I was taken to a bar in Noda's Jigokudani by a friend. At first, I was a bit nervous because of the name "Jigokudani" which means Hell Valley, but I was told it's just a normal place name, so I felt relieved. My friend suggested taking a narrow alley to get there, which was quite interesting. The alley was dark and narrow, giving off a mysterious vibe. After passing through the eerie alley, we arrived at a small area filled with bars. This was Jigokudani, a surprisingly interesting place. We went to a bar called Meido Bar in Jigokudani. Despite the name "Meido" (which means purgatory), the bar was stylish and cozy. The bartender was friendly and fun. I ordered a gin and tonic, which is their specialty. The bartender even shined a light on the drink when serving it, making it look amazing. The gin and tonic had a strong citrus scent and was very refreshing and delicious. I also tried some whiskey, as the bar had a wide selection. The bartender kindly let me taste different kinds of whiskey and taught me about them, as I didn't know much. I enjoyed Irish whiskey and Icelandic whiskey. The bar was non-smoking, the regulars were friendly, and the atmosphere was warm and cozy. It was a lovely and welcoming bar, and I would love to visit again if I have the chance. Thank you for the wonderful experience!

Noda-Hanshin Station and Noda Station are just a few minutes' walk away. I stopped by here today. The shop is located in an area called Jigokudani, with counter seats on the first floor and table seats on the second floor. First, I ordered a draft beer. Let's try it! It has a light taste and goes down smoothly in the thin glass. Excuse me for the foam going down while I was talking, haha. Next, I had a highball. It has a strong carbonation and tastes great. Thank you for the meal! There is no seating charge, and the prices are generally affordable, so it's also good for just stopping by for one drink.

In Noda Hanshin, there is a place called Jigoku Valley that used to be scary, and it was modernized by Mr. Yokota. His bar, Meido Bar, is a landmark in Jigoku Valley. Mr. Yokota is trying to make the world's most delicious gin and tonic with a smile. It must be tough to bring together the diverse people of Jigoku Valley. The gin and tonic has an unusually large amount of ice. I, of course, ordered a non-alcoholic one. The tonic contains a safe low concentration of quinine, which glows under a black light. It's Instagrammable, so women love it, but the regular male customers won't do it. However, today, as a special treat, they did it for me. It's a prestigious bar, but in my case, I use it as a waiting bar until the karaoke snack opens. I feel bad, but as soon as I receive a message from the mama saying "we're open now," I head over there. I do want to relax and settle in next time, but it's a popular bar, so I can't stay too long. It was delicious. Thank you.

On a certain night, before the declaration of emergency, I went to Jigokudani Meido Bar. The entrance is low, so I often hit my head, even though I'm not drunk. I ordered the world-renowned alcohol-free gin and tonic. It contains a tiny amount of quinine, which fluoresces under a black light because American tonic water is used. In the bar, I presented my theory that Osaka has the strongest defense against the coronavirus. While the virus has spread worldwide, Japan and Korea have significantly lower death rates compared to Western countries. The prevailing explanations include BCG vaccination and genetic factors, but I believe there is more to it. My speculation is that virus leaks from China have occurred multiple times in the past, resulting in minor outbreaks brought by Chinese visitors to Japan. Therefore, some Osaka residents may already have antibodies, essentially being vaccinated. Once antibody tests are more widely available, the validity of this theory may be confirmed. In times of hardship, people tend to cling to hope, so feel free to believe in this theory (laughs). However, just like with the flu vaccine, some people may still get infected despite being vaccinated, so prevention measures like avoiding the three Cs, wearing masks, and practicing good hygiene are crucial. It was delicious. Thank you.

