Bar Karasu Suzumushi is a hidden gem near Sumiyoshi Shrine. It is located in a renovated traditional house, which made it a bit hard to find the entrance at first. However, after calling the restaurant, I finally arrived. I enjoyed delicious grilled kibinago as a snack, along with oysters, cream cheese, and sake-steamed green onions. The staff recommended a great wine to pair with the food, and I had a relaxing time. The cream cheese with sake-steamed green onions was particularly tasty. The outdoor veranda is a nice smoking area and adds to the cozy atmosphere. The friendly owner also made the experience enjoyable. This is a place I will definitely visit again. #Cozy #TraditionalHouse #HiddenBar #Veranda #CreamCheeseSakeSteamedGreenOnions #PerfectSnack

A hidden gem of a Japanese-style bar that I don't want to reveal too much about. The atmosphere is fantastic. I want to make it my regular spot.

Grilled eel is delicious.

The habit of going to La Frolig is addictive.

The atmosphere was like a hidden gem, and it was really nice. The oden was delicious!

3-4-6 Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City.

When did it become so Japanese-style? For those in Fukuoka who love sake and bars, they may have heard of the elusive bar "Karasuzemi". I remember it as a place that didn't disclose its address or phone number, so those who didn't know about it had no idea it existed. Now they seem to be more open with their information. In the past, the only information that circulated among sake lovers was vague clues like "near Sumiyoshi Shrine", "by the gourd pond", "close to the post office"… Now that they have their address and phone number public, it should be easy to find. I visited for the first time in over 5 years. I was surprised by how Japanese the atmosphere had become. The layout of the interior, the sink and windows in the kitchen behind the counter, they haven't changed. But the design elements throughout have a Japanese touch. Oh, I think it was just the counter in the past, but now there seems to be group seating available. Well, my brain might be a bit shriveled from habitual drinking, so I can't trust my memory. Maybe it was always this Japanese-style… But at least the owner wasn't wearing Japanese clothing before, and had longer hair. Well, whatever, as long as they're still in business. Let's drink. For me, this place is a bar that has a wide selection of Laphroaig whiskies. They have not only the usual Laphroaig 10-year-old, but also the Cask Strength, Quarter Cask, 18-year-old, Select Cask, and even some I've never seen or heard of. It's known as a bar run by a Laphroaig lover, so I always drink Laphroaig here. Oh, but Laphroaig has really gone up in price, huh? I chat with the owner as I drink. By the way, the ashtrays here are so tasteful that it feels wrong to use them as ashtrays. Now, since it has a Japanese touch, let's have some Ponshu sake. The owner picks one for me, a Midorikawa. Hmm, I can't tell the details, but it's good. This place has been around for quite a while, hasn't it? From the time when "Kiru" in Imaizumi and "Higuchi" near Otemon or Kuromon were popular hidden bar spots in renovated private houses, "Karasuzemi" has been around too. It's nice when they can keep going for a long time, so you can casually drop by even after several years. Well, that's just the customer's selfish talk. Well, I hope they keep going for even longer, I'll come back again.

If you didn't know about this place, it would be impossible to find. A friend from Osaka found it through some information and we went there together with a friend from Fukuoka. It's a normal house with a small alleyway between houses. The door looks like a regular residential one. Inside, you take off your shoes and enter to find a counter. Beyond that, there's a raised tatami seating area with a low table. Through the open window behind the counter, you can see a nice garden. It was a surprise. It's primarily a bar, so they have a variety of Western liquors, shochu, and sake. The recommended sake that day was a special one from Kubota's 30th anniversary, served in stylish sake cups. The atmosphere was great. The master was an attractive guy in a kimono. We got some recommended appetizers that paired well with the sake. If you knew about this place, you could brag about it. Kusen's address is undisclosed.

Last weekend, I received an invitation from Akiko Yoshikawa, so we started with yakitori at Kubo in Sumiyoshi after 8:30 pm. Since she and I usually go bar hopping, we moved to the second place. She wanted to drink with a handsome guy as a companion, so we ended up here (laughs). This place is one of the top hideaway spots in Fukuoka, similar to Kiyono in Hirao or Haruma in Takeshita (･_･; The restaurant is located inside a normal residential building, where you take off your shoes at the entrance before going inside. Luckily, we got seats near the stage, so we could watch the owner, Mr. Yamaguchi's every move. Akiko Yoshikawa was glued to the stage (bitter smile) Both of us were already in a tipsy mood from the previous bar, so Akiko Yoshikawa had Kubota's junmai sake, and I had Midorikawa's junmai sake, both rare Niigata sake in Fukuoka. I think the last time we came here was about 10 months ago, right after Kubo opened (･_･? I remember back then we were packed in the back tatami room with about 6 people, drinking wine like crazy (bitter smile). Tonight, just the two of us, we enjoyed drinking and chatting comfortably. The restaurant was a bit crowded because it was the weekend. She wanted to go to another bar with handsome guys, so after about an hour, we paid the bill. From Sumiyoshi to Shunkichi... the long weekend night is just beginning (sweat)

