After enjoying teppanyaki, I searched for "nearby bars" on Google and found this place. When I walked in, I was surprised to see that the owner was a foreigner from Israel named Yoram. He seemed to know more about Japanese sake than most Japanese people. When I asked about the menu, he said, "There is no menu." I just mentioned that I like refreshing drinks, and he served me Tsushima-ya, which was very easy to drink. I don't remember how many glasses I had, but it was delicious. The guy next to me was drinking Ine-cho Natsu no Omoidasu, which had a slightly unique taste, like the aroma of Shaoxing wine. My companion had yuzu juice, which was also delicious. It was a wonderful hidden gem in a Kyoto alley that you wouldn't normally come across. They only accept cash payments. Thank you for the meal.

On my first visit, I wanted to try out BAR Kamokuna because I love Japanese sake and have always wanted to go while living in Kyoto. The atmosphere was great with the quiet Israeli master who spoke fluent Japanese. It's the perfect environment for enjoying sake. If you're a sake lover, this is definitely a must-visit spot even if you're not familiar with different brands, as the master will choose for you based on your preferences. Just be aware that there weren't any snacks or other types of alcohol besides sake available. Thank you for the wonderful experience!

Great atmosphere!

A few years ago, Sunday became a regular holiday, so I didn't have many opportunities to visit, but finally the chance came. I visited for the first time with a friend. After having yuba at Kikko-ya, we called and were told, "There is only one seat available now, so even if you come, you will have to wait." Even though I knew this, the tone sounded a bit blunt, which might make first-timers hesitate. Regardless, I said we would come in 10 minutes, feeling excited. Ah, this entrance. It feels like coming back. I like it~ Anyway, we were asked to wait at a small table behind the counter. They couldn't serve us, but if we received the drinks at the counter, we could have alcohol. It seemed like they recognized us, which made me a little happy. Gratefully, we started this night's adventure. My friend chose a light and refreshing drink, while I chose a well-aged, ready-to-drink sake. My friend seemed to like it, so I was happy. While enjoying the first drink, a seat opened up, so we moved to the counter for the second drink. This time, my friend chose Shiroroshizuku and Miyamakinzakura Junmai Ginjo. I chose Hanahada's Yumiganeba (first time trying this). After my friend left, I tried Ume no Yado, and finally, I tried Furou Izumi as a closing drink, which I overheard being explained to the neighboring customer. I couldn't confirm the type of Furou Izumi, but it was a lovely sake with a beautiful balance, like a gracious, well-aged beautiful woman, fitting perfectly with its name. Satisfied. I don't know when I'll visit again, but I look forward to another sake adventure. (2011.06) --- About a year later, I revisited. I came alone, but halfway through, two drinking buddies who happened to be in Kyoto joined me. That night, we enjoyed unique sakes like Mitani's nama (not new sake, but fresh), and Ine Mankai, which tasted like a sweet and sour fruit wine. Once again, we had a great time enjoying the adventure of sake. Sake is truly deep, isn't it? My friends were worried about whether they would get along with Yoram's character, but it seems that a shared love for sake can bridge the gap, and they surprisingly got along well, which was a relief. (2010.05) --- I visited alone after about two years. This place now has a three-day weekend, so it seems that I will have fewer opportunities to visit. Not the most convenient location, tucked away off Higashinotoin from Nijo Street, this Japanese sake bar has a cozy atmosphere with a counter of 7-8 seats and a table. The owner, Yoram, is from Israel. He believes that some sakes have aging potential like wine, and it's a shame to drink them too quickly. Therefore, he mainly serves sakes that he has selected and aged himself. While this place may seem intimidating, enjoying it is actually quite simple. Just honestly express your preferences without pretending to know everything. If you're unsure of your preference, just tell him that, and he will likely offer a sample for you to try. If it suits your taste, enjoy it; if not, share your feedback and he will suggest something else. Of course, it's assumed that unreasonable customers who endlessly sample drinks won't visit. By following this approach, with or without conversation, you can enjoy the sake served here.

I visited a small restaurant in Osaka Sakaisuji Hommachi where I met Yorum-san, which was the starting point for this visit. The owner of the restaurant mentioned that he was a pioneer of Japanese sake bars in Kyoto, which was quite surprising to me. The restaurant has been open since 2000, making it 16 years old. It has a Kyoto-like appearance that blends in well with the street. I arrived around 6 pm and managed to secure one of the last seats available. Soon after, more customers arrived and the restaurant quickly became full, with mostly Western customers, around 90%, and only one Japanese customer, which was me. The majority of the customers seemed to be American based on their English accents. Yorum-san explained the sake to the customers in a very polite and informative manner, which was a great learning experience. The restaurant also serves soba noodles during the day, and the faint smell of incense added to the Kyoto-like atmosphere. On this day, I tried a slightly sparkling sake and a liqueur-like drink with a strong citrus flavor. I would have liked to chat with Yorum-san while drinking, but due to the busy atmosphere, I decided to leave after two drinks. I look forward to visiting again, perhaps at a later time next time.