Noda Hanshin's Jigokudani Meido Bar in Jigokudani is run by Mr. Yokota, who can be considered the leader of Jigokudani. It's great that it's completely smoke-free. I ordered the supposedly world's most delicious gin and tonic without alcohol. When you shine a black light on it, it fluoresces. This is because it contains quinine, a treatment for malaria, in the tonic. Not all gin and tonics glow when a black light is shone on them. On the right is the quinine-containing tonic, Fever-Tree Premium Tonic Water. When you shine a black light on it, it fluoresces. On the left is the quinine-free tonic. It does not glow when a black light is shone on it. In the past, tonic water used for medical purposes contained large amounts of quinine, but nowadays, most products use small amounts of quinine and flavorings. In the United States, the use of quinine is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be 83 ppm or less, and products must disclose the presence of quinine. In Japan, quinine-containing cinchona extract is recognized as a food additive (existing additive) and there is no restriction on the amount used. However, due to cost reasons, most tonic waters available in Japan, except for some imported products, do not contain quinine and instead use flavorings. Quinine is diluted so it is not considered a health concern, but pregnant women and people allergic to quinine should be cautious. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

After eating yakiniku in Noda, we had some time before karaoke, so we went to Meido Bar in Jigokudani. It's a completely smoke-free bar. The owner, Mr. Yokota, is dedicated to promoting Jigokudani as a whole. He claims to serve the world's most delicious gin tonic without gin. It was indeed delicious. Mr. Yokota is very hospitable, even shining the tonic for us. As two middle-aged men chatted, our conversation turned serious, discussing various aspects of Japan's future. At that moment, a young man sitting next to us approached and said, "Lupin-sensei, I've been grateful to you since I was a child. Thank you always." It touched me a little. It's heartwarming to be appreciated like this before growing old and passing away. "Thank you too. It's the end of the year. The meal was delicious. Thank you."

There was a research conference at the St. Regis Hotel in Honcho, and after the social gathering ended, I remembered there was a Halloween party at Nodahanshin's Jigokudani. The first stop was Jigokudani Meido Bar, a smoke-free bar representing Jigokudani. The owner, Mr. Yokota, is a prominent figure who also devotes his efforts to promoting Jigokudani. His rapid-fire conversation is always entertaining. I ordered the specialty of this bar, a gin and tonic. Of course, non-alcoholic. It was as excellent as always. And the mini hamburgers on the service menu that day. Mr. Yokota, the owner, was handing out simple face paint to young people who weren't in costume. The height of kindness. However, later on, Mr. Yokota changed into a white coat and dressed up as a doctor, bombarding young female customers with erotic talk, leaving them feeling uncomfortable. The photo shows Mr. Yokota, who is usually bald but wearing a wig. Thanks to Mr. Yokota, I was able to enjoy an event that only young people could enjoy. And on the way home, for some reason, I encountered an acquaintance who was dressed as a zombie. We decided to go to another place. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I visited Jigokudani for the first time. The highlight here is the Gin and Tonic, but I'm not a fan of the strong taste of gin, so I opted for the vodka version. The lime sinks to the bottom, giving a fresh lime flavor, and squeezing the lime on the glass halfway through adds a refreshing touch, making it a very easy-to-drink and refreshing Vodka Tonic. Despite being a whiskey lover, the bartender also expressed a passion for beer. I enjoyed a quick drink and headed out for my next exploration of Jigokudani.

Hell Valley. The word that caught my attention and made me want to visit. Finally, the time has come. First, I replenished my nutrients with a daily ramen at a ramen shop. Then I stepped into Hell Valley. In the deep atmosphere, I stopped by a seemingly welcoming shop for a light drink and snack. There wasn't much time until the last train, but let's stop by one more place. And the place I chose to end this day was here. In a narrow alley lined with cool-looking shops, this casual bar with a white exterior seemed stylish amidst the surroundings. The clientele seemed relatively young, so I decided to give it a try. Despite the exterior appearance, the interior was spacious. The atmosphere was somewhat reminiscent of a bar in Golden Gai, with a somewhat unapproachable vibe. However, the regular customers were mostly older, giving off a warm feeling. This was the charm. As the previous customer left and I took their place, I was able to sit at a table in the back. Although the selection wasn't extensive, the lineup of drinks was impressive. Usually, I would order a gin and tonic first at a bar, but I spotted a familiar label and immediately chose Ichiro's. After ordering, another customer entered. Oh, it's the group that was sitting next to me earlier. We exchanged greetings and got along well, leading to a plan to visit another bar together. They recommended ordering the world's best-tasting gin and tonic at the next place. What? I was so fixated on Ichiro's that I made a different choice than usual. Well, it's okay, but I have a slight regret. Well, maybe I can have a drink for the second round. In the lively atmosphere with regular customers and the owner, I savored an Ichiro's on the rocks alone. I was thinking of ordering a gin and tonic, but with only a little time until the last train. In the end, I left after just one more drink, feeling a bit wasteful. I hurriedly walked through the deserted shopping street to reach the station, and I made it just in time for the last train!! On my way back to Base Camp, I returned to my usual neighborhood and ended up having another drink. Overall rating: 3.16