I heard this rumor a few years ago... I found your husband's blog online, but couldn't find a contact number... Finally, about 3 months ago, I found the phone number, but I haven't had a chance to have dinner in the Hakata area... It's hard to find the place. I called twice, I'm sorry... There is no sign, it's just a regular house. A very friendly husband greeted me. Take off your shoes at the entrance and go upstairs. The interior of the restaurant is handmade by the husband... It's a warm and inviting space. I have received permission for all the photos taken. I always make sure to get permission before taking photos. The drink menu is extensive and affordable! Moscow Mule, Shochu (Temptation of Angels)... The names are nice. There are also various snacks that go well with alcohol. The way the fish is grilled is careful, and everything is delicious! Cream cheese with sake lees... It's delicious. The saltiness of the sake lees goes well with the cream cheese. I had another one as an addition. Dried mullet fish with mirin... It's been years since I had this kind of snack... It reminds me of my student days. Smoked oysters... Made by the fishermen's wives. Delicious! Cold sake (forgot the name), Rose sake... It has a faint rose scent. The husband is young, but his consideration and conversation skills are excellent. It's easy to see why it's popular. I don't have many opportunities to eat in the Hakata area, but if I'm nearby, I'd like to visit this restaurant. ^^

After finishing the event at "Kawasemi," I visited "Utsusemi" for the first time. There is no sign outside the entrance, and the place is not facing the street, so it's hard to find without someone guiding you. It looks like a regular house from the outside, and you have to ring the bell to be let in, giving the feeling of visiting someone's home. The owner, Mr. Yamaguchi, greets you at the entrance, and taking off your shoes before entering adds to the cozy atmosphere. The interior is all handmade by Mr. Yamaguchi, with a warm feel and just the right lighting. There are around 15-20 seats, and the main focus is on alcohol, but there are also various dishes available as accompaniments. The cheese platter, stingray fin, tofu, kawahagi miso, dashimaki, grilled thick tofu, cream cheese with sake lees, and yudofu, etc. The garden lights are lovely, and Mr. Yamaguchi is quite handsome (and still single). It might be a good place for solo female drinkers! I was surprised to hear that Mr. Yamaguchi is close friends with someone I know, O-san (they even worked together in the Netherlands). I'll definitely visit again when I'm not too tired. "Utsusemi" Address: Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City *I didn't find this information on other blogs, so please call to confirm. Phone: 092-282-3599 (I forgot to ask about the business hours)

There are hidden gems in every city. In the Tenjin and Imaizumi area, there used to be a hidden gem called "BAR Kiryu." Located down a narrow alley near the INPEX street, you would find an old house with a great atmosphere and delicious wine. Although Kiryu has closed down, I was on the lookout for a similar hidden spot, and I found it. The address is not listed anywhere. After reading various blogs, I came across a post saying, "It's located next to Sumiyoshi Shrine, next to the Mini Stop, down the alley." I searched and wandered around in circles for about 10 minutes until I finally reached a regular house entrance (of course, I was wrong). So, I called for more information and found my way. Let's go check out this view: http://g.co/maps/v86xw. "Teigaku Chokin" is a house with a nostalgic Showa era atmosphere, offering a limited selection of sake from a single brewery, but the cozy ambiance makes it a great place to relax. While I was enjoying my drink, someone came in with their phone in hand, saying they got lost looking at the entrance photo online. When I asked the master about it, he explained that they are not hiding the place, but they just didn't have time to put up a sign, so it remained hidden. I definitely want to visit this place again. Drinks tried: Rose Sake (Daiginjo + Rose extract), Sake Ginjo.

When I was working in Tokyo, I used a Seishun 18 ticket to travel all the way to Fukuoka in Kyushu. I had been on the train from the first train in the morning until almost the last train, so I was quite tired. The first place I went to was a dingy food stall and I didn't have a good time, but that all changed when I came to this restaurant. After visiting about 4-5 stalls, my friend took me here and I was captivated by the atmosphere. I ended up drinking heavily without realizing it. I don't remember how much I paid, but I had a great time drinking here. Thanks to that, I had another fun drinking session at my friend's place. I would definitely want to visit this place again when I go back to Fukuoka.

The atmosphere is nice.