Leaving Maingu, this time I headed towards Deitos. There are bars and places to eat ramen and rice here, making it a nice place to visit. Instead of going to those places, I decided to visit this corner of a souvenir shop. It was quite small, with space for standing and drinking. There were no other customers, probably because it was lunchtime and people were at other restaurants. I confirmed with the staff that I could stand and drink there, and they said it was okay. I settled in, received the menu, and saw an explanation about "hanafuda" cards. You order and receive hanafuda cards, and the total cost is calculated based on the number of cards used. I ordered the Iroha Ni Masu set, which allows you to enjoy four types of sake, and the kibinago dried fish for a total of 1320 yen, which is four hanafuda cards. The Iroha Ni Masu set changes depending on the season. The sake was all unfamiliar to me, with some being light and refreshing, while others were heavier. I learned about the depth of sake once again. The kibinago went well with the sake and was delicious. I asked the staff about "Mitsui no Kotobuki," the sake I'm most interested in in Fukuoka, but it seems to be popular due to the influence of Slam Dunk, and they didn't have it in stock. I enjoyed Fukuoka sake, and I thought it was a great place. I felt a bit sorry for not buying any sake after eating and drinking there. I'll make sure to do so next time! Thank you for the meal.

Enjoying a casual standing drink at Hakata Station is a delightful pleasure. The variety of alcohol and snacks available is wonderful. Comparing and tasting four different types of sake can be intoxicating. And the snacks from a lovely shop in Kyushu are so exciting. It's dangerous because once you get hooked, it feels endless. Haha. I usually end up buying some alcohol to drink at home afterwards.

The photo is from the main store (near Sumiyoshi Shrine). With a carefully curated selection and knowledgeable staff, if you're looking for a place to choose sake in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Sumiyoshi Sakahan Hakata Main Store is highly recommended. Just browsing through their lineup is enjoyable. If you're into choosing Japanese sake, be sure to visit them. However, while the store at Hakata Station offers the advantage of being able to sample sake on the spot, the variety of sake is limited. If you have the time, definitely visit the main store in Sumiyoshi!

"Alicia's Food Log: I often go to Sumiyoshi Sakahan's main store to buy sake. They have a variety of rare sake, and it's a store that I love. I often use Hakata Station, but this standing bar is my first time here. I enjoy watching the rare sake that I usually buy selling out from the showcase while drinking. You can either buy tickets to drink or order dishes one by one. Today, I have a drinking party later, so I only had a little. Still, with the 4 types of sake tasting, I was able to enjoy a lot of delicious sake! It's the best."

I visited the Kyushu Sake Brewery Opening event held every spring at Hakata Station in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. It had been a while since I attended a sake event at JR Hakata Station, so I arrived early, thinking it would start in the afternoon, only to find out it was scheduled to begin at 3 pm. So, I decided to have lunch first - a stone bibimbap to fill my stomach and pass the time. Then, I headed to the event venue and tried my luck with the traditional Hanafuda card game, where if you match the daily winning card, you get a free drink. I never win, so I mostly ignore it and move on. While browsing the menu, I came across something interesting - a "Sansho Highball." I had never tried it before, so I decided to give it a shot. The Sansho Highball cost two Hanafuda cards (one card for 300 yen each). When I took a sip, the aroma of sansho (Japanese pepper) spread gently. It is a cocktail made with gin, also known as a spirit, and mixed with carbonated water, making it easy to drink and refreshing. The sansho flavor was just right, not too overpowering, and paired well with flavorful dishes, even with chicken skin. After enjoying the drink, I decided to head to the station square on the Chikushi side for a change of scenery. As expected, the place was bustling with people, reminiscent of the pre-COVID atmosphere. I also had the opportunity to try some sake from Wakanami and Takakiya at the event. Since the event started a bit late at 3 pm, I decided to head home early. Although my visit was short, I had a good time in Fukuoka, and I look forward to visiting again. On my way back, I stopped by JR Kokura Station for my usual quick udon meal before heading home. Can't wait to visit Fukuoka again!