I visited the restaurant after being drawn in by the passionate and interesting atmosphere of the manager as seen on the website. The place was packed and there were no seats available at the counter, so I sat at a table. I was told to place my order and get my drinks myself since the manager was busy. I ordered a tasting set of sake, but unfortunately, it was too complex for me to enjoy. I felt a bit disappointed as I realized that maybe only those who are well-versed in sake would appreciate it. With the help of someone who came with me, we managed to convey that I preferred something easier to drink, but it still didn't suit my taste. I don't think I will be visiting this place again.

After leaving Iwasaki-san's place and feeling wrapped in happiness, I decided to stop by a Japanese sake bar called "Yoram" on my way back to the hotel. The dimly lit interior of the bar was visible through the glass door as I approached. The place was almost full, with four foreigners and four Japanese customers, but I managed to find a seat in a corner. The menu offered various types of sake such as "dry," "rich," "fruity and soft," and "a bit mysterious," making it difficult to choose. For my first drink, my partner ordered "Kinkame" while I chose "Kii no Kuniya Mon." We opted for 60ml servings. Both sakes had a solid and distinct flavor. The food menu was more extensive than expected, with over 20 items available, including Kyoto pickles, cold tofu, and a cheese platter. We decided to try the miso-marinated tofu. Yoram's homemade tofu was delicious and the owner, Yoram, who spoke Japanese fluently, mentioned that it was easy to make. He has been in Japan for 30 years and even had a sake called "Ine Mankai" from Mukai Shuzo in Ine, Tango. I happened to know the owner of Mukai Shuzo, Kuniko Mukai, and Yoram described her as "too energetic." For our second round, my partner had "Takayu" while I had "Asahi Wakamatsu." Drinking sake quietly at the counter was truly enjoyable. Finally, we tried "Shinomine" from Nara, which had a crisp taste and was my favorite. Yoram's personality and the calm atmosphere made it a wonderful place to enjoy Japanese sake.

I stopped by this shop that I wanted to visit on my business trip to Kyoto. The location is about a 3-minute walk northeast from Karasuma Oike Station. At first glance, it looks like a normal row house, but when you muster up the courage to open the door, you'll find a stone path leading to the shop, creating a pleasant atmosphere. The interior has only a counter with 7-8 seats. The seats are a bit close together, allowing for about 8 people to sit comfortably. When I visited, I thought it might be full, but the owner Yoram asked if they could squeeze in a bit more, and I was able to enter. I ordered the "sake tasting set" as a recommendation. Even though it was a recommendation, they asked about my sake preferences and carefully selected 3 bottles based on their extensive knowledge. Since I was in Kyoto, I said I wanted to drink something from Kyoto, but they explained that they didn't have any and that they wanted to know my preferences instead. It was interesting to learn that the location can affect the taste, and knowing what you really want to drink is important. I wanted to try various fragrant sakes, so I ordered with that in mind. The owner picked out Harada, Kishan, and Mutenomikan from the fridge. I'm not very knowledgeable about the differences in sake flavors, but the owner would ask if it suited my taste along the way, making the experience enjoyable. Since the owner runs the shop alone, it may take some time for the order to be served. However, the interactions with other customers included, I could enjoy the experience as if it were my own, so it's a place where you can relax and take your time.

Solo trip to Kyoto in winter, night of the first day. For this Kyoto trip, I decided to focus on Japanese sake at night and did some research in advance. I was looking for a standing bar where I could easily go alone, but there weren't many options, so I searched again for a place where I could go alone even if it wasn't a standing bar, and I found a hit: "Sake BAR Yoram". This is a Japanese sake bar run by Yoram, an Israeli man. I was intrigued. The shop is located quietly in a less crowded alley. It opens at 6:00 pm, and I arrived 10 minutes late, but it seemed like all the seats at the counter were taken. I didn't want to give up, so I entered the shop, and they said it was okay until 7:30 pm and added a chair for me at the counter. Phew. I ordered a sake tasting set and told Yoram that I wanted something fruity, something with strong acidity, and something dry. He chose three types of sake for me: The left sake is "Dry Junmai Sake Takayuki", a refreshing dry type. The sake in the middle is "Super Otaru Unfiltered Nama Genshu", slightly sparkling and a bit spicy. The sake on the right is "Kisen Sansan Junmai Ginjo Namazake", fruity with strong acidity. They were all delicious, but I liked Kisen the most. Yoram seemed quite busy managing the full counter alone, but my way of tasting sake was not quite right, so he showed me how to do it. Instead of sipping little by little, he taught me to take a mouthful of the whole cup (quite a lot) and feel the taste on the tip of my tongue. Enjoy the aftertaste that spreads in your mouth after swallowing, so it's better to take a little break before trying another sake. Note taken. Feeling a bit tipsy after comparing the three types, I left early. It's not good to get too drunk while traveling. Yoram's passion and knowledge about sake were overflowing, and he was such a wonderful person. I definitely want to visit again when I come back to Kyoto, and hopefully, I can hear more of Yoram's stories at a more leisurely pace.

