Just like so many other small bars/eateries in Japan, the lantern outside indicates the basic but almost always decent food that awaits within — not to mention the refreshing taste of modestly-priced and equally unpretentious alcohol.
And this one, specialising in yakitori, has been around since 1985, with its 73-year-old owner spending most of his many working hours here, patiently grilling skewered chicken.
While his wife of 43 years happily waits on.
And the cat, not so happily, just watches.
Martin says
You are fortunate to have places like that to hang out.
Lee says
Yes, I am. Something I really do appreciate. A mate and I are currently working our way down the local line near us both, stopping at a different station each time and seeing what we can find. The dirtier and older the places are, the more inclined we are to go in. Been great fun each and every time.
LAObserver says
I tried to find a good yakitori restaurant in Tokyo when I was there in April. Someone had said try the Rappongi district. Sadly I did find some but it was not all I had expected. Too bad – – yakitori done well is exceptionally good. [With or without a cat watching.]
Lee says
Local areas are generally much better. Roppongi is a very different place. You’ll find plenty of clubs and foreigners there. Not to mention fancy boutiques and the like. Old and ramshackle little eateries on the other hand aren’t quite so common…
Agent Smith says
My buddy and I were in TKO a few years ago for a fantastic trip. We spent a night in the “Golden Gai” area. So many small places to have a drink, but also full of locals and easier to navigate if you are with a local. Luckily, we were. Best thing about that city is the diverse experiences one can have, from one end of the spectrum to the other. We will return….too much we missed not to.
Lee says
Yes, couldn’t agree more. There really is something for anyone. Even small pockets of the city would take many lifetimes to fully explore, let alone the whole metropolis itself.
Golden Gai is quite a place eh? Can get very expensive though if you want to move about a bit.
Squidpuppy says
Smart cat. Hanging out at a yakitori shop. I think it’s look is saying: this place is mine – get out.
Lee says
Yeah, a very smart cat indeed!
Willy says
Yet another good reason to be in Japan!
Lee says
It certainly is.
Colm says
You’d never get away with having a cat in a Chinese restaurant in the British Isles. Aside from health and safety, everyone would claim it was on the menu!
I think it’s also worth noting that Japan manages to support tiny 1 or 2 person businesses, a fact that British and Irish governments seem unable to grasp. Instead they seem to go out of their way to make small businesses uneconomical.
Of course, it’s also worth noting that your photos are, as ever, wonderful. 🙂
Colm says
By the way, I know the above isn’t a Chinese restaurant. It’s just a reflection of the urban myth surrounding Chinese restaurants in particular on this side of the pond.
Lee says
Thank you!
Yes, for all its strict adherence to rules, Japan is surprisingly relaxed in many ways. Certainly in relation to the food trade anyway.
And yeah, such places are everywhere in Tokyo. Plus not only do they provide work, a service example, they add so much to the city atmosphere/daily experience. There’s a lot to be learned from it for sure.
Rosen Nedyalkov says
This place looks gorgeous!
As I am in Tokyo for practising my Japanese at the moment would you mind to tell me where I can find this yakitori restaurant? Or at least the district where it is?
Lee says
No problem. It’s in Kodaira, near Hitotsubashi-Gakuen Station. Can’t remember the exact location, but it’s on the main street. It’s not a big area, so sure you’ll find it.
Stephan says
I’ve just Google Streetviewed most of the area, but cannot really find this particular store. Could you please 🙂 try to remember? I’m i.e. really not sure, which of there streetes might be the main street 🙁
Could you please give me a head up? Trying to surprise my wife, since she loves cats AND yakitori.
Lee says
Here you go. Not quite as near to the station as I remembered, but we were a little worse for wear.
http://goo.gl/maps/sXq8j
Stephan says
Wow, awesome, THANK YOU! We’ll make sure to go there, my wife will be squealing from happiness. Thank you SO much!!! 😀
Lee says
You are welcome.
Enjoy!
Stephan says
Thanks to your link I’m sitting in the Izakaya at this very moment. It’s a very heartwarming athmosphere – even though there’s no cat around at the moment.
Lee says
Excellent! Hope you enjoyed, and the cat made an appearance.
shively says
This is a stereotypical comment but from what I’ve seen both in these pictures and from my girlfriends family , Japanese latterly treat their cats like family . My girlfriends family had a spot on the table reserved for the cat on thanks giving, they also treat the cat like a child , drying him off when he comes in from outside, babying him etc..
One thing I love about these pictures is the cat sitting on the table as though he worked there or was a customer
Lee says
Yes, the cat photographed was treated incredibly well. The owner’s wife in particulate absolutely adored it. How spoilt it was though I don’t know. But I have seen dogs treated like you mentioned. Lots of them…