Today's lunch drink was at this famous Asakusa restaurant. It was 16 hours before Sunday, but the restaurant was full. Luckily, there was one seat available so I slid in. The interior is filled with history, with wooden walls covered in celebrity signatures. Beat Takeshi's signature caught my eye, covered in plastic to keep it clean. There was also a transcription of "Tomorrow's Joe" by Chiba Tetsuya, a manga artist from Yoshiwara. It's fun to search for your favorite celebrity's signature while sitting at the counter. Surprisingly, there were signatures even in the toilet's water tank. It turns out the owner used to be a rakugo storyteller. I ordered a chu-hi, recommended by the lively staff, along with a mix of whale red meat and skin sashimi, and whale tempura. The cheerful service is refreshing, and the atmosphere is lively and pleasant. I toasted with the chu-hi, which had a hint of syrup. It reminded me of a childhood field trip snack flavor. Delicious. The sashimi mix arrived in a cute boat-shaped dish. The frozen red meat can be enjoyed as is or after it melts, as recommended by the staff. I tried the frozen red meat with garlic soy sauce. It melted on the tongue without feeling icy, surprisingly light and slightly sweet. The skinless texture was unique and delicious. The whale skin melted instantly on the tongue, with a sweet and fragrant taste. The tempura, at first glance, seemed ordinary but was surprisingly light and lacked any distinct flavor. However, after the red meat, there was a unique smell. I ordered a simmered dish as I sipped on my chu-hi. It was as delicious as the famous simmered dish at Hoppy Street's Shouchan. The gentle flavor of the hormone-infused simmered dish filled me up. Despite feeling full, the sun was still up. Where to next for more day drinking? This renowned restaurant did not disappoint in taste and atmosphere. Thank you for the meal.

"Kujira Bune" is a restaurant that could be considered a representative of Asakusa. It is always crowded with people lining up even before it opens. I tried to eat beef stew at "Masachan" on Hoppy Street multiple times, but it was always full. Finally, I gave up and on my way to the station, I stopped by this place where they had sold out of stew but had one seat available. It had been about four years since my last visit. I ordered a chu-hi and whale tempura. The tempura was freshly fried and piping hot, and I drizzled it with Worcestershire sauce and hot mustard before taking a bite. It was delicious! It hasn't changed at all.

I've always wanted to go and finally got to! It always seems to be fully booked! If the timing is right, you can get in. I ordered the recommended mix of raw fish and skin. Also had the beef stew that was being cooked in front of me. For drinks, I had a chu-hi with plum syrup. The whale meat had a unique taste, so I might have been better off with the fried chicken. The beef stew was well-cooked and delicious. I ended up ordering yakisoba because I wanted more. This also had whale meat in it and was delicious. Ended up spending quite a bit of time there. Oh, and when I entered, Takamisakari was there and I got to shake his hand. His autograph was all over the wall. Truly Asakusa!

【Nearest station】5-minute walk from Asakusa Station 【Budget】2000-3000 yen 【Overview】A whale specialty izakaya located on a corner of Asakusa's Hoppy Street. The walls of the exterior and interior are filled with photos and autographs of celebrities, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. You can enjoy whale dishes while drinking until you're completely drunk for 2000-3000 yen. The sense of community love is strong, and the atmosphere is lively with the manager, staff, and customers all enjoying themselves. There are also customers who come alone. 【Menu】It didn't even cost 2000 yen for three people... - Whale sashimi (skin/meat) - Beef stew - Whale tempura - Chu-hai 【Notes】Visited with three friends this time. We arrived at 4:00 p.m. when they opened and there was already a line outside. So we went to another restaurant to kill time and then visited again for the second round. As expected, there was no line this time and we were able to enter smoothly. Since there are only counter seats and it's quite crowded, you probably won't stay for 3 hours. The strength of the chu-hai is abnormal haha. I love drinking, but I was on the verge of death after just one drink. Here are some recommended dishes: - Whale sashimi (1600 yen): A classic menu item, a great value set with skin and meat! The meat is served in a thawed state, but it's tastier when it's slightly frozen on hot summer days! It's delicious when eaten with ginger and soy sauce, whether you let it thaw for a bit before eating or not. - Beef stew: It's cooked slowly in a large pot right in front of the counter. It's around 600 yen and goes well with alcohol, very delicious! In Asakusa's Hoppy Street, you can also try monjayaki or motsu-nikomi, but why not follow Asakusa Kid's example and hone your skills before heading home!! Thank you for the meal.

