About four years ago, I was invited by a couple of drinking buddies to Mori Taya. There were a total of 7 of us, but I couldn't help but wonder, where am I and who are these people? As usual, the surroundings were a bit rough, located in a residential area. The standing bar area had been nicely renovated! I remember seeing Kuramoto Yacchan at this women's bar before, during a broadcast. I wonder how the renovation was. We talked about having to vacate the standing space if other customers arrived, but no one else came to drink while we were there, so it was almost like our own private space. Although the image of a standing bar is usually associated with canned and dried foods, Mori Taya offers a wide selection of carefully selected appetizers from all over Japan. From tofu miso pickles to spicy offal and sake, the pace of drinking increased quickly and didn't stop. The butterbur sprouts and nameko mushroom pickles were extremely tough! They also had natural cheese and other low-priced small dishes that shone brilliantly. These appetizers are also available for purchase at the liquor store inside. I learned that with this number of people, we quickly ran out of cold sake glasses and the wooden stand for the tasting cups. We were allowed to stay standing for quite a while without any discomfort, and I am very grateful for that.

**Must Visit Here!** I will secretly share my favorite spot! Located in a quiet residential area away from the station, this hidden gem is a treasure trove of sake known only to a few. The store is stocked with famous brands! With a focus on Japanese sake, they also offer popular craft beers, Japanese whiskey, and even wine. You can casually enjoy a drink at the standing bar area. Above all, the owner's personality is fantastic. This place is heaven for sake lovers! **[Highlighted Menu Items]** The following are highly recommended! Take a look at the posted images and comments for reference. Sake 90ml (450 yen) or 180ml (800 yen) ☑ Buyu Taruzake Honjozo Namazake [Ibaraki] → Slight aroma of the barrel. Smooth and easy to drink. ☑ Mansaku no Hana Junmai Aiyama 70 [Akita] → A balanced taste combining sweetness, acidity, and umami. ☑ Cardamom Shochu Highball (450 yen) ☑ Spicy Vinegar Offal of Pork (250 yen) ☑ Char-grilled Pig's Feet (300 yen) **[Closing Remarks]** Finally, I've posted about this place! They also offer complimentary sake during the New Year's period. I bought some great beer too, so I'm very satisfied!

Taste: ★★★☆☆ Portion: ★★☆☆☆ Cost performance: ★★★★☆ On the Arakawa Line "Kakuchou Tour," the first stop at Minowa's Suzuki Sakahan has stopped offering Kakuchou, and Nimi Sakuhonten is not offering it today. The store is clean and offers a variety of rare sake that is easy for beginners to enjoy. The snacks include unique items like tofu miso pickles, and prices start at 100 yen, making it a great option for solo diners. It's like a modern take on Kakuchou. Please note that there is a corkage fee for bringing your own sake into the store.

I went to a standing bar recommended by a friend. I ordered the Oita chicken rice for 250 yen, which was delicious with slightly strong flavors. The warm rice was very tasty. I had a draft beer and then ordered a barley shochu, which had a strong malt flavor. I also tried iburi gakko, sakekasu, soy pulp, and canned grilled mackerel in ajillo, all of which were delicious. They even warmed up the canned food for me. The sakekasu with yuzu was especially amazing, and I want to buy it as a souvenir next time. The second floor has a rental room with a kitchen, where you can have a small party with about 10 people. I would like to try it if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

The restaurant has been in business for almost 100 years and also offers "kakuchi" (standing bar) service. I have always wanted to visit this famous Moritaya kakuchi, which has been featured in TV and magazines. However, the location is quite difficult to find, tucked away in a residential area without any prominent shops around. Thanks to my drinking buddies who guided me, I was able to locate the restaurant. The interior of the restaurant was cozy, with a small square space resembling a hearth and a single table for customers to gather around. The layout was well thought out, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The payment system was unique for a kakuchi, with customers paying after their meal. The selection of drinks was impressive, with a monthly theme for sake. I had the opportunity to try a set of sake from Yamaguchi and Gifu, as well as a special sweet potato shochu from Kagoshima. The food menu was also affordable, with unique items like "Fried Nikuman" available. Overall, the experience was delightful, and I look forward to visiting again in the future.

