For the last 40 years, the 82-year-old owner of this little Tokyo bar has stood behind the counter cooking cheap food and serving similarly inexpensive drinks. Yet despite those 4 decades of operation, no other westerners had ever walked through the door. Similarly absent during that time period has been any serious attempt at cleaning — the incredible amounts of dust and grime everywhere making each and every surface a source of both fascination, and trepidation.
Elements that, when combined with the establishment’s regular customers, lifted the evening from the fun, to the truly unforgettable.
Linda Lombardi says
To be fair, the counter you actually eat off of looks pretty clean. And the calendar 🙂
Lee says
Yes, it was, although not so much the things on it…
Harry says
Wow, what an awesome find. I love how it could be any time, no smartphones or TVs. I do so envy your visits to bars like this! 😉
Lee says
It really was. Incredible to walk in and see what was on the other side of the door. And yeah, presumably very little has changed since the day it opened.
YTSL says
I hope you had at least a beer there! 😀
Lee says
We did. Several big bottles each. That was good of course, as was the yakitori. That seemed like the safe option!
GenjiG says
That ‘mirror’ 🙂
Lee says
I know eh? So much of the place produced such reactions. My favourite, I think, is the attempt at cleaning to the left of the calendar. She clearly started with good intentions, but very quickly gave up!
GenjiG says
Or she just thinks ‘I still have plenty of time to clean the rest’ 😉
Lee says
Haha, good point. This being Japan, she very likely has. Lots of time too!
cdilla says
What an incredible find. Reminds me of the good old days in the UK when the comfortable pubs had nicotine hued wallpapers, floors so dark you couldn’t tell if they were wooden, carpet or stone, and lighting dim enough to require you to navigate by touch.
This proprietress has a kind of Russian look to her, and her clients look very friendly.
It looks, from the colour of that bottle, that it’s been a while since the bar saw any “Suntory Time” https://youtu.be/FiQnH450hPM though they all look plenty relaxed without it 🙂
Lee says
Yeah, it really was. Ticked all the hoped for boxes and then some. Couldn’t have asked for any more really. Lucky these kinds of places still exist in Tokyo, cos as you mentioned, they’ve disappeared in many other towns and cities.
Everyone was very friendly. They were surprised when we walked in of course, but we were immediately made to feel very welcome indeed.
That Suntory bottle is unbelievable, isn’t it? Heaven knows how long ago it was emptied…
Olivier says
These are really nice snapshots of life.
I wish I could visit this bar…
Lee says
Thanks. Very happy to have had the chance to take a few photos in there. A genuinely special place.
I imagine it’ll still be open for a few more years at least, so there’s always a chance.
Alex Syriopoulos says
What’s the name and address of this place?
Lee says
No idea what the name is to be honest. Not even sure there was anything other than a yakitori lantern outside. But either way, sorry to say it’s not something I’d want to give out here. We were made to feel very welcome, but as a tiny place frequented by the same locals each and every night, I wouldn’t want to risk changing what has sustained it for the last 40 years.
john says
In the first picture it looks like the lady at the back is doing ‘air karaoke’. Leans back to far – ‘I did it my waaaay’, but that would be lost in translation.
Unforgettable for all, with it being the first multicultural night!
Suntory ad. is very fun.
Lee says
Haha, she does a bit, doesn’t she? But yeah, the first multicultural night. Thankfully a successful one too.
MrSatyre says
I don’t remember who first said it, but the phrase “atmosphere so thick you could walk on it” seems appropriate to a place like this.
Lee says
Yes, it really is. Sums up the place perfectly.
Patrick Sherriff says
Great pic. Looks like a Dutch painting.
Lee says
Thanks. Very happy the way the photos came out. Managed to capture some of the feel of the place, and definitely the wonderful colours.
Alex Syriopoulos says
Very true! Lovely feeling when you’re made to feel a part of a community in such an establishment.
Lee says
Yeah, it really is. It was a very special evening. Moments like that, in places such as this, don’t come around all that often, so they have to cherished.