Today's drinking party: After work, I decided to have a solo drink. I planned to have a drink at the former Minsei Shokudo "Shimosoya Shokudo" in Ryogoku, but it was closed. So, I searched for a place on Tabelog where I could easily have a drink, and I found a standing bar nearby! I went to this place instead. I ordered potato fries (300 yen, but it came with a bottle of beer for 850 yen). The staff told me, "It doesn't have any flavor, so you can eat it with rock salt or ketchup," and when I took a bite, indeed it had no flavor. I sprinkled rock salt and dipped it in ketchup. It was crispy and delicious. I had one bottle of Sapporo Black Label beer (600 yen) and two chu-hi (400 yen each). I paid in cash. There was one other customer besides me, but the staff and regulars were friendly and talked to me. It was a fun and lively atmosphere. Thank you for the meal.

Today, I went to "Sushi Hojo" in Ryogoku! I arrived a little early, so I decided to have a quick drink at the standing bar "TOKYO Tachinomi Club". This place operates on a cash-on system, so you put money in to start. I started with a lemon highball. For snacks, I had fish sausage stir-fry and white fish fry. I also ordered a black Hoppy. The Hoppy here comes with the equivalent of two shots of shochu, so once you finish one, they refill it for you. After finishing my drinks here, I headed to the sushi restaurant.

After leaving Kameido Gyoza, we headed to the next restaurant, Gyoza Kaikan Bandaisan. Unfortunately, it was closed for renovations when we arrived. What a shame! So we decided to check out the neighboring restaurant that caught our attention, Tokyo Tachinomi Club. The name is nice, isn't it? The mama-san at the restaurant was very friendly and made us feel at ease. We ordered a set of ham cutlet and potato karaage, along with the mama-san's recommended strong highball. It was great! The bill was easy to understand with a cash-on system. We had a lot of fun chatting with the regular customers at the bar. I would love to visit again when I'm in the Ryogoku area. Thank you for the meal!

It had been a long time since I last visited the Ryogoku Kokugikan. I decided to go there again and was looking for a place to eat before an event. I stumbled upon TOKYO Tachinomi Kurabu, which was open for business. We entered and were greeted by the kind elderly owner who apologized for not noticing us earlier. He offered us a Kirin beer and served us a delicious simmered dish and a complimentary tuna dish to celebrate his son, who is a sumo wrestler, achieving a winning record in the last tournament. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. We also tried the recommended yakisoba, which was lightly flavored but had a good depth and aroma. Overall, it was a wonderful experience at this cozy standing bar. The owner's kindness made the visit even more enjoyable. I will definitely come back again. Thank you for the great meal!

After enjoying chanko, we walked around Ryogoku feeling the local atmosphere. The cold wind was somehow pleasant, as we sipped on sake and enjoyed warm dishes. It's a unique winter pleasure for drinkers to feel the cold air while enjoying their drinks. The casual conversations and warm interactions with the staff and other customers added to the cozy atmosphere. The recommended restaurant is "TOKYO Tachinomi Club," a popular spot with a local vibe and wallet-friendly prices. We ordered hot sake and highball, and received a complimentary chicken giblet stew, which paired perfectly with the drinks. The simple yet warm ambiance of the place exudes the warmth of the local community. Lastly, drinking on the hot dohyo of the Sumo Ring Alley under the winter sky was a special experience. I look forward to visiting again in the spring for a different kind of enjoyment. "TOKYO Tachinomi Club" in Ryogoku is a wonderful place to visit.

In October 2018, in Ryogoku, Tokyo, the great sumo wrestler "Takanohana" of the Showa era left the sumo world. It's a bit disappointing. Anyway, the second stop at Ryogoku Station is at "Tokyo Tachinomi Club" in the Yokoami Alley in front of the East Exit, where the vinyl walls stand out. I sat at the counter and ordered a highball for ¥400. Drinks are generally priced at ¥400 per glass or more, which is a bit expensive. For snacks, I ordered a Wiener for ¥400. Well, it's a classic choice. There were salarymen behind me. I wonder if there are few intimidating seniors in the bars in Ryogoku? They scolded me, saying, "You should have manners in the bar." If Takanohana, Kitanojo, and Chiyonofuji had lived a little longer and shone their eyes as senior wrestlers in the ring, things might have been different. (Well, they probably would have retired anyway.) It's a bit sad about the yokozuna. ===========

Today, I had a drinking party while enjoying lamb meat in Ryogoku. On the way to the venue, I ran into my foodie friend who is joining today. Since we had some time, we decided to have a practice drink before the party. We paid at the table as it was cash on delivery, and the bill was collected at the same time as the drinks were served. Even though it was just a practice, I ended up drinking a bit too much. As the time for the party approached, we left the restaurant. It was delicious. Used at the pre-party on March 12, 2016.

