Rakuzaya is located at 11-8 Nakamachi, Hachioji City, Tokyo. The opening hours are as follows: [Mon-Fri] 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM. [Sat-Sun-Holidays] 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM. This yakitori restaurant, just a 5-minute walk from JR Hachioji, uses local ingredients and regional sake abundantly. The salt-grilled mackerel has a moist texture with a good amount of fat that doesn't taste old. The miso soup is salty. The grilled chicken skewers have a nice charcoal aroma and are juicy. Grilled potato wrapped in a slice of pork has a delicate texture for the potato but the meat is slightly tough. The ginger-wrapped skewer has a tangy ginger flavor. The chicken and cheese skewer is slightly dry from being grilled. All items are salt-grilled with a good handling of salt.

I was curious because it always seemed crowded on weekends, but it wasn't too bad this time so I decided to go! Although the main dish is chicken, I saw they had mackerel grilled set so I couldn't resist getting that! It said salt-grilled mackerel on the menu so I guess it's inevitable, but it was a bit salty (lol). However, it came with miso soup and pickles, and you could get unlimited rice for free ^_^

There is a trendy spot in Hachioji called Kuwato Terrace, which was created as part of the urban revitalization efforts, but it doesn't seem to be very lively. However, one particular shop here seems to have some energy. The second branch of the seafood izakaya JURAKU in Myojincho opened in the Kei-Hachi station building a while ago. This shop is probably their third branch. The original shop was known for its delicious seafood, so it's no wonder this place is popular. I visited for lunch this time. They offer dishes like fried chicken, chicken nanban, and salted mackerel, but since it's a charcoal-grilled restaurant, I ordered the Charcoal Grilled Skewer Set Meal for 980 yen. The set meal comes on a tray, which is a bit heavy, so it might be difficult for them to pass it over the counter. The meal includes 3 skewers, pickled mackerel, miso soup, pickles, and rice, which is quite generous. The chilled chicken nanban is a bit off-putting, but the flavor is decent. The miso soup is rich and tasty. The skewers include meatballs, yam and meat wraps, and young chicken. The crispy texture of the yam is nice. The well-made skewers are delicious. Overall, I think it was a good lunch for the price. However, they should improve the quality of the water they serve. Perhaps this place is better suited for enjoying drinks. I'll visit at night next time.

I visited the restaurant late on a weekend night, about 30 minutes before the last food order (10:30 pm). There was one group inside and two groups outside on the terrace. Personally, I prefer not to have appetizers so I can choose what I want to eat, so that was great. They seemed to have Yamanashi's Uchu Brewing beer on rotation, so this time I ordered the Atom Mango (around 1,100 yen). It was very mango-flavored, which was great to drink on its own, but just okay with the skewers.

Kuwato Terrace, which opened on November 26, 2022, at the north exit of Hachioji Station, is a new charcoal-grilled restaurant that opened on January 18, 2023. The meat-wrapped skewers made with Hachioji vegetables and the oden were both delicious. I also recommend the grilled rice ball with bonito dashi.

I had three pieces of eel quickly and was thinking of visiting this place, which is newly opened for lunch. Kuwato Terrace is different from daytime, with a quiet atmosphere at night (although it's a shame that only this restaurant is open). My colleague from Ise was delighted to discover Ise Kado beer. I ordered Ise Kado, while my colleague ordered Uchuu. We tried the recommended dishes: pork wrapped in long green onions, pickled ginger rolls, smoked octopus potato salad, and green onion salted shironegi skewers. The skewers were elegant and delicious. I enjoyed it, but my colleague was more into beer talk and had a great time. They are planning to grow ingredients in Hachioji, manufacture beer in Hachioji, and produce Hachioji beer in the future, which is exciting. I ended the night with a Hachioji highball and look forward to visiting again for lunch.

I went to have lunch at the newly opened Charcoal Grill Rakuzan at Sando Terrace before noon. Upon entering, I noticed that there were mostly women, except for two businessmen. I sat at the counter and checked the menu. Although I was interested in the fried chicken and chicken nanban, I decided on the limited quantity Charcoal Grilled Skewer Set for 980 yen, which is grilled right in front of you, and also ordered a craft beer for 858 yen. The manager from the main store seemed to be in charge of the grill, handling everything efficiently. Two young women were also there to assist. The craft beer was served promptly, and the set meal arrived in about ten minutes. The young chicken, pork belly rolls, and grilled yam were all nicely flavored with the charcoal, and they paired well with the craft beer. The fact that the soup was miso soup was also a nice touch. This is definitely a recommended menu. Overall, it was a quick and delicious meal. Thank you.

Charcoal-grilled skewer set meal ¥980 The set includes 3 types of skewers: grilled green onions, tsukune (chicken meatballs), and chicken thigh with green onions. The grilled green onions are delicious with a sweet and rich flavor. The tsukune is surprisingly fluffy and tender. The rice portion is small, but the miso soup serving is generous. However, I was disappointed that the miso soup had very few ingredients. I was expecting it to be packed with ingredients. Overall, the seasoning is perfect for accompanying alcohol, and the food is so good that you'll keep wanting more rice.

I visited "Sumibi Yaki Rakza," which opened on January 18, 2023, for lunch. It is located in the "Kuwato Terrace," about a 5-minute walk from Hachioji Station North Exit. The glass-walled interior was bustling even after the usual lunch hours, with two groups of ladies and a solo male customer at the counter. I ordered the Salted Mackerel Charcoal Grill Set for ¥980, which was delicious with a crispy skin and tender meat. The Smoked Octopus Potato Salad, Pork Miso Soup, and Pickled Vegetables were also tasty. The restaurant is affiliated with "Uosakaba Jyuraku" in Myojincho, known for its delicious fish dishes. The lunch was affordable and satisfying, with free rice refills. I look forward to returning for a drink next time to try their selection of Japanese sake. The restaurant does not accept PayPay yet, so I paid with a credit card. The Kuwato Terrace in Hachioji City is a facility that promotes traditional culture and arts, with a historical charm reminiscent of a flower town. It offers a variety of events and activities, making it a vibrant and cultural hub in the city.