Today I was supposed to go to a sushi restaurant in Nodahanshin... However, about 20 days ago, I found out that there was a business meeting at a certain hotel in Kobe at 6:30 pm on the same day. I really wanted to go to the sushi restaurant, but this work meeting is unavoidable. Sadly, I had to cancel my sushi reservation. But I'm sure there will be a second round! So, we decided to visit Jigokudani Meido Bar for the second round. Two of us will be joining after the sushi. When we arrived, the counter was full. So, we all ordered a gin and tonic from the friendly and cheerful master. He mentioned that he could make three different types of gin and tonic. So, we each chose a different one. The base was Bombay Sapphire with plenty of lime and ice. The tonic was Fever-Tree. Just watching him make it made it seem delicious. When the gin and tonics were ready, the master lit them up and said, "Cheers!" The normal one had a refreshing citrus botanical flavor from the Bombay Sapphire. The slightly bitter taste from the Fever-Tree tonic was nice! It was a really delicious gin and tonic. The other two types had different tonic types. Mediterranean with rosemary flavor and Elderflower. Mediterranean had a hint of rosemary. Elderflower had a sweet and gentle flavor. Personally, I liked Elderflower the best. Since we were there, we ordered one more. I saw a bottle of my favorite Lagavulin, so I ordered a shot of the Double Matured instead of the usual 15-year-old. It cost 1500 yen. It had a strong peaty aroma unique to Lagavulin. Aromas of green apple, honey, raisins, and chocolate. It had a more vibrant impression compared to the 15-year-old. When I tasted it, I could sense the peat and green apple, along with a strong alcohol presence. Adding a bit of water brought out even more aroma. It was a lovely bar where a fun master who likes boat racing and friendly regulars gather! Thank you for the wonderful experience!

In Osaka, there is a place called Jigokudani. Do you know about it? Jigokudani is located in a narrow alley off the shopping street near Noda Station on the Hankyu Railway. I had been drinking at another shop before, so all the shops on the shopping street were already closed. Without this standing sign, you wouldn't know how to get to Jigokudani. You have to walk through such a narrow alley. My stomach... made it through safely (lol). There are many bars lined up in Jigokudani. The first one is here. Women dining alone can feel safe here with no cover charge and a non-smoking environment. I can't see inside the Meido Bar, but I gather my courage and open the door to the underworld. I sit on a chair at the small bar counter. True to the sign, the Meido Gin and Tonic is exactly 1000 yen. The owner of Meido Bar shines a light for that Instagram-worthy moment. They also ask about the ratio of the gin and tonic. I prefer it light. It was delicious. I was treated to a souvenir from the customer <(__)> Actually, there is a second floor, and since there's no one there now, I explore one by one. When I went up the narrow stairs... Eek! There was someone there (-_-;) It's set up as a table seat. It would be nice for a group. Jigokudani Meido Bar was actually like heaven (^.^) Now, I'll head out for the next Jigokudani adventure! I wonder what kind of Enma-sama will appear next... Exciting...

Well, it's not bad. Two gin and tonics for 2000 yen. The customers seem to be young and serious-looking. It was quite enjoyable for an old guy like me.

Horse racing enthusiasts were gathered.

Great spot for gin and tonic!