Today, I went to a place I don't usually visit. I took the Toden Arakawa Line from Machiya to "Moritaya Sake Shop". First, I had Akahoshi sake. For snacks, I had fried food and spicy miso cucumbers from Minami-Senju's Soul Food. It was a weekday afternoon, so I was the only customer. Thanks to that, I was able to relax in the quiet shop. This shop also has a rental space with a hearth on the second floor.

They seem to be holding angle-cutting events, I want to go someday.

Today is the second bar hopping spot. It's customary to order a three-sake set at times like this, but I feel like I just had a drink earlier...

Truly an adult's secret hideaway! This shop has a selection of carefully chosen drinks and snacks.

I visited Moritaya Saketen. Here, you can rent a room and cook your own food using your favorite ingredients. However, you must purchase alcohol from the liquor store downstairs. The room is equipped with a hearth and has an antique interior. The furniture includes old cupboards and antique furniture, and the walls display antique Imari ware. It's a delightful environment for antique lovers.

The shop I always rely on is MoriTaya Sake Shop, although it is actually called Moritaya Sake Shop. It is located in Minami-Senju, with the closest stop being Arakawa Ward Office on the Toden Arakawa Line, which is about a 10-minute walk away. The Toden Minowa Bridge and Hibiya Line Minowa stations are also nearby. JR Minami-Senju is a bit further away. Even with a map, it can be confusing without local knowledge. ---Overview--- Their main business is a sake shop with a history of 90 years. To enjoy the sake they sell, they have a standing bar on the first floor and a sunken hearth room on the second floor. The shop is a member of the prestigious Nihonshu Meimon Sake Kai, and the owner (3rd or 4th generation) has a wealth of knowledge about Japanese sake. The owner (3rd generation) personally visits the breweries and selects sake and shochu that he approves of. They also have wine, mostly domestic, selected after visiting wineries and ensuring their quality. Popular commercial brands like "×Matsuri" are not available. The interior of the shop, the standing bar, and the sunken hearth room are all beautifully crafted by the owner (3rd generation). I visit the standing bar a few times a month and the sunken hearth room a few times a year. It's a place I don't really want to share with others, but I want people to follow the rules when using it, so I'll record what I understand here. ---Standing Bar--- Located next to the shop on the first floor, it's almost like a standing bar. It can only accommodate about 8 people. You can casually enjoy drinks, with the cheapest being shochu with hot water for 130 yen. The shochu served is authentic, like Rokudai Yuriko or Mugi Jiru. A set of 3 types of sake is 450 yen, and the selection varies, allowing you to enjoy the owner's recommended sake. (In regular bars, this would cost over 1000 yen.) They also offer canned food and dried snacks, as well as simple dishes like the local specialty "nikuman" (not Chinese meat buns). Bringing in food is strictly prohibited. With 1000-1500 yen, you can enjoy yourself enough. ---Sunken Hearth Room (Reservation required/Room fee 2500 yen for 3 hours)--- This room can accommodate up to about 10 people. The room has a hearth handmade by the owner, who provides charcoal for you to enjoy charcoal grilling around the hearth. (There is also a kitchen, and they lend you tableware and glasses.) 【Rules for Enjoying】 * Buy and drink the sake from the shop on the first floor! (You can buy it at the shop's retail price.) * Never bring your own alcohol! (The purpose of the sunken hearth room is to enjoy the sake sold at Moritaya Sake Shop.) * Bring all your own food! Delivery from nearby restaurants is also allowed. Room rental is the basic option. * Do not make a ruckus. Enjoy drinking like an adult, as it is located in a quiet residential area. For more details, check out Moritaya Sake Shop's website. 【Recommended Ways to Enjoy】 * It is recommended to buy food from Joyful Minowa (shopping street) nearby. There are many delicatessens in this nostalgic shopping street. When you explore from one end of the street to the other, you'll find plenty of delicious food. * The Minami-Senju limited local gourmet "nikuman" can be prepared with seasoning if you request it in advance (reservation). There are other options as well, but for about 10 people, if each person spends around 3000-4000 yen, you can buy delicious food and fully enjoy good sake. The time spent in the sunken hearth room is a wonderful space where everyone will be completely satisfied.

