A few minutes' walk from Nijūyonken Station on the Tozai Line, "Kisetsuya Kusane" opened in March 2019. The calm exterior of the store raises expectations, and upon opening the sliding doors, you enter the store... There is one group of three customers already seated... The owner calmly says, "Please choose any seat you like," and guides you to a seat. There are about six spacious counter seats and one four-person table seat. It has been a while since I have enjoyed a solo drink in such a cozy atmosphere. I start with sake... "Rikugen" from Fushimi, Kyoto, one of the three major sake production areas in Japan, made from 100% Yamada Nishiki rice polished to 60%. The "Higashiyama Sake Brewery" does not automate production and uses a small amount of yellow cherry blossoms in the cellar. The sake is served in a clear glass with a snake eye design, which tickles the heart of a sake lover. It has a refreshing and crisp taste from start to finish. The food menu includes "burdock root with sesame dressing, crab miso on grated yam, and tsubo sashimi." The burdock root has a subtle vinegar flavor that enhances the natural taste of the ingredients, while the grated yam and tsubo sashimi only have the flavor of crab miso. The tsubo sashimi has a high-quality texture and is served with a sashimi platter... The kitchen is well visible from the low counter setting, and the owner's work is very efficient and precise, providing a live experience that is irresistible to those who enjoy it. The sashimi is taken out from the refrigerator, skewered, seared on the surface, and then dipped in ice water. The sashimi is served on a plate with thin slices of kabosu citrus sandwiched between the tsubo sashimi, tuna red meat, and kombu-pickled flounder. They are garnished with radish, cucumber, wasabi, and shiso leaves. Each dish is fresh and delicious, with the flounder being particularly tasty. I order another glass of sake and the total bill comes to 3,456 yen. It was a great restaurant that made me truly want to visit again. Thank you for the meal.

I happened to come across this small restaurant with only counter seats in Nishi Ward, Sapporo. It had just opened, with no menu yet and no set closing days. I didn't have much time, so I just had a small appetizer and a single serving of sake. The appetizer had various ingredients and was a perfect snack with the sake. The sake, a first for me, was a Junmai Ginjo called "Aiyama" from Iwate's Akabu Sake Brewery. It had a sweet taste and a rich Ginjo aroma, making it an interesting sake. I really liked this sake! The bill came out to just over 1,000 yen. The owner and the atmosphere of the place were great. I'll definitely visit again next time and take my time there.