The night before the Gion Festival, the street leading from Shijo Kawaramachi to Yasaka Shrine was packed with an incredible number of people. It was so crowded that it was almost impossible to move freely. The next day, the Kyoto newspaper reported that there were approximately 300,000 people in attendance, which seemed believable considering the situation. This number is equivalent to the entire population of my current place of work, Morioka. Due to the massive crowd, all the nearby restaurants were bustling and full to capacity. After trying several places with no luck, I was fortunate to stumble upon "Nichian," where I managed to secure a seat at the end of the counter. I started by quenching my thirst with a cold beer. The complimentary appetizers included a mix of crab sticks and macaroni salad, potato salad, grilled eel, cucumber with eel, and marinated bacon. I then ordered grilled chicken skewers with liver, meatballs, thigh meat, and gizzard. The skewers were cooked meticulously over charcoal right in front of me. I enjoyed them with a glass of "Eastern Beauty" Junmai Ginjo sake and a highball. The sake was reasonably priced, served in a cut glass on a saucer with no spillage. The portion was less than 90cc, but the quality was good. I appreciated the honesty of the pricing by the owner, Mr. Tokimoto. The taste of the grilled chicken was decent, with good quality meat, although I had to leave earlier than planned due to the strong smoke from the neighboring tables. Next time, I will continue my exploration of restaurants in the area.

It was a shop in Koyamachi that I didn't originally intend to visit, but I decided to drop in and found the inside to be very lively. I was able to sit at the counter after being squeezed in by the previous customers. It had a casual izakaya vibe. The dishes didn't come out quickly, but it seemed like the master was working alone, so it was understandable. I ordered a few dishes, and each one was satisfying. The grilled squid skewers were especially delicious and addictive. The homely atmosphere was really nice.

Hello, I'm a middle-aged man who loves drinking. This time, I'd like to share the continuation of the story where I had a great time drinking with my colleagues in Kyoto. After enjoying a delicious soy milk hot pot, we headed to a yakitori restaurant called "Nichian" in Sanjo, Kyoto. It was my first time visiting this place, and I was impressed by the wide variety of sake they offered. We tried a sake called "Ugo no Tsuki," which was really tasty. The food was also delicious, with juicy and perfectly grilled chicken being the highlight. We indulged in the food and enjoyed some more sake, including Ugo no Tsuki. I can't remember everything we drank because we had a bit too much, but it was a fantastic experience. The cozy atmosphere of the restaurant made me want to visit again even if I'm alone. I highly recommend checking out this place if you get the chance. Enjoy!

The food is all so delicious!!! The appetizers are the best! It's a sake bar.

I came here to work today to get a LINE message, and decided to visit with my friends. A few of my drinking buddies come here often, so we finally made the visit. There were many posts on Tabelog recommending Japanese sake, so I told the owner my preferences and left it up to him. We started with a toast with beer, and then left the food selection up to the owner as well. He recommended a few dishes for the day and then said he would serve some yakitori. We started with appetizers like beef and chicken tataki, followed by dishes like oyster butter, before moving on to a platter of skewers. It was better for us to drink more than eat as a duo, rather than ordering a variety of dishes. We saw that most of the other customers were regulars dining alone, including many women, so my drinking buddy and I were convinced that it's a good place to come alone, have the daily specials, and enjoy some Japanese sake.

There are many sake breweries in Kyoto, yet I felt there were few places where you could easily drink sake. In the midst of this, I decided to visit this place located behind Ajibiru, which is a place mainly frequented by young people. I really wanted to drink yakitori and sake, so I chose this place. The appearance is not particularly stylish, more like a casual izakaya. Inside, there are three 4-person tables, seats around a hearth in the back, and a counter with 6-7 seats, making it a cozy little place. When I nervously entered, I saw many 1.8 liter bottles lined up on the counter! Not only sake from the Kansai region, but also sake from all over Japan was available, and I was thrilled as soon as I walked in. The dishes included charcoal-grilled yakitori and a variety of voluminous dishes. The lineup is perfect for pairing with sake, known as "sake for food". They had rare sake that cost 5000 yen per glass, as well as sake that you cannot find in other places, making it an impressive selection. I heard that the master started collecting sake as a hobby. The story of the master, who used to be a bartender, being drawn to sake made the sake taste even better! This is a wonderful place where you can drink sake while talking to someone and engaging in conversation. Don't be shy, ask questions, and you will have an even more enjoyable time!

Located on the first floor of the Kawaramachi Building, if you head east on Rokkaku Street from Kawaramachi Street, you will find this restaurant. The white lantern with the restaurant's name is a sign, and once you step inside, you will feel a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with jazz music playing in the background. The friendly and sociable owner greets you warmly, providing a heartfelt hospitality. The menu mainly consists of grilled skewers, accompanied by a variety of regional sake and unique shochu that are not commonly seen. They offer around 70 types of sake, including rare brands that are hard to come by. Premium shochu is also available discreetly, showcasing their wide selection. They have a diverse range of course menus, suitable for solo diners as well. The women's course, for example, includes 5 skewers and unlimited chu-hai drinks for 1580 yen. The drink-all-you-can option has no time limit, making it a reasonable price for women to enjoy. The appetizers are served in three varieties, each meticulously prepared and elegantly presented. The grilled skewers are cooked only over charcoal, resulting in a fragrant and flavorful taste. The sweet potato vegetable skewer, paired with butter, is gentle and mellow in flavor. The assorted skewers with tomato-flavored salsa sauce offer a unique twist. The generous portion of fried potatoes with curry flavor is spicy and flavorful. The glass noodle stir-fry, cooked with sesame oil, is voluminous and pairs well with any drink. The grilled rice ball has a crispy surface with a ginger-infused sauce that permeates through. The dedication to Japanese sake and shochu is exceptional, and the overall quality of the dishes is highly satisfying. Regulars and newcomers alike are treated with equal care, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the restaurant.