- If you have 1,000 yen, you can get really drunk at Senbero. The address is in Minami-Senju, but it's located quite far from the station in the middle of a residential area. It might be closer to Minowa Station or Arakawa Ichichu Station on the Toden Arakawa line, but it's mainly a local spot. Moriitaya Saketen is a liquor store that also offers standing bar service. The entrance to the bar is separate from the liquor store. - The cash register counter and menu are on the right side as you enter. The opposite side is the cash register for the liquor store. It's like the front desk at a public bath. You can order alcohol and snacks here. Even though it's a standing bar, they have a great selection of food. They even serve horse meat dishes. Other canned goods and dried snacks are available on the liquor store side. - Sapporo Lager and Asahi Red Star large bottles are only 350 yen. It's quite cheap, even for a bar where 500 yen is considered affordable. Moriitaya has chairs, which is nice for a standing bar. You can relax and drink at your own pace. - This is the "nikuman." When you hear "nikuman," you might think of the round, white ones from convenience stores during winter. However, in Minami-Senju, it's a different type of food. It's not like an anman or pizza man, but a completely different thing. Most notably, it doesn't contain any meat. It's made by thinly spreading white fish, similar to satsuma-age, coating it with batter, and deep-frying it. Then it's simmered in dashi broth. This is the "nikuman." It has a firm texture, and you might even mistake it for meat. It seems like it has been eaten only in this area for a long time. - Today was a bit early for the scorching heat. This is the perfect place to run in for a drink when you're in the mood. I wish there was a place like this closer to my home. Here is the article being referenced: http://goo.gl/SGHuwo

I have been a customer of Moritaya Saketen for almost 50 years, starting from the previous generation. When I was a child, Moritaya Saketen used to have a standing bar. However, my father always told me to drink in the back seats of the store, saying, "A grown man shouldn't drink at a standing bar. If a man drinks, he should do it in the farthest seat of the store." So, even as an adult, I never drank at a standing bar. At that time, standing bars were mostly frequented by day laborers without much money. The area around Nishiarai was close to Yamaya and had many small local factories, which is why standing bars were common. Over time, standing bars evolved into what is now known as "kakoudachi." Moritaya Saketen also transformed under the new young owner and proprietress, with the standing bar becoming a more sophisticated establishment with tables and counters, offering delicious sake. I always buy sake from Moritaya Saketen for drinking at home. Even though nearby stores like LIFE and Ito-Yokado (currently under renovation) sell sake at lower prices, I always choose Moritaya Saketen. Therefore, there was not much reason for me to drink at a standing bar, as I could simply buy the sake and drink it at home. However, the atmosphere of the standing bar always made me want to drink there. Every time I bought sake from Moritaya Saketen, I found myself thinking, "I want to drink at the standing bar." And then, they started serving "nikuman" as a snack! "Nikuman" is a local specialty in Nishiarai, made by placing ground fish paste on a rice cracker and deep-frying it in oil. During my childhood, Nishiarai had more candy stores than convenience stores. These stores sold oden in winter (some even served miso oden in summer) and included "nikuman" as part of the menu. I immediately contacted my childhood friends and we went to Moritaya Saketen to drink sake with nikuman. To be honest, I underestimated Moritaya Saketen. Not only do they offer reasonably priced sake, but they also serve high-quality sake. The cold sake is served at the perfect temperature, and the warm sake is also served at the ideal temperature. This level of expertise can only be found in a sake specialty store. Moreover, the atmosphere is fantastic. I arrived at the store about 30 minutes before my childhood friends, and I ended up chatting with other customers and the young owner. Since everyone there loves sake, the conversation never stopped (laughs). The nikuman tasted just like it did in my childhood. I prefer it when the color is darker and the flavor is more infused, but this was still delicious. I might end up drinking here instead of at home. On my way back, I had the chashu ramen from Koushuuya. I have been a customer of Koushuuya for almost 50 years as well, and when I was a child, I loved their curry udon and omurice. The udon here is soft and perfect for children. As an adult, I now love their chashu ramen! The harmony of chicken and Japanese-style broth is exquisite. I will write a review about this place soon.