I wanted to try out the "Kakuchi" at Sumiyoshi Shuhan! I was able to enter at the right timing! The system here is that each person is given 10 cards of "Hanafuda" and the total amount of cards used determines the bill (laughs). If there is a winning card among the 10 cards given, you get a free drink. There were three of us, so we had 30 cards. Oh! There it is!!! Something we drank was supposed to be free (laughs). And finally, the drink comparison I wanted to try. First, we had "Mori no Kura" Spring Junmai Sake, then "Shichita Junmai Shichiwari Migi Maki Haru Hikari", and "Hana no Tsuyu Special Junmai". We were told to drink them in that order and to make sure not to drink too fast. Got it! They were all delicious! Among them, the one I liked the most, I bought it. We also tried the Tachibana Doburoku Sour. For food, we had chicken skin with ponzu sauce and shiitake mushroom pate, both were delicious! It was a satisfying experience at the Kakuchi! Enjoyed some casual conversations with strangers, it was really a fun time. Delicious meal, thank you very much!

I planned to wander around a bit before my flight back to Tokyo at 4:25 pm, but I ended up running late and the lunch drinking spot I wanted was full. I relied on a friend's recommendation and went to a liquor store in Hakata Station building. It's a bit early to be drinking cold sake and room temperature sake, but it's a nice and tidy standing bar where I could kill time before my flight. I enjoyed it. #Fukuoka #Hakata Station #Sumiyoshi Sakahan #Hakata Station Store #Standing bar #Standing drinking #Sumiyoshi IPA #Toichi #Rokusoyushu #Hananotsuyu #Mita

This shop opens from 8 am, making it a great spot for travelers who love sake. They not only sell sake, but also offer the option to drink on the premises and have delicious snacks. The recommended dish is sesame mackerel. They also have a tasting set of 4 different Kyushu local sakes, perfect for those who want to try a variety in small amounts. The "Irohani" masu cups are interesting, as they are labeled with the alphabet and correspond to the order of the sake, making it easy to know which one you are drinking. The shop quickly fills up, so it's best to go before it gets too busy, around 10 am.

On Sunday at 5:30 pm, I entered a standing bar with 4 customers already there. Since I was ordering a single item, I managed to squeeze in at the edge. Sake with ribbons can be drunk at the standing bar. I ordered the Tōichi Shizuku-squeezed sake without hesitation! It was delicious and easy to drink. I wanted to buy a bottle to take home, but it's 5,600 yen... Maybe next time. There were a few more types of sake I wanted to try, but I had to leave for my next appointment. Thank you for the meal!

There is a drinking space at the back of the store, which can accommodate about 5 people. When I visited the store, there were 3 seats available, so I was able to enter. It's quite small, and you may end up being physically close to the customers next to you. It got full pretty quickly. I usually check if it's empty when passing by, but it's usually full, so it's quite competitive. We paid with flower cards and ordered different types of sake to try, while nibbling on some karasumi. Since it's a standing bar, you can leave the store before getting too drunk, so it's safe. The customers next to us were very high-spirited that day, so it was a bit uncomfortable, and we left early.

If you're looking for a place to enjoy sake in Hakata Station, then head to Sumiyoshi Sakahan. You can casually enjoy sake here. At first, try the beer, recommended by Hideji-san. It seems that Hideji-san is respected for drinking beer from Nobeoka in Hakata. Then, try the specialty Irohani masu sake set. It had a good amount of chilled sake. The unique bitterness of chilled sake lingers on the tongue, complemented by the sweet and delicious Maruten sake. The salt from Saga and the vinegar-dressed dried kibinago were also great accompaniments. Next to us were two beautiful women from Kanto. It seems they are interested in Kyushu cuisine, as they asked about what we were eating. After chatting a bit, I found out that one of them has roots in Totoro. It's amazing how food brings people together. It's great to be a foodie. Thank you for the meal!

I visited after a long time. I had Miyazaki Hideji Beer IPA (660 yen for 2 glasses) and OSUZU Gin Tonic (660 yen for 2 glasses). The IPA had a nice bitterness that I really enjoyed. The Gin Tonic was very fruity and delicious. I also enjoyed the new Satsuma bonito as a snack. It was close to closing time, so I quickly drank everything, but next time I want to relax and enjoy a leisurely time at Irohani Masu.

