Second visit. After sweating at a nearby public bath, I entered the shop in excellent condition. Due to the hated coronavirus, this shop also has measures in place to prevent splashes. I started with a shochu on the rocks. I ordered raisin butter, which is not so common in any bar. The TV was showing the Japan Series Softbank vs Giants game. I enjoyed watching the Giants' poor performance while having sake. I also had pickled daikon with mountain pepper. After two cups of sake, I left the shop. It's a cozy bar tucked away in an alley.

It is located a little off the main street. The landlady knew exactly what she was doing, and the red lanterns shining in the dark alleys made a strong impression, attracting drinkers. The inside of the bar is bright, and you can enjoy a conversation with the landlady while drinking. Started with beer and snacks, then moved on to shochu on the rocks (Akakirishima). Although standing bars are often associated with cheap drinks, there is a natural atmosphere where conversations with the landlady and regular customers flow easily. After leaving the bar, I found out that it was called Kei-chan's stand bar.

I went there on a weekend night. The place is located a little north of Shijo Street. The entrance doesn't have the atmosphere of a standing bar. Inside, there are counters and tables. It can accommodate about 20 people. There is a big TV, so you can relax and have a drink even if you're alone. They offer beer, highball, sake, shochu, etc., but only bottled beer. They have a wide variety of beers. For a Sapporo lover like me, they have Black Label and Red Star in small bottles for 400 yen each. Highball is in a can for 350 yen. Snacks start from 50 yen with options like cheese.

Mom is here, but it's not a snack bar! "Kei-chan's Stand Bar" @ Kyoto Omiya After leaving "Sai" in Kyoto Omiya, I hurriedly headed towards Omiya, but something caught my attention... a red lantern hanging in the darkness. Just seeing that already makes me excited, but when it says "standing bar" on it, I can't help but be intrigued, haha. Even if I'm short on time, I can't resist a new establishment, the nature of a drinker... Kyoto Omiya's standing bar "Kei-chan's Stand Bar" Turning the corner of the red lantern, I found myself in a narrow alley. There, another red lantern like the one before. As I approached, I thought it would be a typical izakaya, but the exterior looked more like a snack bar. Peeking inside through the glass, it was definitely a standing bar, but... wait. No time to hesitate. I checked the menu, and the prices didn't seem too high. So why not just go in! And so I did! Inside the establishment, there was a counter where 4-5 people could stand, and two round table seats in front. It was a bit cramped, but for some reason, there was a coat rack and a mysterious door behind it leading somewhere?! A large TV was also present. And there sat a doll of Rika-chan, ready for a costume change... Suspicious... (Later I found out it's the hobby of the owner, Mama-san. I like Rika-chan too!) The menu was a drink pouch at hand. Beers were all in bottles. Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, three brands were available. They had sake, shochu, highball, wine, etc., without going overboard, they had the usual lineup. The handwritten food menu hanging above. Snacks and simple dishes. (The paper was clipped with a hairpin! Haha) "Can I just have one drink?" So I ordered a red wine for ¥250. I have no idea about the brand, but it was easy to drink. And I also had a salami cucumber for ¥300. The person next to me offered, "Please have some," and I received a Sapporo (small) for ¥300. Thank you very much! (Despite being aware of the time, I'm a bit of a chatty person, haha) The owner is Keiko Mama, also known as Kei-chan. She is a beautiful Mama who looks good in a hat and has a slender figure! There were two regular male customers. Both seemed to be regulars, chatting with Kei-chan. I see. I guess it's more like a casual snack bar for men. But Mama was very friendly and there was no sleaziness, which was nice. It was much better than the standing bar that turned into a girls' bar I went to the other day. If it were nearby, I would definitely want to visit this place often and say, "Hey Kei-chan, listen to this!" A very meaningful moment! If I'm in the area again, I'll definitely stop by for a quick visit! "Kei-chan's Stand Bar" Address: 10-6 Mibu Bojo-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Phone: 090-2111-1847 Hours: 18:00-23:00, Closed on Sundays and holidays

There was a little gap, but this is my fourth visit. I was surprised when I first visited because the restaurant was non-smoking, but I don't smoke so it was personally fine. However, it's not completely non-smoking, there is a ventilation fan near the entrance where smoking is allowed. It's interesting. It might be a little tough for heavy smokers though. I always feel comforted by the kind mama here every time I come. She doesn't intrude too much, but also doesn't neglect you, keeping a good distance. She must have a good grasp on customer service. I had a Black Kirishima on the rocks and a Chilled Ura Kasumi with twig edamame for a total of ¥1,300. This is wallet-friendly even if you come here every day. Since it was a bit early, I was the only customer. I had a great time chatting with mama and enjoyed a summer night at the end of the season on my way home.

I have been going to "Snack To" at Shinjuku Kaikan for over half a year now. I never gave them my mobile number because I didn't want to receive sales calls, but when I visited after about 3 months at the end of the year, they said, "We were worried you might be sick or something." It made me realize that living alone, I might end up dying alone, so I decided to give them my number. Sure enough, I got a sales call the other day. Since I had plans last night, I decided to go out yesterday. I wanted to try a ramen shop near my house that only opens at night, but when I got there at 9:00, it was still closed. I walked along Shijo Street looking for a small bar that serves oden and hot sake, and that's when I found it. A suspicious sign. The bar was run by a woman named Kei. A woman running a shady bar was too intriguing for me to pass up. So, yesterday, I warmed up at this bar before going to Snack To, and it was quite nice. The mama is probably around my age or a bit younger. She is a beautiful woman from Kyoto, but not trying to sell sex appeal. It's a stand bar. She worked at a snack bar for a long time, but last November, she finally opened her own bar. It's a stand bar, but there are a few stools and a couple of table seats. All of them, just like the sign, have a homemade feel, as if they were bought at a home center. This kind of independent spirit, not relying on authority, really strikes a chord with me. The menu for snacks is quite extensive, and all of them are very cheap. I started with hot sake. I wanted oden, but they were already sold out, so I ended up with egg, fish cake, and bits of beef tendon. Yuba, daikon, and tofu salad. I thought it would be very small given the price, but it was surprisingly generous. This place is completely non-smoking, and you have to smoke outside. I ended up going on a tangent about my views on smoking, which I felt a little bad about, but the mama listened without any complaints. I had two cups of sake, and the total was 1,450 yen. Not bad at all.

This stand bar is run by a mom on her own. The name of the bar and the handmade sign give it a very homely feel. However, it's quite bold to have a "no smoking" policy in a bar. Maybe this will become more common in the future... I'm glad I quit smoking. The interior has a counter and two tables for standing only. But there are also folding chairs available if you prefer to sit. Let's grab a table and have a drink! The prices are quite reasonable here. Sapporo bottled beer (500 yen), Lemon Chu-hi (350 yen), Tris Highball (350 yen), La France Highball (450 yen). The food selection is not extensive but it's enough for a snack. And everything is affordable. Firefly squid (250 yen), Whole Tomato and Cheese Grilled (250 yen) - they have a homey feel to them. The portions are small, perfect for 1-2 people to enjoy with drinks. This bar opened just last November, so the mom running it is still getting the hang of things, but she's friendly and has a nice vibe!