Among the many liquor stores, my top three favorites have a knowledgeable owner who is well-versed in both sake and shochu. Talking to him makes me want to try different drinks. They offer tastings, and there is a cozy standing bar next door that I really like. They have a few types of shochu, which seem to be the same at most places. Even though it's a standing bar, the prices are very reasonable. The atmosphere is like a small, intimate shack. The walls are decorated with photos of Yoshida Rui and a female doctor who is also a TV personality.

A 10-minute walk from Arakawa Ward Office brings you to a quaint sake shop called Sakurin with a nostalgic facade from the late 1970s. Upon entering the shop on the right, you'll find a well-stocked selection of Japanese sake, as the shop is a member of the prestigious Nihon Meimon Sakagura. When I expressed my desire to have a drink, the proprietress kindly turned on the lights in the adjacent standing bar and guided me there. I enjoyed a glass of Ebisu beer and a small cup of sake in the cozy 2-tatami mat standing bar, where I engaged in lively sake shop anecdotes with the friendly proprietress. The husband, who had just returned from a delivery, joined us and we ended up chatting for over 30 minutes over a can of beer. The delightful couple made me feel right at home, and I left with a warm heart. I apologize for overstaying with just one can of beer. According to the husband, if you make a reservation for about 10 people, they can rent out the second-floor room where you can use fire and bring your own snacks for a party.

I watched the beloved show "Sakaba Horoki" and really wanted to visit the place, so I joined a standing bar tour organized by My Reviewer. I'm not sure about the exact location since I took a taxi from Minami-Senju Station, but the nearest station is Arakawa-Kuyakusho-Mae on the Toden line, which is about a 7-8 minute walk away. The shop is located in a residential area. On the right side, there is a retail liquor store, and on the left side, there is a separate door leading to the standing bar space. The space is about the size of three tatami mats. As you enter, there are seats along the wall on the left side in a U-shape. There is a small window on the right side connecting to the liquor store, where you can borrow glasses and such. I arrived late, so I first bought a canned beer for 220 yen at the liquor store and then entered the standing bar space. The party had already started with corned beef for 260 yen, sausages for 230 yen, and canned mackerel miso stew for 120 yen! Everyone seemed to have already had a drink or two and was in high spirits. This is not good! Let's quickly pour some beer and raise the mood! When you look up at the ceiling, you'll see a bicycle hanging for some reason, and there are also many books placed around. As others mentioned, the slightly messy atmosphere gives off a feeling of an adult secret base. According to My Reviewer, the corned beef is usually served as is, but they kindly provided mayonnaise upon request. Also, it seems that you can bring your own snacks on the first floor. Bringing your own snacks is free, so it's nice to bring a little souvenir. This standing bar also has a private room on the second floor with a homemade hearth by the owner, where you can bring your own food. The usage fee is 1,000 yen for three hours, and if you use the hearth, charcoal costs 1,000 yen. They also lend out tableware, but you must wash and return it after use. I would love to have a party on the second floor someday! After the beer, I ordered a bottle of Kinmiya (600ml) for 524 yen and each person chose their favorite mixer. I, of course, got a 2-liter bottle of oolong tea for 220 yen and also bought a bag of ice for 230 yen! Even though it's not a bottle, Kinmiya offers shots for 90 yen for a single and 180 yen for a double. Additionally, the price for a shot of Hoppy is 130 yen. Ice for shot drinks is sold separately at 30 yen per cup. Since there were no other customers, I got so engrossed in the enjoyable conversation that the bottle emptied in no time (^^; The restroom is borrowed from the owner's home, but it was very clean and even had a small heater. It was a cold day, so this was much appreciated! It may be difficult to visit this place due to its location, but next time, I definitely want to have a party with the hearth (^^)

