Visited the standing bar Suzuden located in a back alley 2 minutes walk from Yotsuya Station on the Marunouchi Line for the umpteenth time. Managed to secure a spot in the middle of the J-shaped counter while almost standing, and ordered the SD Tohoku Izumi Makasara sashimi assortment from the female staff member at the cash register. Paid for each order as it came. Started with the SD to quench my dehydration from the scorching heat. The chubby cowboy next to me ordered a large bottle for his refill. The Makasara, which I always order, had a consistent quality. The macaroni salad had just the right firmness and the homemade mayonnaise was appreciated. The sashimi assortment consisted of octopus, bonito, and mackerel, a trio that almost sold out after I ordered. The sashimi was of a quality you would expect from a proper izakaya, and the Tohoku Izumi was a dangerously easy-to-drink dry sake with a sharp taste and mild acidity. I was reasonably satisfied in about 20 minutes, so I finished up and thanked the staff. There were many foreign customers that day, and regulars were chatting amicably with the veteran owner. Left the standing bar and walked back to Yotsuya Station on the Marunouchi Line.

Suzuden, a sake shop that has been around since the Edo period, is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves sake. Their selection of sake is excellent, with unique brands that stand the test of time. Despite the low number of female customers (haha), it's a place that anyone can enjoy. It gets very crowded, especially on Monday evenings at 5:30 PM.

On Friday evening, I went to a standing bar for a quick drink after work. It was almost full when I arrived around 6 pm, but I managed to find a spot. They had a wide variety of sake, and each glass was filled right up to the brim. It was a lovely sight. The bustling atmosphere inside the bar added to the excitement. I enjoyed a drink and some snacks, and had a quick and enjoyable time in just 30 minutes.

This place is like a paradise for salarymen. Before even saying "Let's drink today," I already hooked with a drink at this bar. Then I start the engine and head into the city. The selection of Japanese sake is great here, and the atmosphere for drinking from a glass is also nice. Surprisingly, there are quite a few women here too! It was also refreshing to see an uncle waiting for a date with a woman.

I visited on a Friday night. The lineup of Japanese sake was truly impressive. Ordering at the counter was a bit challenging as the drinks were poured generously and it was difficult to carry them back to my seat without spilling. The appetizers like pickles were a bit pricey for standing drinking, and towards closing time, there was pressure from the staff to finish up quickly and they were quick to clear empty plates. Overall, there were some minor negative aspects in terms of service.

When you hear "Yotsuya," only one place comes to mind. It may be a sign of aging to have such a narrow-minded view, but going alone or with friends is both good. After finishing work in the area, when asked, "Nomsuke-san, where's a casual place around here?" I almost instinctively answer, "Here!" Fortunately, we were able to grab a table in the back with three people. Our guests from Kansai seemed to be very pleased with this style, which they found unusual. We started by quenching our thirst with bottled beer, followed by Hanayoku, Gohashi, and Ippoji flowing. At the far end of the counter, where the drinks are handed over and payments are made, be sure not to waste any of the cup sake offered. With about 10 different types of appetizers available, all of them are well-prepared, so there are no disappointments. As more customers gradually arrived, they were all veterans who knew the etiquette of standing and drinking. It's a relief to see the traditional scene returning.

The staff will guide you to your seat. Payment is cash only. I ordered Hanayoku and Kido in a glass. The snacks are around 300 yen and sell out quickly. When it comes to "kakudachi" (standing bar), canned mackerel is a popular choice. Just adding some radish sprouts on top makes it a great snack. On this day, there was an event to introduce the new brand "Ryusuisen" established in 2023, and people from the brewery were there. It seems like there are many regular customers, but the friendly staff make you feel welcome even if you're alone. Last order is around 8:30 PM, so make sure to come early.