Title as it is, when you come here, you feel like you've come to Fukuoka! Perfect for studying Kyushu's sake. Here are some notes. Mitsui no Kotobuki Junmai Ginjo Junmai Ginjo, but the aroma is closed. It has a light alcohol scent, while feeling refreshing and clean. Bitterness and light acidity spread more than sweetness. It's a serious Junmai Ginjo. It's best to enjoy its features when the temperature doesn't get too high. Nanatsuda Junmai Ginjo The aroma is not fancy from the start, but as the temperature rises, a scent like green melon spreads. It's not tropical. The taste is fancy. When it reaches room temperature, the sweetness stands out. However, there is also a tightening bitterness that doesn't flatter. Through the marriage, I realized that it's better not to have Junmai Ginjo with smoked cheese.

I decided to try a place in Hakata where you can enjoy sake and send it as a gift. The shop recommended KITAJIMA, so I sent two bottles to Tokyo. I also tried Tanaka Rokugo, which is popular in the area. Japanese sake never disappoints, it's always good.

I stopped by this shop during my trip to Hakata and found a standing bar at the back. The staff asked me what kind of sake I would like, so I tried a slightly sweet one. They explained it well and I enjoyed it. I wanted to try some local Kyushu sake, so I was very satisfied.

I visited Kyushu for a trip, and the last place I went to was located outside Hakata Station on Horoyoi Street. Instead of coins, they use a system where you pay with a Hanafuda card worth 330 yen. I tried the Gochisou Irohani masu, which included five different types of sake: Yamaguchi Shuzojo Kokoro, Takahashi Shoten Hanmasu Hako Irimusume, Itoshima Shuzo 5013 Tachibana, and sake from Sumiyoshi Sakahan. All the sake was delicious, but the 5013 Tachibana from Itoshima Shuzo had a great aroma and the sweetness of the rice really stood out. I also had karasumi as a side dish. It's a great place to visit before catching the Shinkansen.

Fukuoka City, Hakata-ku, Hakata Station Chuo Street, Sumiyoshi Sake (Sumiyoshi Shuhan) Hakata Station store. Located on the 1st floor of JR Hakata Station Hakata Deitos, inside the souvenir market on the Chikushi side. A store specializing in "delicious Kyushu sake and food", with all products inside sourced from Kyushu. The sake, food, and dishes served at the standing bar corner are all available for purchase. Experience Kyushu's sake culture while enjoying yourself, with a variety of recommended items for souvenirs or gifts. Business hours are from 8:00 to 21:00. Standing bar until 20:00 (last order). (HP) https://sumiyoshi-sake.jp/ I went out to Hakata to have a meal and visited the Sumiyoshi Sake store at the station after a long time. It was open, and the standing bar was still operational. I looked around the store and since there was no one around, I headed to the standing bar corner at the back. There were chairs that protruded enough to lean against behind the counter. Everything seemed the same, but acrylic partitions were set up between the seats for social distancing. The theme of Hakata Sumiyoshi Sake store is "Laughing life with sake", as written on the standing bar menu in front of me. This store is specialized in Kyushu sake and food, offering a selection of sake from Kyushu. They also have original sake developed in collaboration with breweries. The menu for side dishes was labeled "Good food, good drink". The familiar Hanafuda cards were placed in front of me. Here's how it works: One Hanafuda card costs 330 yen (tax included) and you will be given ten cards. You can order your preferred items using the cards. The final settlement will be based on the number of cards you used. The famous Irohani Masu costs three Hanafuda cards, a glass of sake costs two Hanafuda cards, and non-alcoholic drinks like cold-brewed green tea cost one Hanafuda card. Most of the single drink menu items cost two Hanafuda cards, priced at 660 yen per drink. Sake that can be served at the standing bar is marked on the bottles. Today, I tried the following two drinks: - Hanataka Oita Mitsui Junmai Ginjo ... two Hanafuda cards (660 yen) Brewed by Hamajima Shuzo in Oita. This is a Junmai Ginjo sake from the fifth generation of Takaraiya. It has a sweet and elegant aroma reminiscent of passion fruit. The taste is light and elegant with a pleasant sweetness. It tastes delicious from the first sip. It is a sake that tastes better when served chilled. Alcohol content is 15.8%. Rice and rice polishing ratio: Yamada Nishiki, self-cultivated, polished to 50%. Mitsui, self-cultivated, polished to 55%. Sake meter value: +2. Acidity: 1.4. Yeast used: Association No. 1801. - Niwa no Uguisu Tokusen Umeshu Tomari 11 Years ... two Hanafuda cards (660 yen) Produced by Yamaguchi Shuzojo in Fukuoka. This is a liqueur made from the sake lees of "Niwa no Uguisu" sake, using only abundant plums and granulated sugar for production. The liqueur has an alcohol content of 11%. Ingredients: shochu (in-house production), plums, sugar. This umeshu has a fresh aroma of green plums and a dry taste. It is a limited edition aged for 11 years, resulting in a mature sweetness and acidity. It has a rich flavor and a melting taste due to the long aging process. Since I have more plans for the day, I decided to stop here for now. It felt like the right time to enjoy the standing bar experience, with a sense of moderation in the era of COVID-19. I left the store quietly after savoring the drinks. Sumiyoshi Sake store started with a visit to the Hakata main store, known as a specialty store for sake lovers and professionals. The three-story store feels like a sake theme park, making me excited. There are many restaurants in this area that source their drinks from here. Indirectly, I often get to enjoy the drinks sourced from this store. "Laughing life with sake" - isn't that wonderful? In the scenes there, I see the everyday happiness.

