Towards the end of last year I posted the same exterior photo, offering a glimpse inside this little yakitori place. At that time it was our second visit, and also the second, increasingly frustrating occasion to be denied entry. Such small bars are great in so many ways, but their limited space does mean that securing an empty seat isn’t always the easiest. Timing is very much of the essence, and on both evenings we’d clearly been way off.
Thankfully the third time was indeed the lucky one, and as expected it didn’t disappoint. The mama-san has been quietly holding fort there for over three decades, while the bar itself has been in business for about half a century. A further fifty years is obviously out of the question, but with the owner still positively youthful compared to many of her peers, it’s likely that everything will remain pretty much the same for many more evenings to come.
ellen says
I remember this bar! 🙂 I’m surprised to to see someone smoking inside. That’s still a thing!?!
Lee says
It’s a very memorable place!
Yeah, it is. Not as common as it once was of course, but definitely not uncommon.
Richard says
Timing is EVERYTHING in those places! But the food is usually very tasty.
Unfortunately, Japan is still behind the times when it comes to smoking in places like that.
It felt ok Covid wise?
Lee says
Yes, and like you rightly said, the food was really good too. Absolutely no complaints at all.
It is. Things are changing, but this being Japan, those changes are slow…
Yes, it did. Been a while, but I didn’t feel worried at all. All the windows were open like in the opening shot, so it was incredibly well ventilated, especially as it was quite a windy evening. To be honest it was possibly too well ventilated, cos I was absolutely frozen by the time we left.
Richard says
Too much ventilation can be a problem🥶🥶🥶
Lee says
It definitely was this time!
Günter says
This is the kind of bar I’d like to spend a relaxing evening. Thank you for the ‘virtual’ visit.
Lee says
You are welcome. Like you mentioned, it made for a very relaxing and enjoyable few hours.
YTSL says
The third time was the charm for you! Am glad!
A Japanese friend asked me what I disliked most about Japan and was surprised when I told him, “The fact that people are still allowed to smoke in restaurants and bars”. At least with this particular bar, there’s good (too good 😀 ) ventilation. But I’ve been in places that are not where people lit up, including a place in Kyoto where I was having my nice, healthy breakfast (rice, natto, salad, some fish, miso soup) and a salaryman walked in and decided that all he wanted that morning was coffee and a smoke! ;O
Lee says
Cheers. So were we. We practically ran across the road to make sure nobody else got in before us!
Yeah, it’s a weird one. In bars I don’t mind it so much, and people are generally a lot more aware these days, but in places like you mention it really isn’t very nice.
It was funny. A while ago a mate and I went into this super retro coffee shop. Aside from the dated decor, the first thing that hit us was the smell of smoke, and when we sat down the first thing the owner put on the table was an ashtray. Everyone in there smoked, and everyone that came in pretty much lit up immediately. We almost felt guilty for not joining them!
cdilla says
A lovely set of photographs bringing us in to a place I’d rather be right now.
The first one in the set has everything, the fuse box, the fan, the water heater, the price tags, the clock, the dirty look, the eyes of the mama san, the trilby, the outdoor aircon, the bike, the plastic umbrella, the lantern, so quintessentially Japanese.
And what is that amorphous yellow blob up on the corner shelf – looks like a cross between a Billiken and a Durama doll that’s been sat in a tin of yellow gloss paint for years.
Lee says
Cheers. It felt like such an achievement to actually get sat down in there.
Yeah, it really does tick so many boxes, not all of which I noticed when I pressed the shutter. And as for the yellow thing, I have no idea to be honest. A good reason to go back and have a closer look.