January 7, 2020 - Revisited It's been a while since my last visit. I had a draft beer for 400 yen and potato salad for 400 yen. The potato salad is still delicious. September 20, 2017 - First Visit I came here for a pre-drinking session with friends before our drinking party. I arrived early, so I waited outside the Kokugikan (sumo stadium) and saw some sumo wrestlers, including Kisenosato. I enjoyed a drink here and watched sumo matches on TV. I arrived at 5:40 pm and there were no other customers. I sat at the counter closest to the TV where I could see the sumo matches. I ordered a draft beer for 350 yen. I also had a refill and potato salad. The potato salad with black pepper went well with the beer. I left satisfied and full. Thank you for the meal.

I found a nice standing bar while exploring near Yokozuna Yokocho before the gathering time for the congratulatory party in both countries. The master welcomed me with a smile and guided me to a standing seat. I was a bit surprised when he asked if I was alone. I ordered a cold beer, which was delicious. The atmosphere was friendly, and the total bill for two beers was 800 yen. The master even said, "Come again!" with a lovely smile as I left. I will definitely visit again.

As I was walking down the street, I was immediately drawn in by this red lantern. It must be a spirited drinking establishment, I thought. Upon entering and taking a sip of my chu-hi, my initial thoughts faded away. The atmosphere inside had a deep, sumo wrestling arena-like feel, with an analog stove providing warmth. It seemed like the essence of Ryogoku, a neighborhood I rarely visit, had seeped into this bar. The menu offered reasonably priced, working-class snacks like white fish fry. This bar was one where you could enjoy a shallow drink or savor it deeply. The owner had a friendly yet reserved demeanor, and would chat with you a little if you stayed long enough. By the way, it's pronounced "Ritton Club," not "Tachinomiya."

The town of Ryogoku is famous for sumo, but that's not its only charm. Surprisingly, there are many affordable izakayas and chain restaurants in this area. I had a meeting with a senior colleague in Ryogoku after work, and we decided to go drinking together. Being a Tokyo native, I was embarrassed to admit that I had never gone drinking in Ryogoku before and didn't know much about the area. So, I followed my senior colleague to a bar in the area. This place was a standing bar called "Tokyo Tachinomi Club." Despite the somewhat trendy name, the atmosphere was quite calm, with a slightly older clientele. The food menu consisted of standard izakaya dishes, mainly fried foods, with prices ranging from 200 to 400 yen. We ordered potato salad and ham cutlet, both of which were delicious. We also received a complimentary fried rice cake, which was tasty with its sweet and savory soy sauce flavor. We had the Hoppy set with an option for a refill of shochu for 600 yen, which was reasonable. The option to reserve a refill of shochu in advance was unusual but appreciated. Other popular drink choices included sake and shochu, with Hakkaisan available as well. Overall, it was a good establishment with a pleasant atmosphere, no rowdy behavior, and a lovely female owner. Standing bars like this, where older individuals can casually drop by alone, are usually a safe bet. This place fit that description well. (The total bill for one person was around 900 yen.)

After New Torimasa, we decided to have a few more drinks and found this place before going to New Torimasa. It's a shop that looks like a vinyl house. We ordered sake at room temperature for now. It was Hakkaisan, I think. It was cheap, around ¥450. As you may have noticed, my memory is already fuzzy from drinking too much. So, this review might be a bit vague. I also ordered curry-flavored persimmon seeds. As a complimentary dish or service, we were served simmered daikon radish. Even though we couldn't see the meat, the taste of beef tendon was strong, and when I mentioned it, the mama-san, who seemed to have run a snack bar in the past, happily said, "You understand? You understand? You can taste the beef tendon, right?!" and proudly reported it to her husband, who seemed to have moved from being a customer to a husband. There was a sign saying, "For real estate matters, ask the master." Despite being a somewhat suspicious place, they had a cash-on-delivery system for clear accounting. It was a standing bar with a mysterious charm. Also, as a reminder, they had several curry-based snacks on the menu.