Today, I had a drinking party in Asakusa. I visited this whale restaurant that I had been interested in for a while. When I arrived at 4:00 PM when the store opened, there were already several groups enjoying their drinks. By around 4:30 PM, it was almost full, so I recommend arriving early. We ordered a variety of whale dishes. We had a mix of whale skin and sashimi, whale and vegetable stir-fry, whale bacon, whale karaage, etc. Among them, the most delicious was surprisingly the whale and vegetable stir-fry! The whale really enhances the flavor of the vegetables and it was incredibly tasty! It also goes well with alcohol! The whale karaage was also excellent. Personally, I preferred the cooked whale dishes over the sashimi. It's a great restaurant where you can enjoy the deep atmosphere of Asakusa and delicious whale dishes!

During the daytime visit, the TV was showing horse racing. There were only counter seats, and it was a bit cramped, but it had a nostalgic atmosphere. The whale dishes were excellent, and the simmered dishes were also delicious. Watching them simmer right in front of you really stimulates your appetite. I definitely want to go back when I have a daytime drink in Asakusa.

There were a lot of signs, so I thought it must be a famous restaurant and decided to go in. There were many regular customers, and they seemed to be familiar with the staff. I heard that the stewed whale tripe, fried whale, and whale sashimi were popular, so I ordered all of them. The stewed whale tripe was rich in flavor and quite intense. It had a strong, fatty taste that was sweet and rich. It was delicious! Just the way I like it! Intense! Sweet! Delicious! The fried whale had a strong smell with a distinct taste. Frying it might have mellowed it out a bit. The whale sashimi didn't taste like whale unless told. It had a texture similar to horse sashimi. With a drink each, the total bill was 4000 yen. Not bad at all!

Drinks and dinner with friends in Asakusa! We started at Hōeisen with whale stew, whale bacon, and yakisoba. We ordered bottled beer and later switched to chu-hai. The whale stew was delicious, especially when poured over rice. The whale bacon was fatty and had a different texture than expected, but the flavor was great. The yakisoba was also very tasty, I love this type of noodles. The dishes were a bit pricey, but the alcohol was cheap. Overall, the food was delicious! Thank you for the meal!

I was finally able to visit that famous restaurant♪ Ever since I heard about Beat Takeshi's Asakusa Kid, I have always wanted to try the whale meat stew served on whaling ships. The stew is made with beef and the chewy, oily tripe is cooked just right, it was really delicious. The interior of the restaurant is covered with signatures all over the walls, and there were transparent covers over Beat Takeshi's signature and Tetsuya Chiba's illustrations from Tomorrow's Joe. The only downside was that the head chef was not there.

The famous whaling ship known for "Eat whale meat and hone your skills!" was almost full when I entered at 4 pm! Since it was my first time trying whale meat, I asked what to eat and they recommended a mix of red meat and skin! The red meat was like a mix of tuna and beef, with no strong taste and very delicious! The skin was fatty maybe? The more you chew, the sweeter it gets! The specialty chu-hai had a mysterious flavor, haha. I must mention the beef stew! It had a sweet flavor but was cooked for hours until the tripe was tender! Even the leftover broth went well with sake! I wanted to try the yakisoba too but my stomach had no space left, so I had to give up! I definitely want to go back!

The model for "Kujiraya" as sung in Beat Takeshi's "Asakusa Kid". The walls are filled with the signatures and photos of numerous comedians and entertainers. The faded colors of the photos give a sense of the passage of time, creating a Showa retro atmosphere. I ordered the beef stew and a chu-hi. The beef stew costs 680 yen, and the chu-hi costs 480 yen (tax included), with no appetizers served. The beef stew was delicious with tender beef and flavorful tofu. They also had whale meat dishes on the menu, but the price was a bit high for a solo meal, so I decided to skip it this time. When I visit with friends next time, I'd like to try a variety of dishes.

It's been a long time since I've been to this whale meat restaurant! It's been about 10 years since I came with a friend. The spring weather in Asakusa was so nice and refreshing! Even after 10 years, it felt like nothing had changed. The small restaurant was still crowded early in the day, but we had a great time with the friendly owner next door, toasting with drinks. I definitely want to come back again. Thank you for the delicious meal! ♡

Asakusa Station is within a 10-minute walk, and I waited for about 30 minutes from 6:00 pm to finally visit this place on a lucky weekend! The interior and exterior of the restaurant are filled with photos of famous people, which made me nervous. Here's what I ordered: - Whale meat yakisoba: 750 yen - Beef intestines with tofu: 680 yen - Mix of whale skin and sashimi: 1600 yen - Large bottle of beer: 680 yen - 2 cups of cold sake: 1100 yen First, I tried the beef intestines with tofu, which had plenty of fatty meat and tofu soaked in a rich sauce of fatty meat and soy sauce. The whale sashimi, made of frozen lean meat and fatty skin, was a new experience for me. It had a texture and flavor similar to horse sashimi, especially when dipped in a sauce with plenty of garlic and ginger. But the most surprising dish was the yakisoba. It had straight thin noodles, not typical Chinese noodles, with just the right amount of oil, cabbage, pickled ginger, and whale meat. The soy sauce-based seasoning coated the noodles perfectly, making it a delicious dish on its own. It paired well with sake, and the atmosphere of the restaurant, along with the warm customers and staff, made the experience satisfying. I can see why people would want to come back to this place. And if you're lucky, you might even hear the famous line "Bakayarou" (You idiot) - which I did this time!

