In the area around Meikohata Station, we continued our bar hopping and went to this stylish izakaya called "Ebi Kura" for our second stop. It seems like they specialize in angel prawns, which I've heard of and tried before, but there's always a special feeling when it comes to angel prawns, so I was excited♡ We toasted with Akita sake, "Mansaku no Hana," for 858 yen. Mansaku no Hana was the first sake that I found delicious, so I always want to drink it wherever I go♡ Here's what we ordered: - Angel Prawn Carpaccio (3 prawns) for 1617 yen - Jellyfish Sunomono for 528 yen - Live Conger Eel Tempura for 1078 yen It was my first time trying angel prawn carpaccio! It was delicious with no strong taste, big in size, and had a nice texture. The jellyfish sunomono was served in a cocktail glass, which was a pleasant surprise (haha) I've never seen jellyfish presented so stylishly before! The live conger eel tempura had a consistently good taste♡ As a Kansai person, I always crave conger eel in the summer. Everything was simply delicious, and the izakaya had a slightly upscale vibe. It was great that they were open during the busy Obon season♪ Now, let's move on to the next place (o^^o) Thank you for the meal.

After enjoying delicious dumplings in Beijing, I walked to Kawaramachi. Kawaramachi Shotengai is a dining district in front of Hirakata City Station. There are many izakayas, but many shops were closed during the Obon period. However, this particular shop was open. The interior was stylish with a counter and tables. I started with a draft beer for a second toast. The menu had a wide variety of food and drinks, especially an impressive selection of sake. I ordered the following items: - Angel shrimp carpaccio (3 pieces for 1,470 yen) - Jellyfish in vinegar (528 yen) - Live conger eel tempura (1,078 yen) The menu seemed to focus on shrimp dishes. The carpaccio was delicious with a bouncy texture. The jellyfish was served in a cocktail glass, and I enjoyed its crunchy texture. It was my first time trying conger eel this summer, and it was fluffy inside. After finishing the beer, I tried a sake called "Taxi Driver," from Iwate. It had a strong impact and a heavy taste. I had a great time enjoying delicious food and sake in a nice atmosphere. Thank you for the meal!

AKI-kun from Minoh, guided us to the second destination, which was here. I am grateful that they were open on August 15th. We started with drinks, and the prices for sake are not all the same here because it's a high-end establishment. For example, who would drink the 2,750 yen Junmai Daiginjo? So, I chose Gifu Hyakutaro (Junmai) for 748 yen (tax included) for a toast. After that, I learned from a previous drinking session (with different people) and stuck to water throughout. They only sell wine by the bottle here, so the appetizer was also luxurious, estimated at around 500 yen. The selection of sake accompaniments was diverse, including Angel Shrimp Carpaccio (3 pieces) for 1,617 yen (tax included) with an Italian Genovese sauce, which was a seasonal treat. The tempura of live conger eel for 1,078 yen (tax included) was also a hit, along with the jellyfish in vinegar for 528 yen (tax included). The elegant atmosphere allowed us to enjoy our meal and drinks like the refined gentlemen and ladies we are. It was delicious, but I felt a bit skeptical about some aspects. This atmospheric establishment does not allow smoking indoors. Thank you for the meal. As a side note, everyone seems to have a special attachment to Japanese sake. Also, my favorite apple sake is the one I was drinking at this restaurant, the Manzai no Hana (Akita) for 858 yen (tax included). As for AKI-kun, his favorite is the now rare NO.6 (Akita). When he visited Akita with friends, he finally found a place that served it, and they enjoyed a 720ml bottle for 6,000 yen. Unfortunately, they were out of stock for the second bottle. Personally, I enjoy these kinds of sake or food-related memories. It's a great topic for conversation, especially when you're a little tipsy.

The pizza was delicious.

I was surprised to find that Ebizo has been renovated into a high-end izakaya when I entered. The chairs were no longer beer crates but stylish. The presentation of the dishes has also become elegant and fashionable, compared to the previous hearty, fisherman-style dishes. The taste is delicious, but I felt that the prices are a bit high. It used to be more affordable and casual at the old Ebizo, but now it's more upscale and expensive, so it seems more suitable for a date night kind of place.

I've been curious about this shop for a while. Ebizo... The exterior looks like a Japanese izakaya. Inside, there are counter seats and table seats, and it seems very nice at night. There are many regular customers even at lunchtime. The lunch menu has 2 options, both for 780 yen, including coffee after the meal. This time, I chose the pork roast teppanyaki. It came with seasoned rice, miso soup, 2 small side dishes, a main dish, and pickles. The portion size for each item is small, but considering the price, it's understandable. However, with coffee included, it's quite cheap. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Kawaramachi. A lively drinking district near the city hall of Hirakata. The shops here offer a mix of traditional and modern styles. This year, the Ten no Kawa Walk Bar 2012 was held again, and I chose this restaurant as my first stop. It used to be a seafood restaurant called Ebizo, but it was renovated and reopened in November last year. The new interior is completely different from the previous one, which used to be a smoky, izakaya-style place. As soon as I entered, I was impressed by the nice decor. I was smoothly guided to my seat for the bar experience. I was given a ticket and soon after, a beer arrived - it was a Premium Malt's. Shortly after, a sashimi platter from the bar menu was served. The presentation was elegant, with carefully selected fish. The black sea bream, Pacific saury sashimi, and simmered sea bream roe were beautifully arranged. It was delicious! I wanted to try other menu items, like my favorite lotus root manju, but since it was a bar experience, I had to pass this time. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is calm and would be great for a date. They also offer dishes made with Satsuma chicken and a variety of side dishes like dashimaki tamago. So, even if you have different preferences, you'll find something you like. I definitely want to visit this restaurant again in the future!