I didn't feel like preparing a meal, so I debated whether to buy a bento or just go out for a drink. Today, I was feeling a bit rebellious (excuse), so I decided to stop by here for the first time. It's a Japanese izakaya that used to be a house, with a menu featuring seasonal dishes and a selection of cold and hot sake. I ordered a draft beer (Sorachi) to start and then some sake. The appetizers were a variety of dishes. They were quite filling on their own, but I also ordered some other dishes. Each dish was carefully prepared and delicious. I tried a couple of menu items that were recommended, and they were also tasty. I will definitely come back. The downside is that the building is old and has a bit of a smell. They burn incense to mask it, but some people might not like it. Also, the chaser glasses had a slight odor.

A few minutes' walk from Maruyama Koen Station, there is a Japanese izakaya that exudes a slightly old-fashioned atmosphere. It used to be located in the Playtown Fujii Building. The background music features rakugo (traditional comedic storytelling), enhancing the traditional Japanese ambiance. First, I had a Sapporo Classic beer, which was delicious. The taste can vary greatly depending on how it is poured and served. They also offer a wide variety of sake, ranging from Hokkaido to Kyushu. I was happy to see that they differentiate between sake that tastes better hot and sake that tastes better cold. As the season changes, hot sake becomes particularly enjoyable. For food, I had a sashimi platter, dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelette), grilled cod, tachipon (seafood salad), karasumi (bottarga), and homemade pickles. The sashimi platter included mackerel, salmon, flounder, yellowtail, and surf clam, all of which were fresh and delicious. The dashimaki tamago was outstanding, with a slightly pale appearance, great flavor, and perfect texture. The grilled cod had a rich umami flavor and was delicious. The tachipon was fresh and tasty. The karasumi was served with thinly sliced daikon radish, which was also delicious and paired well with the sake. The homemade pickles were also tasty. Everything was so delicious that I must come back again!

The store that used to be located at South 3rd Street, West 3rd Street has moved to South 3rd Street, West 23rd Street, a bit away from the city center, but it was easy to reach by taxi. It might also be nice to walk from tram stop West 14th Street? The location feels moderately quiet. The inside of the store feels brighter and more spacious than before, with no raised seating area, but with counter seats and table seats, it seems spacious enough for a party of about 12 people. The menu consists mainly of seasonal items, with many fresh ingredients. I wanted to try the cheese miso pizza, but this time I ordered a course meal. There seems to be a good balance of alcoholic beverages compared to before. Personally, I always order sake anyway... For those who want to drink alcohol with decent snacks away from the hustle and bustle, this hidden gem of a restaurant is recommended.

The restaurant has 4 counter seats and 3 tables for 4 people each. The interior gives off a traditional Japanese vibe with a stove and kettle in the middle of the room. There are posters related to rakugo (traditional Japanese storytelling) on the walls. The small restaurant surprised us with a generous appetizer of two dishes: simmered black soybeans in tomato and clam in chicken broth. The soup was perfect for a cold day, although it made us too full to drink alcohol afterwards. We enjoyed some homemade plum wine slowly. My companion ordered grilled local pork liver, pork shoulder skewers, and tempura of taranome (young shoots of a wild vegetable). They said it was delicious. The restaurant is located in a residential area called Nippon, and seems to be a neighborhood favorite with its own parking lot. Thank you for the meal.

During our trip, six of us visited this restaurant. The head chef trained at a traditional Japanese inn, and it shows in the delicate and delicious side dishes and simmered dishes. The corn soup was also gentle and tasty. Of course, the main seafood dishes were carefully selected and incredibly delicious. From start to finish, everything was delicious and we ended up eating a lot. I didn't drink sake, but my friends ordered some and said it was delicious, apparently they have a special selection. Since my friends drank quite a bit, the bill ended up being a bit high, but considering the taste, portion size, and quality of the sake, I think it was actually quite reasonable. I would love to visit this restaurant again when I go to Hokkaido.

Yenoyama Park Station is a bit far from the residential area where this Japanese restaurant is located. It used to be my mother's favorite spot when it was in Susukino, but it became hard to visit after moving. Today, I came for the first time in a while for the 1st anniversary event of the relocation. They are collaborating with "Budoshu Kura" and "Handmade Soba and Cuisine Mimi." It seems like they renovated an old folk house. The atmosphere is calm and lovely. The first drink recommended by the owner is "Niseko Special Junmai," made with local sake rice Suisei, which is a refreshing dry sake that probably goes well with the dishes. I heard from a sake master that this sake goes well with Hokkaido cheese. The appetizer seems to be pickled Pacific saury, which is fatty and delicious. The simmered flounder is the owner's specialty, with a rich flavor and irresistible texture of the engawa. The rich seasoning is really satisfying. The "Koma Kura Special Junmai" is a two-year-old aged sake called Hiyaroshi, which is a different type from the previous one, with a rich flavor. Finally, the eagerly awaited "Mimi" soba is thick country-style soba with a good aroma and firm texture. Oh, and the beer is Perfect Classic! I should have just had one glass. Thank you for the feast!