I stopped by alone after work and tried the rare Hanayoku for the first time. It was sweet with a pleasant mouthfeel and a slight fizz of carbonation on the tongue. For snacks, I had a sashimi platter, simmered spear squid, and the Tuesday-only beef tendon stew. As the place started to get crowded, I moved from a table to the counter. The staff were kind and told me to take my time, but since many customers give up due to the full house, I stayed for about 20 minutes out of consideration. Drinking a quick glass while standing and leaving immediately can make you feel drunk after leaving the establishment. I staggered home. Next time, I want to try other drinks and snacks. I'd like to try simmered sweet potatoes alone, simmered dishes, assorted pickles, and potato salad. I visited a liquor store and looked for my favorite Takachiyo's Purple Label Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki sake. They didn't have it in stock at the time, but the staff's explanation was easy to understand.

We moved to Yotsuya and decided to have a New Year's party at Suzuden because our friend who loves Yotsuya the most recommended it. The restaurant was open, so we enjoyed a variety of sashimi and sake. After that, we strolled to Sanchome, hopping from one place to another for yakiniku, zosui, and more. It was a great night out!

It would be one of the historic standing bars in Tokyo. I used to frequent Toranomon Suzuden, where the owner was very cool. This place has a long narrow standing space next to the main business of selling alcohol, so it's not as big as Toranomon. It has a different atmosphere from the standing bars in Kitakyushu, of course, but mature drinkers enjoy drinking alone or with 2-3 people. It's best to stop at 2-3 beers on an empty stomach. There are 5-6 types of appetizers, which are of sufficient quality for a standing bar. They are not inferior to the lineup of drinks here.

I visited the traditional Japanese sake bar "Suzuden" in Yotsuya after a long time. It's bustling with people, just like it used to be crowded in the past. They have good COVID-19 measures in place. I ordered at the counter. There are some nice words posted here, like "There's a hidden story behind the words spoken by a drinker." They also display the recommended temperature for sake. There are some stylish posters that look like they were taken here, maybe paying homage to Tower Records. I'll enjoy some sake now. I'm having a chilled bottle of Yuki no Bijin. For snacks, I have some curry-flavored dried wheat gluten and macaroni salad. It's been a while since I had macaroni salad, and it's delicious with tuna in it! Since I'm having sake, I'll also have a sashimi platter with mackerel, bonito, and boiled octopus. I hope we can preserve this kind of sake culture for the future. Thank you for the meal.

A liquor store across from Yotsuya Station, next to a standing bar called Suzuden. The place feels a bit crowded and there's a sense of being a bit late. The store is packed, so there's no time to carefully choose. They serve large bottles of beer. From the dishes lined up on the counter, we chose fried fish cakes, macaroni salad, shrimp tempura, and liver. The flavors are all quite strong and salty. We followed this with sake. We tried the Kaiun cold sake from Miyagi, and had about four servings. The prices are not particularly cheap, but they have a wide variety of sake. It's a great place for those who want to try different kinds of sake. I had a good time here and would like to come back again.

You can't talk about sake bars without mentioning "Suzuden Yotsuya," but first, let's have a drink. [September 2022, 5th week] On a weekday, I went for a sake bar crawl. I quickly finished the first sake bar and arrived at the next one after 7:40 PM. Sake: Shimeharitsuru Honjozo ¥450 Snack: Stir-fried eggplant and green peppers with minced meat ¥400 I drank a cup of sake in one gulp and got even more drunk. It's pointless to have another drink here after stopping at the first sake bar with just two cups, but I often find myself stopping by anyway. When I'm feeling a little tipsy, I could go to a bar for the bar crawl, but sake bars just feel right for an old man like me. Plus, bars can be a bit expensive. I'll come back again. [September 2022, 2nd week] On a weekday, I went for a sake bar crawl. I quickly finished the first sake bar and arrived at the next one after 7:10 PM. Sake: Narimasa Junmai ¥550 Snack: Assorted pickles ¥400 "Narimasa" has just the right acidity, making it a refreshing dry sake. I like it. I'll come back again. [August 2022, 5th week] I quickly finished the first sake bar and arrived at the next one after 7:10 PM. Sake: Kikuhime Nigori Sake ¥500 Snack: Assorted mashed food ¥400 I like cloudy sake, and Kikuhime is delicious. And it's cheap too. I'll come back again!

