options, I zeroed in on "Yonjuyon," which had the least information and was the most difficult to access. Yonjuyon...

Location Scouting in Morioka I arrived in Morioka in the morning. I enjoyed the corner bars Hosoju Sake Shop and Kagiya-san, but it was still only 2 p.m. Since I still had time for some evening drinking, I decided to scout locations in Morioka while it was still light. I thoroughly explored the alleys that spread out in a grid pattern east from Morioka Station...

Oji, the town of drinkers. Hidden away in Akabane, also in Kita Ward, Oji is a mecca for drinkers, dotted with a number of stylish taverns. With the opening of the third branch of Akabane's "senbero" (cheap drinking) leader "Ikoi" in Oji and the renovation of the long-established bar "Yamadaya," Oji will be a major draw.

Hachinohe, a town of delicious seafood! When I asked the locals, they told me to try "Onimon," a cheap and tasty place for fish, so I opened my mouth and paid a visit. Incidentally, Hachinohe is also known for its horses and...