The other day, I ended up in a local izakaya that wasn't really to my liking, so on Saturday, I felt the urge to eat some high-quality motsu-nabe. Places like Keisei Tateishi, Kitasenju, or Tsukishima are a bit far for me as I live in the western part of Tokyo and don't have much knowledge of the eastern side. Then I remembered, why not go to the whaling ship for some motsu-nabe! Despite being quite far for Seibu Ikebukuro Line users, I knew that I could get to Asakusa's Rokku area quickly by taking a bus from Ikebukuro. So, I hurried to Ikebukuro. I took a bus heading to Asakusa, which passed by about 40 stations, and I dozed off for about an hour. When I woke up, I had arrived at Rokku. It was just before 5 pm, and there was quite a crowd due to it being a Saturday. I walked down the Toyo-kan street and reached the whaling ship, only to find 8 people in line. Hmm, seems like it's quite popular. I thought of killing time on Hoppy Street until the line got shorter. However, even Hoppy Street was bustling with people. All the promising shops were full. I thought, "Instead of wasting time at a random place, I might as well wait in line at the whaling ship." So, I returned to the shop, and the line hadn't changed at all. I waited and observed as people left one by one, and after about 15 minutes, it was finally my turn to enter. The shop's timing is really crucial. I took a seat at the crowded counter and ordered a chu-hai and motsu-nabe. My usual order here is "chu-hai and motsu-nabe first, then a refill of motsu-nabe if I'm still craving it, yakisoba if I'm hungry, and kombu soup if I want something light." I don't eat whale meat here, not because I dislike it, but simply because the motsu-nabe is delicious. I noticed that some people around me were ordering dishes like venison and fried whale, showing that this shop is also a tourist spot. The motsu-nabe arrived, with maruchou and various unknown parts of meat and tofu simmered in a sweet and savory sauce, and it was delicious. Especially in winter, it's the best. I quickly devoured it while it was piping hot, washing it down with chu-hai. A couple next to me, probably visiting the whaling ship for the first time, also ordered motsu-nabe and exclaimed, "Delicious!" The motsu-nabe here is truly a crowd-pleaser. After about 15 minutes in the shop, I wondered if I should get a refill of motsu-nabe... or maybe a refill of chu-hai first... As I pondered, the door kept opening with customers asking, "How long is the wait?" or "How much longer?" I understand that feeling. I decided to order another chu-hai. I wanted to add more motsu-nabe and yakisoba to my order, but well, this place is a bit old-fashioned. A strange thought crossed my mind, "Even if I leave alone, it won't affect the crowd, but I want to maintain a sense of dignity by 'leaving after finishing one drink'." So, I finished my second chu-hai and paid the bill. Two drinks equaled...

I have visited Asakusa hundreds of times in the past, but surprisingly had never visited the "whaling ship" until recently. This shop is known for various episodes related to Beat Takeshi, and I had vowed to visit it after watching the movie "Asakusa Kid". It was a good movie, wasn't it? Now, on a Sunday in mid-January with a few remaining New Year's visitors, there was a group of young girls waiting. We waited for about 20 minutes. The shop, with only a counter, was bustling with a wide range of customers of all ages and genders. The old man I often saw on TV was not there, and instead, three young staff members were running the shop. We started with simmered dish and beer. I was also interested in the whale meat yakisoba and vegetable stir-fry, but decided to try the fried chicken instead! I had a few plum syrup highballs and enjoyed the meal. Overall, it was a decent experience. Next time, I'll aim for the raw whale meat!