I visited Nichian, located near Sanjo Kawaramachi, for the first time. The master, who used to be a bartender, is very knowledgeable about Japanese sake and has connections with about 70 breweries. I started with a limited edition bottle from Eikun in Fushimi, Kyoto called "Yadorigi," which is my favorite among Eikun's lineup. I enjoyed it with some chicken sashimi. For my second drink, the master recommended a sake with a rich ginjo aroma and a soft taste called "Suiko" from Tsuki no Katsura Shuzo. It was my first time trying it, and it was delicious with a deep flavor profile. In addition to well-known brands, there were also hidden gems on the menu. Even beginners in sake can feel at ease ordering with the guidance of the master. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was lively with regular customers, but I didn't feel out of place as a first-time visitor.

◆Revisit◆ January 13, 2013 (※Continuation from here) After leaving "Shinkiro" in Miyagawa-cho, we headed straight to this place as a "connecting stop" before going to the next restaurant. This time, we decided to have "just one drink each!" as a rule. Coincidentally, the president of the "Nihonshu Fukyu Kyokai" (Sake Promotion Association) was there! It turns out that our friend, Okama-san, had been aiming to meet him from the beginning, saying, "Let's go have a drink because he might be here!" According to Okama-san, "When it comes to sake, this person is someone I could never compete with." I couldn't believe my ears, as Okama-san is like a walking encyclopedia and a connoisseur of sake, but this president is someone who can get into "every sake brewery in Japan" with just his face! That's how amazing he is. This place is where sake lovers gather, with a great atmosphere and no sense of exclusivity. The owner, the smart and stylish old gentleman (master) with a great smile, makes the place even better. I had never heard of this place until Okama-san told me about it. Even though I frequent this area every night, I guess I'm just a novice. The appetizers served this day, even though we were only having one drink each, were amazing. The owner went out of his way to serve us three different premium sakes, even though there were only three of us! This level of service is not something you see every day. The sake selection here is impressive, and you can learn a lot about sake if you drink here regularly. You can encounter wonderful premium sake and delicious dishes here. After this, we went to a mysterious darts bar, but due to various reasons, I won't be posting a review about it (laughs). Next up is a review of the teppanyaki restaurant we visited for dinner. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal. ★★★★★ Finally, I visited this place! Although I was beaten to it by the review master Gabacho-san, it was a great day as I was with our friend Okama-san! Gabacho-san mentioned in his review (in the comments section of my review, I think) that "The president of the Nihonshu Kyokai was there, and I had the chance to talk to him." When Okama-san read that, he said, "I can guess who it is, but I wonder who it could be?" So, I decided to email Gabacho-san and ask. He immediately replied with the full name of the president! You are truly formidable! A terrifying businessman! But I digress. Oh, the countless varieties of sake and shochu I heard about! "Taketsuru" and "Yuki no Bosha" are some of my favorites, but you don't see them often. The appetizers that came out first were different for me and Okama-san, as the owner serves them based on the customers' appearance. Such a thoughtful gesture! And they were delicious! Oh, by the way, some people mention in their reviews that "the prices are high!" regarding this place. But what I realized after reading those reviews is that it's not that the prices are higher than other restaurants, but rather that high-quality sake ===========

I visited this restaurant alone from Tokyo. Not only was the food delicious and the selection of sake extensive, but the master's personality was also outstanding! It was my first visit to Kyoto, and my first Kyoto meal at this restaurant was very satisfying (^^) * All the skewers were delicious, but personally, the eel was exceptional.

I was looking for a place where I could enjoy drinking sake, and I came across Nichian. It was located in a narrow alley and had a quaint appearance, so it wasn't easy to find, but I decided to give it a try. The interior of the restaurant had an old-fashioned feel, and it seemed like a place frequented by middle-aged and older customers. The master was very friendly and recommended one sake after another, ultimately serving me ones that matched my preferences perfectly. I had the opportunity to try a total of four precious local sakes, two of which were unopened, so I considered myself very lucky. Although the price was a bit high for the delicious sake I enjoyed, I would love to visit this place again for the friendly master and the tasty sake.

I visited this restaurant during a short trip to Kyoto. I had planned to visit other places, but they were closed for the New Year holiday, so I ended up here. I wasn't expecting much in terms of the variety of sake available, but I decided to give it a try. I made a reservation for 7 pm and the place was already full when I arrived. The counter was filled with regular customers, while the tables seemed to be occupied by first-time visitors. The friendly master recommended a sake called "Eikun Yadorigi," which I had never heard of before. He mentioned that this sake is even served on JAL flights and is quite famous in Kyoto. It had a rich sweetness and a clean finish, and I added it to my list of favorite sakes. The menu mainly consisted of skewered dishes, so I ordered red konjac sashimi, beef tataki, shiokara, and kushikatsu. The beef tataki was tender and well-seasoned, very delicious. I ended up drinking a bit too much with sakes like "Hiroki," "Isojiman," and "Ginban," so I couldn't have the yakitori in the end. There was a small incident where the master forgot to include some of my sake orders in the bill, resulting in a much lower total, but I made sure to correct it and pay the full amount. Overall, I unexpectedly found a satisfying restaurant. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I asked my coworker for a good place to drink, and they recommended this restaurant. It's always crowded, especially on Saturdays, so it's hard to get in without a reservation. They have a wide variety of sake, and they will recommend a sake based on your preference, whether you like it sweet or dry. I tried a sake called Daiziro and loved it. I even gave it as a gift for my father's retirement. It's a rare sake that you can't easily find without contacting the wholesaler or producer. The food is also great. I had skewered cutlets and stir-fried glass noodles, and everything was satisfying.