At the east exit of Ryogoku Station, a little ways into Yokozuna Yokocho, there's a red lantern with "standing bar" written on it. This is the rumored Tokyo Standing Bar Club. The cozy and warm atmosphere makes it easy to stop by for a quick drink.--- Putting a thousand yen bill in a tray, I wonder what I should drink today... ◆Hoppy (Naka Naka): 500 yen A set of two Naka drinks. After a quick sip, a refill of shochu. Despite being a cash-on standing bar, appetizers are served. ◆Fried mochi: Service Crispy coating with soft mochi inside. The slight soy sauce flavor is exquisite. Delicious. ◆Daikon radish: Service Huh, this is also a service? The half-moon daikon radish soaked in broth is tasty. ◆Chikuwa cucumber: 150 yen A bite-sized chikuwa cucumber with wasabi on top. Tuck the remaining 350 yen in your pocket and say "Gosson!" For 650 yen, two drinks and three dishes. This is the rumored Tokyo Standing Bar Club.--- Another drink before heading home today. ◆Draft beer: 300 yen It's barley and hops, but it's delicious. This time, in addition to daikon radish and fried mochi, there's also complimentary yakisoba. The service is too good. ◆Hiyayakko (chilled tofu): 150 yen Sprinkle bonito flakes, green onions, grated ginger, and soy sauce on top. Four dishes and a draft beer for 450 yen! This is the rumored Tokyo Standing Bar Club.--- It's chilly outside, so a hot sake is perfect. ◆Sake: 300 yen Hot sake is also good at a standing bar. ◆Pickled vegetables: 150 yen Sour pickled Chinese cabbage. Add soy sauce and shichimi pepper for the best appetizer! There were no complimentary snacks this day because there were two women having a good time. Well, that's life. This is the rumored Tokyo Standing Bar Club.--- ◆Highball: 300 yen Served in a glass with Uncle Tris on it. A light highball that's not too weak or too strong. A casual drink. Once again, fried mochi and daikon are served. How nice. ◆Deep-fried horse mackerel: 150 yen Crispy fried horse mackerel with sauce and shredded cabbage. I can't help but stop by. This is the rumored Tokyo Standing Bar Club.--- After drinking, I stopped by again. ◆Chu-hi: 300 yen A solid chu-hi in a medium-sized glass. The usual daikon and fried mochi are served. ◆Takoyaki (fried): 200 yen Four round fried takoyaki balls. Shredded cabbage on the side. This day, in addition to daikon and fried mochi, napoletana pasta was served. Oh, I've already had a lot to drink today... My stomach is full. (^^ゞ However, this napoletana pasta is... delicious! This is the rumored Tokyo Standing Bar Club.

A standing bar near Ryōkoku Station. I walked in and ordered a 1-liter Sumo wrestler jug of citric acid sour for 500 yen. For snacks, I got potato salad for 300 yen and sautéed fish sausage for 200 yen. The most expensive snack on the menu was 300 yen. The Sumo wrestler jug arrived. It's huge! It takes some effort to drink (laughs). It's great. This kind of experience. The potato salad came with sauce. It's nice to have sauce. And the sautéed fish sausage also arrived. I paid 1000 yen on the spot. I drank, snacked, and was satisfied for 1000 yen. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I was tired of the crowds in Akihabara, so I came to Ryogoku for dinner. The first place I stopped by was this standing bar located in Yokozuna Yokocho. I visited around 8 PM on a Saturday and it was about 40% full. I had a draft beer (300 yen), sautéed fish sausage (200 yen), Yokozuna jug of citric acid sour (500 yen) x2, and chilled tofu (150 yen). You pay for your order when you receive the food. It felt like it had been a while since I had fish sausage at a restaurant, maybe since Sakurazushi. It didn't come with any flavoring, so I added some salt that was on the table. It would have been even better with mayonnaise like at Sakurazushi. The chilled tofu was delicious when drizzled with ponzu sauce. The Yokozuna jug is 1 liter and costs 150-200 yen more than a regular sour. It's great value but honestly quite heavy. After two jugs, my hand muscles were a bit shaky. Truly fitting for a Yokozuna. The restaurant had a TV playing World Cup programs at the time, I wonder if they show sumo matches when there are tournaments happening? It's intriguing.

Today, I am in Ryogoku on the Sobu Line. When you think of Ryogoku, you think of the Sumo Arena, but it is actually the starting station for trains heading towards the Boso Peninsula, with a platform like the one used by the Hokuto Star from Ueno. If you exit from the east side of the arena instead of the west side, you will find Yokozuna Yokocho on the south side. There are famous street vendors for freshly boiled soba and tempura. Past these, you will find a standing bar that looks very inviting. It is called "Tokyo Standing Bar Club," which is pronounced as "Ritton Club." The interior has a counter and standing tables with a capacity of about 20 people. I ordered a Hoppy drink with an extra refill and pickled vegetables to start. As I enjoyed my drink, more people who had just finished work started to come in. I couldn't resist ordering some fried takoyaki and a tamagoyaki with two yolks to accompany my drinks. In the end, the bill came to a reasonable 1,100 yen for a true local standing bar experience. I have included a photo of the menu for reference.

The standing bar in both countries has changed so much that it was once run by a comedian who wasn't selling well at the time, but it was so much fun! The food wasn't that great, but for some reason, the atmosphere was unique. It was dangerous, to say the least. Currently, it seems to have relocated to a place called Sakurabashi Next Station Sakaba Trivian in Asakusabashi.