It's been about 10 years since I last visited this series. I tried to go about 5 times before, but each time it was closed, so I finally managed to revisit. With the situation calming down after COVID-19, people were starting to come back, and I had to wait for 2 groups ahead of me. It was nice to see that they were open, as I had experienced closures every time I tried to visit in the past. The wait was not a problem. I remember that about 10 years ago, I reserved a seat in advance, but now I see on Tabelog that reservations are not accepted. I'm not sure if the system has changed or if my memory is wrong, it's a bit tricky. After waiting for about 30 minutes, we were seated at the counter right away. This time, I planned to try various whale dishes, starting with beer and stew. The well-cooked stew was delicious. This time, I came with a friend, so we ordered all the different types of whale sashimi. We had a mix of skin and sashimi (red meat), whale testicles, and whale vocal cords. Of course, we also switched to Japanese sake. The whale vocal cords melted in my mouth and were delicious. By the way, Jeremy, who is with me, has been silent the whole time. I mentioned this before and after, but he was silent throughout. He was quiet even in the previous restaurant we visited, so he seems to be quite drunk and lively. We ate and drank a lot, and then had a delicious seaweed soup as a finishing touch. We were completely satisfied and ready to head to the next restaurant. The whale dishes were delicious. Cheers! (I thought to myself, but I drank too much that day, haha.) There are some negative aspects when Jeremy is silent, but I'll write about that in the next restaurant review.

Counter-centered restaurant. There is a tatami room in the back, but it was not in use on this day. I have been here a few times in the past. Oh, even though the New Year's holidays are over, Asakusa's Hoppy Street is still bustling. Normally good restaurants were surprisingly overcharging for the New Year, with some places serving dishes with only 2 pieces of offal for 700 yen and 3 slices of konjac for 350 yen as an appetizer. At that moment, I immediately decided not to return to those places. Despite that, the street was crowded with customers. I was surprised to find a whale restaurant, known for its whale stew and whale sashimi. The yakisoba was also excellent. In the past, I was taken here by a professional wrestler/comedian who said, "Let's eat the stew, yakisoba, and sashimi here quickly and then move on to the next place." Well, I ended up going to this place as the third stop, but oh well. I was also intrigued by the original shochu highball preparation method I saw. It felt more like a bar operation. They crushed a block of ice, poured water over it in a glass to make clear ice, measured and poured in the alcohol, added a little colored liquid, then topped it off with carbonated water from a bottle, adding a touch more of that liquid and lightly stirring to finish. When I asked what that liquid was, they said it was plum syrup used for a slight flavoring. What a wonderful original shochu highball! It's a unique and charming restaurant with delicious food. I will definitely come back. By the way, I will never go back to those overcharging places on Hoppy Street.

Just a 2-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba Express. Another day of eating and exploring in Asakusa. Visited a shop featured in the song "Asakusa Kid" by Beat Takeshi, with a cozy atmosphere and photos of artists Chiba Tetsuya and Leiji Matsumoto on the walls. Ordered a large bottle of Asahi beer, simmered dish, and fried chicken. The simmered dish here is amazing, with tender beef tripe. The fried chicken was crispy and delicious. If you're doing a bar crawl in Asakusa, this place is a must-visit! Eating whale meat is not just about the food, but also about appreciating art. Instagram ID: kuidaore.8.

Today's dinner was at "Kujira-sen" in Asakusa. It's the second stop on the Asakusa drinking tour. This famous whale cuisine restaurant has been visited by celebrities like Beat Takeshi. When I arrived at 4:55 PM, the shutters were closed and the noren curtain and lantern were not up yet. Since it was a weekday, there were no other customers. At 4:59 PM, the shutters opened. The restaurant has an L-shaped counter. In the corner of the L, there was a large pot of "gyuniku nikomi" (beef stew), which looked delicious, but this is a whale cuisine restaurant, so I resisted the temptation. I ordered the "saezuri" (whale tongue), "bacon," and "tatsuta-age" (deep-fried chicken) dishes. The saezuri had a sweet flavor and a tender texture, very delicious. Calling whale tongue "saezuri" is quite stylish. The bacon was tasty, although not particularly outstanding. The tatsuta-age had a subtle flavor, the marinade could have been a bit stronger, maybe with soy sauce or garlic. The restaurant had a great atmosphere, with walls covered in autographs and photos of famous people. It was a very enjoyable place.

Asakusa's famous whaling ship. It is said that whale meat can be eaten, but on this day, only deer and simmered dishes were served. The deer is sliced from the fatty (or mostly fat) part of the whale. At first, it is a lump, but the more you chew, the more the fat melts, and a mysterious flavor emerges. The simmered dish is delicious in a standard way. I should have also ordered whale sashimi or fried whale. I would like to try other items as well.

For the second stop after enjoying the dozeu nabe at Iidaya during a drinking tour in Asakusa, we visited the "Kujira-ya" whale restaurant mentioned in the lyrics of Beat Takeshi's "Asakusa Kid." The walls were covered with signatures of comedians. We started with a chu-hai and indulged in simmered dishes and a platter of whale sashimi. The cozy atmosphere made us feel like true locals, shoulder to shoulder at the narrow counter. It was a unique experience in Asakusa!