※Morning visit around 9:00 AM. No waiting. ◇Miyazaki Hideji Beer - Limited brewery release (¥660-) - The limited flavor of the day was "Yuzu". ◇Specialty Irohani Masu (¥990-) - You can compare 4 different types of daily changing Japanese sake. - The 4 types on the day were as shown in the photo. ◇Sweet Potato Shochu on the rocks (¥660-) - You can choose cold or hot. We requested it cold on the day. ◎Assorted 5 kinds of delicacies (¥990-) - Starting from the top left and going clockwise: ① Antarctic pickles (whale cartilage marinated in sake lees) ② Salted squid entrails ③ Soba miso with Azuki beans (with soba grains) ④ Uraka (salted ayu entrails) ⑤ Crab pickles (spicy soy sauce pickled baby crabs)

On my way home, I felt thirsty and thought about stopping by a cafe, but suddenly this place came to mind... It was nearby, so I decided to have just one glass of alcohol instead of tea at the cafe. In a corner of Hakata Station where souvenir shops are lined up, there is a famous liquor store. Sumiyoshi Sakahan where you can buy sake that you can't get anywhere else. They also sell alcohol, but standing and drinking at the back is popular. Currently, there are about 6 seats available. Luckily, there was an open seat. They first handed me "Hanafuda cards", and the staff took the number of cards for each order. Since I had already ordered, I had 5 cards left. Each card costs 330 yen, and of course, you can use more than 10 cards. There are many types of sake that you can only get here, so I wanted to have some sake, but I was thirsty, so I wanted something refreshing. I chose a sake called "Sagan Ruby" (2 Hanafuda cards: 660 yen). It is a liqueur made by collaborating with Saga University, combining juice (70%) and sake (30%). It has a 4% alcohol content, so you can enjoy it like a juice with a refreshing taste. I felt like I could drink a lot of it, but I restrained myself to just one glass. I also ordered a trio of delicacies (2 Hanafuda cards: 660 yen) - "Crab pickles", "Shiitake mushroom pate", and "Isshin Sushi (from a famous sushi restaurant in Miyazaki)". The shiitake pate is delicious when eaten with seaweed, and the crab pickles, although small, have a slightly firm shell and a spicy seasoning, making it a good snack but not so good for dental implants. The connection with Isshin Sushi was a bit disappointing with the pickled ginger. I also ordered the "Maboroshi thick fried tofu" (1 Hanafuda card: 330 yen) - a popular item from "Mihara Tofu Shop" in Nishinakasu. It is served warm, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, delicious with soy sauce and bonito flakes. I took the remaining Hanafuda cards to the cashier for payment. It was 1650 yen that day. The food and drinks are abundant and reasonably priced, making it perfect for a quick drink. ♬

You can find a variety of delicious sake, shochu, and beer from Kyushu here, making it a great place to enjoy different types of alcohol. They also offer snacks that pair well with the drinks. It's recommended for those who want to enjoy their drinks. The staff explain the characteristics of each drink, making it easy to understand.