I entered this restaurant with high expectations as it is ranked in the top 5000 on Tabelog. However, upon entering, I noticed that the menu was limited and the prices were high. The place seemed to cater to tourists, as there were mostly foreign customers and the service was not very friendly. I ordered a glass of Harada sake, which I tried for the first time. It tasted like a regular sake. I was disappointed with the quality considering its ranking. I left after paying 2500 yen for just one glass. As I walked through the cold streets of Kyoto, I couldn't help but feel let down.

On the second day in Kyoto, I went to a cafe called Madrag and had a egg sandwich, which filled me up quite a bit. To pass the time until dinner, I went looking for some alcohol. I found an interesting bar nearby. It was located on the first floor of a mixed-use building. The path to the counter was lined with paving stones, giving it a very Kyoto-like atmosphere. I was reminded of the appreciation for light and shadow. I sat at the counter and there was already one customer, probably a regular. I ordered a tasting set of different types of alcohol - dry, fruity, and rare. The dry one was called Taka Hayami, a crisp and refreshing dry sake. The fruity one was called Nabeshima, with a fresh flavor that I really enjoyed. The rare one was a rice wine with a sweet taste. Then, I tried a rare sake called Daigo no Shizuku. It was made using an old method of sake production, resulting in a citrusy fruity flavor with a strong acidity. I enjoyed it with some chilled tofu topped with pickled vegetables and shishito peppers. It's amazing how a person from Israel can have such knowledge and passion for Japanese sake. I recommend engaging in conversation with Yoram and exploring different sakes to find one that suits your taste.

I had plans to go out for dinner with a senior colleague who loves sake, and we decided to come to this place for our second stop. We arrived at the restaurant around 10 o'clock, and only about half of the seats were taken. However, an hour later, it was completely full. I didn't expect much variety in the regular sake, but they had a wide selection of aged sake. Some of them were from about 30 years ago. They were completely different from the typical sake, more like sherry. The food pairing was also quite unique. It's a very interesting place. The owner is Israeli. At first, he may seem a bit aloof, but he is actually quite friendly once you start talking to him. It might feel a bit strange for Japanese people, but I think you'll get along well after spending some time together. I would definitely like to come back again.

Tonight, our second stop was at "Sake Bar Yoramu." I had some concerns that the experience might be a bit intimidating, but those worries were unfounded. The owner, Yoramu, provided impeccable service with a deep knowledge and respect for sake. Without being pushy, he engaged in dialogue with us to help us find the perfect sake. I chose the "Aged Sake Tasting Set" from the Wakamatsu series. From light and smooth to rich and aged sakes, we enjoyed comparing the different flavors with chasers in between. The simple and unassuming interior of the bar actually created a sense of calm. We sat at the counter that resembled a wooden raft and let ourselves be guided by Captain Yoramu through the dimly lit sea of sake. With his clear eyes and gentle gaze, we felt no sense of unease. We learned a lot about sake and had a surprisingly informative evening.

Visited in mid-March before the holiday. The restaurant opened at 6 pm, and when I arrived around 6:30 pm, it was already almost full. They managed to squeeze in a few more seats for us, so we were able to get in without waiting. I had been to "Tooru Soba" in the same location during the day many times, but this was only my second visit to Yoramu. During my previous visit, I was impressed by the variety of delicious sake they had, so this time I ordered a "3 types of sake tasting set (1200 yen~)" with a dry sake, a light to rich sake, and a rich sake. 1. Ootora (Yamagata Prefecture) - It was a dry sake but very refreshing and light. The taste didn't linger, but it was crisp and delicious. 2. Kirei (Hiroshima Prefecture) - This was my personal favorite, matching my taste the most. I would classify it as rich. It was clear yet had a concentrated deliciousness. 3. Goketsu (Hiroshima Prefecture) - This one was just rich! The flavor spread in my mouth, and it was named "tastes like rice balls", but to me, it tasted like melon as I sipped it. I also got to hear from the master about how to appreciate sake, adding to the charm of the place. It's a great spot for small groups to enjoy sake and have conversations. Highly recommended!

