Oasis Katsuragawa in the city always delivers a delightful appetizer, and today the pumpkin salad on the far right was particularly amazing. When I imagined a taste of Japan, I took a bite and found bacon and nuts. Surprising! Of course, it pairs well with sake. When you open the door on the first floor, it's hot and humid, but inside (basement floor), it's cool, so no need to worry.

There is a wonderful bar in the underground where you can drink just with the appetizers they serve. When going down the stairs, it's a bit nerve-wracking because you can't imagine the inside of the shop from the entrance, but it's okay. The tough-looking master may make you nervous at first, but once you start nibbling on the appetizers served, you'll feel more relaxed than at home. While sitting at the table and enjoying the duck hot pot (which is also delicious), it's recommended to sit at the counter alone and enjoy your drink. While nibbling on the appetizers, you might start thinking about what to order next, maybe some grilled dishes? And what kind of alcohol would go well with that? Such fantasies are very enjoyable. If you're unsure, you can always ask the mama for advice. It's strange that it feels natural to call the female owner "mama" but not the master "papa."

In front of the Kagurazaka exit at Iidabashi Station. This shop is located under the stairs leading underground, along the railway tracks when viewed from the street. I had been curious about this place as I often passed by, sensing a lovely aroma. So, last week, I finally decided to check it out. The name of the shop, "Kaigawa," gave me the impression of an elegant Kyoto-style small restaurant quietly tucked away underground along the railway tracks. However, when I entered around 8 pm, the place was empty, and the dimly lit atmosphere, along with the unexpected enka background music, made me feel like, "Oh, there are customers." I honestly thought, "This is not right." So, I felt a bit uncomfortable and decided to leave after trying a small dish and a salad, enjoying a few drinks. The food and drinks were reasonably priced and tasty, especially the appetizers and the sweet shrimp sashimi were fresh and delicious. However, the overall dark and enka-playing ambiance was not to my liking. The total bill for two people did not exceed ¥5,000, so the cost-performance ratio is good. This place might be suitable for adult office workers who dislike the noisy atmosphere of chain izakayas and prefer drinking sake while listening to enka music.

Located right in front of the west exit of Iidabashi Station in June 2012, this small izakaya is situated next to Megane Super. The entrance to the restaurant is downstairs, so you need to go down the stairs where the sign is displayed to reach the restaurant. The interior has a cozy atmosphere with counter seats and table seats, run by a husband and wife duo. The dishes are neatly presented and have a homey feel to them. We ordered dishes like cold tofu, whitebait with grated daikon, edamame, and assorted tempura. Although we only had a light meal, everything was delicious. In particular, the whitebait with grated daikon was flavorful with large whitebait pieces. The tempura was light and crispy. We also enjoyed a draft beer and cold sake. It's worth noting that the food menu is written on traditional Japanese paper with brush font, while the drink menu is colorful and lively. Despite being very close to Iidabashi Station, the entrance near Kagurazaka may cause this restaurant to be easily overlooked. The proximity to the station allows for a last-minute drink, which is convenient!

I had always wanted to go but never had the chance until now. As I got off and approached the restaurant, I found it to be more spacious than I had imagined, with a counter and table seats. From the name of the restaurant, the sign, and the menu, I had imagined a woman in a kimono running the place, but it turned out to be a casual eatery run by a lively couple, offering affordable small dishes. While I tend to use different terms like small eatery, traditional Japanese restaurant, snack bar, etc., this place is a mix of all those. The conversations with the owners were enjoyable, and the quality of the food was consistently good, making it more of a small eatery. I enjoyed some Dewazakura sake and decided to try the shrimp tempura, which was delicious. It's the perfect season for enjoying drinks and sports, and the cool air coming in through the open window added to the pleasant atmosphere. It must get stuffy in the summer, so it's good that they keep the windows open. The sashimi was also decent. It's nice to have such a place right in front of the station.