I, embarrassingly, didn't know about this place! It's a long-established standing bar! I was brought here by a friend who is a fan of sake and craft beer, and we used Zero! Sake at Zero! Sake on an empty stomach! You order snacks and drinks at the counter, pay in cash, and take them to your seat (standing). I saw the words "Noukou" (rich flavor) after a long time and even though it was a bit expensive, I put in 900 yen! Served in a glass! What a luxurious Zero!! It's so easy to get tipsy here before the main event haha.

First stop on the July 2022 Yotsuya tour. A standing bar attached to a liquor store where you can enjoy a variety of local sake from around the country. Two of us, both sake lovers, entered and started with a large bottle of Super Dry. There were strips of paper on the counter with "Juyondai 900 yen" written on them, and many customers were ordering it, but we decided not to, feeling a bit snobbish. We tried Fumotoi Ginjo, which had a sweet aroma but wasn't overly sweet. It was mild, very easy to drink, and had a flavor that made us feel happy. It might have been a summer Ginjo? Unfortunately, we didn't take note of the specific brand. Then we tried Narimasa, which was refreshing and a good sake, but it paled in comparison to how delicious Fumotoi was. We didn't order any snacks like cherry tomatoes, macaroni salad, or simmered eggs. The cherry tomatoes seemed to be soaked in liquid, and we thought it was vinegar, but it turned out to be water (laughs). Overall, it was a pretty good place with a great selection of sake.

I recently got into Japanese sake and was surfing the net looking for cheap and good sake to buy when I stumbled upon this place. The store also has a standing bar where you can drink a limited 14th generation sake on Wednesdays and Fridays, limited to one cup per person. It had been a while since I had standing sake, but it felt like a little picnic atmosphere when I visited. The store is small, but can accommodate about 20 people and it quickly becomes crowded due to its popularity. The 14th generation sake used to be around 4,000 yen but quickly became unaffordable. I ordered a sashimi platter for 400 yen, chicken liver for 450 yen, 14th generation honmaru for 900 yen, Yokoyama 50 junmai daiginjo for 900 yen, and brewing water for 100 yen. It may seem tasteless to talk about the taste at a standing bar, but the snacks were nothing special. However, they had a good selection of sake, and the Yokoyama 50 was a great discovery. It was very fruity yet had a rich and clean taste typical of daiginjo. I went home satisfied with a slight buzz.

Recently, with the easing of various situations, it has become common for some restaurants to require reservations for entry. As I usually like to casually drop by after work, this has become a bit difficult for me. So, I decided to go back to my roots and explore standing bars again. I did some research and ended up in Yotsuya, heading towards the famous Suzufu for a standing bar experience. When I arrived, I saw that it was a liquor store (of course!). It had been a few years since I last visited a standing bar at a liquor store, so I was excited. I entered through the entrance at the back left corner and found a long and narrow interior with a few customers already there around 5 pm. The system was to order at the counter on the right with a list of Japanese sake available. I ordered a glass of Kikuhime unfiltered sake and a sashimi platter. I moved to the counter at the far end and waited. The sashimi platter arrived first, followed by the Kikuhime unfiltered sake. The sashimi included bonito, marinated mackerel, and octopus, which I enjoyed. The unfiltered sake paired well with the marinated mackerel. More customers started coming in, and it was clear that this was a popular spot. Unlike the standing bars in Minami, the atmosphere here was nice (though Minami has its own charm). I definitely want to visit again. Thank you for the meal!