I was strongly recommended to visit this shop in Kyoto if I like sake. Despite being a foreigner, the owner, Yoram, is more knowledgeable about sake than the Japanese. The entrance to the shop was long and dimly lit, with a straight path leading to the counter. When I arrived, the counter was full, and Yoram was busy attending to regular customers. There was no sake menu, and Yoram simply asked me to tell him what kind of sake I wanted to drink. I knew that he was good at aged and refined sake. When I asked for a sweet and rich sake, he brought me four different types, explaining the taste and price of each. I chose a tasting set of three sakes and also ordered a freshly aged Asahi Wakamatsu sake. The taste was interesting, even though I usually prefer aged sake. I also ordered grilled halloumi cheese as a snack, which paired well with the aged sake. Yoram was busy with other customers, and I regretted not being able to have a proper conversation with him. Overall, the value of the sake at this bar lies in the effort and expertise that Yoram puts into each bottle, making it a unique and special experience that cannot be found elsewhere.

There is a pure rice wine bar in Kyoto run by an Israeli man named Yoram Ofel who wanted to enjoy the nights in Kyoto while getting pleasantly drunk. I took a bus from Shijo Keihan Mae to Karasuma Shijo to Karasuma Oike to find this bar. The streets in Kyoto are like a checkerboard, and I got lost in the narrow streets. I asked for directions at a still-open flower shop, and surprisingly, the bar "Sake Bar Yoramu" was right next to it. When I sat at the counter, I was asked about my sake preferences. I mentioned I wanted a clean sake with acidity, and I was served three types of sake: Kame Rei Junmai, Yashe Fire Raw Sake, and Myo no Hana Kimoto Yamada Nishiki 90% Unfiltered Raw Sake. Two of them were low-polished sake, including the famous "Rumiko's Sake" from Moriki Shuzo. The flavors were rich but not overpowering, different from sake in Northeast Japan. The bar focuses on enjoying sake itself rather than pairing it with food, offering unique and satisfying sake selections tailored to customers' preferences. I was intrigued by the owner's approach, and he even served me a Cypriot, Turkish, and Israeli cheese called "Haloumi" to pair with the sake. The experience was delightful, and I ended up trying Myo no Hana Yamahai Junmai, a one-stage unfiltered sake that tasted like a refreshing yogurt drink with a hint of sourness. The bar, located in a tall building, offers a luxurious atmosphere with a self-curated sake selection that provides delicious sake at a reasonable price, similar to a lounge. It's a unique establishment in Tohoku that stands out for its individuality.

The restaurant is owned by Israelis, and the interior is a stylish space with only a counter. The owner speaks fluent Japanese and seems to have studied sake as well. Sake is reasonably priced overall. When ordering omakase, we were allowed to taste some sake. They also have low-alcohol sake available. - Shirokoshizuru (Yamagata) - A small sake brewery in Yamagata Prefecture. They have been recognized in international wine competitions and are highly regarded both domestically and internationally. They use a method called "issho mori koji buta hou" which produces sake with strong sugar fermentation power and minimal impurities, resulting in a sake with the natural sweetness and richness of rice, and ideal fermentation. It had a rich yet clean taste. - Tsunekigen (Ishikawa) - The quiet master of this sake brewery made it seem like he was in a bad mood. It's not a lively atmosphere.

I wanted to visit a sake bar in Kyoto at night, so I called ahead after leaving Fujihara-san. Since the area was unfamiliar, I took a taxi to get there. The surroundings of the bar were quiet with no other restaurants nearby. The owner, Yoram, is from Israel and has a sharp gaze reminiscent of Steve Jobs. The bar mainly focuses on aged sake, and instead of specifying a brand, you can convey your desired taste to Yoram. When you express that you want something similar to the drink served, he will bring you a similar one. It's a time to pursue your ideal taste. The two women I was with enjoy sake, but they don't prefer aged sake, so they regretted not going to Sake Bar Asakura. However, since we had the opportunity, we decided to experience something interesting. Yoram, the owner, was surprised at how sake changes over time from simple ingredients, and he seemed to be dedicated to aging various types of sake regardless of brand. Thanks to him, there were many labels from unknown breweries. This bar may not suit all Japanese sake lovers, as preferences vary, but I highly recommend it to those interested in aged sake.