【Arakawa DEEP Kakuuchi Tour②】Unthinkable behavior in a Kakuuchi... The forbidden Theta Kakuuchi Tour's second stop. From Yodoya Saketen in a rough area, we headed to a liquor store near Arakawa Technical High School. ■Moritaya Saketen At first glance, it looks like a regular liquor store, but there is an entrance on the left side... When you open the sliding door, you will find a fascinating Kakuuchi space♪ In a small space of about 2 tatami mats, there is a counter for Kakuuchi, where you can comfortably sit. There was a sign saying "Kikkomiya Shochu Hoppy Set for 250 yen," and when I ordered, I was asked if I wanted ice or not. The Hoppy Set without ice is surprisingly cheap at 230 yen, with a 20 yen discount. Cheers♪ Hmm, without ice, it doesn't get diluted, but it tastes like beer and is delicious. Now, let's go to the liquor store to look for some snacks. In the showcase, there are canned beers, canned chu-hi, and sake like a regular liquor store. They seem to be a member of a prestigious sake association, as there is a wide variety of sake lined up. Near the register, there are rows of canned foods, and I bought Nozaki's corned beef, mackerel miso stew, and Vienna sausages. Let's return to the Kakuuchi space. There are many books related to alcohol, such as Kakuuchi books and Ohta Kazuhiko's izakaya book, "Sakaba Horoki." Oh, I heard that Moritaya was featured in a recent episode of "Sakaba Horoki" (the second-floor irori section). "It was 524 yen, so I bought a bottle of Kinmiya!" said Kamehame-san. He also bought 2 liters of oolong tea for on the rocks... It turned into a full-fledged drinking party, which is unthinkable in Kakuuchi (laughs). With everyone gathered, let's cheers with 5 people♪ Alright, let's drink up!

Homemade Hideaway - Moritaya Sake Store in Arakawa (Arakawa-ichichu-mae tram stop on the Toden Arakawa Line). Today is the fun monthly sake tasting tour day. This time, the theme is around Minami-Senju, Minowa, and Mikawashima, and a total of 5 food bloggers visited Moritaya Sake Store near Arakawa Technical High School in Arakawa Ward. The store has a liquor store on the right side and a hidden cozy sake tasting space handmade by the owner on the left side. There is a large table in the middle of a room about 4.5 tatami mats in size, with seating along the walls. It's a secret base for adults where about 8 people can enjoy sitting together (laughs). Although we couldn't visit this time, there are rooms on the second floor that can be rented for one group for 1,000 yen, and it's okay to bring your own food. First, we ordered Hoppy (Soto) @130 yen for 4 bottles, Kinmiya Naka @90 yen for 4 cups, and ice @30 yen for 1 cup. For snacks, we had corned beef @260 yen, sausages @230 yen, and canned mackerel @120 yen. There are bicycles hanging from the ceiling and shelves filled with books about drinking establishments. Spending a relaxing afternoon alone here on a holiday is also nice. Everyone was so relaxed that we ended up ordering more (laughs). We ordered Kinmiya (600ml) @524 yen, Oolong tea (2l) @220 yen, and ice (one bag) @230 yen. The ice comes in a large bag, about 3 cups' worth in an ice bucket. Oh, the Kinmiya disappeared in no time (laughs). Well then, let's move on to the next store. If you like, please click to support m(__)m. Click here for store information (address, phone number, map, etc.): ==========