"Suzuden" must be mentioned when talking about kakuuchi. But first, let's drink. [Week 2 of June 2022] Part 5 Kakuuchi bar hopping. Around 7:40 pm, peeking into the store, there was an opening in front! The entrance for standing drinking is narrow and customers are overflowing, so if you go around from the side with the sake sales register, they will say, "One person, please." However, I thought it was full because there was no space, but luckily a customer was just leaving. Lucky! - Mirror Mountain Junmai nama genshu ¥700 Looking into the showcase, this seems good. - Red wiener and green pepper stir-fry ¥400 The red wiener and green pepper stir-fry has a good saltiness that goes well with sake. It's spot on for the taste buds when drunk! The red wiener has cuts to make it look like an octopus, but the fact that it doesn't turn into octopus legs adds charm. I'm getting more drunk. That's it for today, I'll come back again! [Week 2 of April 2022] Part 4 Kakuuchi bar hopping. This time, two middle-aged men from the company's drinking buddies entered the store around 7:10 pm. Temperature check was OK. There was a table available. - Kikuhime Nigori sake ¥500 - Macaroni potato salad ¥400 It's a bit odd as a sake snack, but surprisingly, it goes well. I'm getting drunk. I'll come back again!

"Suzuden" must be mentioned when talking about kakuuchi. But first, let's talk about drinking. ③ [5th week of March] Bar hopping kakuuchi. As usual, the old man opened the door to the store around 7:05 pm. Temperature check OK. There was a table available. Looking at the large menu posted next to the order counter, I decided on this sake. - Manjusen ¥420 For snacks, I peeked into the glass showcase on the counter. - Nagaimo strips ¥400 Holding a glass of sake and snacks, I headed to the empty table. I took a sip of sake and a bite of the snack. The fragrance of the grated nagaimo was gentle. Mmm, delicious! Two young women each sat alone at a table. Cool! Feeling a bit tipsy from bar hopping. That's it for today, I'll come back again. ② [4th week of March] Bar hopping kakuuchi. I opened the door to the store around 6:50 pm. Temperature check OK. The tables were full, but there was space at the counter. Looking at the large menu posted next to the order counter, I decided on this sake. - Tetsutorikawa ¥450 For snacks, I peeked into the glass showcase on the counter. - Bonito sashimi ¥400 Holding a glass of sake and snacks, I headed to the empty counter. I took a sip of sake and a bite of the snack. Mmm, delicious! Feeling a bit tipsy from bar hopping. That's it for today, I'll come back again. ① [2nd week of March] Bar hopping kakuuchi. I had visited twice in the past, both times with colleagues from work, but this time I was alone. I opened the door to the store around 7 pm. Temperature check OK, there was a table available. Looking at the large menu posted next to the order counter, I decided on this sake. - Shimetsubakari ¥450 For snacks, I peeked into the glass showcase on the counter. - Shishamo smelt fish ¥400 Holding a glass of sake and snacks, I headed to the empty table. I took a sip of sake and a bite of the snack. Mmm, delicious! Feeling a bit tipsy from bar hopping. That's it for today, I'll come back again.

Suendou is a famous liquor store in Tokyo that has been in business since 1850. Next to the liquor store, there is a standing bar space, known as a "kakudachi," where you can enjoy a variety of sake at reasonable prices. They offer a great selection of sake, and the prices are very reasonable. The snacks available range from homemade dishes like potato salad and simmered dishes to pickles, making it a great place to enjoy with friends. The only downside is that the standing bar is only open on weekday evenings (the liquor store is open on Saturdays). Despite this, it is definitely worth a visit, even if you have to take time off work to go.

I started special training to overcome my dislike of sake. Today, I visited a long-standing sake bar in Yotsuya. I arrived before the bar opened, but they kindly let me in. Later, I found out from a friend who knows a lot about sake that I tried a very rare sake called Hanayouyoku Junmai Ginjo. It was delicious! It seems that I can enjoy sake as long as I stick to two cups for now.