The exteriors of some bars and eaters can be surprisingly misleading, but this little yakitori place was equally lovely both inside and out.
In business for half a century or so, and the master-san now nearing his 81st birthday, it’s a bar with history, but also an incredible sense of calm. The latter due to the owner’s laid back nature and endearingly gentle demeanour. All of which made it a wonderfully relaxing place to sit, have a few beers, and on this occasion at least, hear some impromptu music.
Denise says
This is so beautiful. I love it. 🙂 He sounds adorable.
Lee says
Thank you, and yes, he was. A genuinely lovely fella who made us feel very much at home.
Richard says
What a great place to hang out! Is it close to your home so you can go regularly?
Lee says
It was. Very glad we found it. But nah, sadly a very long way from home…
Richard says
Ah, too bad that it is not close to home!
Sean says
Great photos as always. Big thank you for the added sounds. I kinda feel like I’m there when I hear it!
Lee says
Thank you very much.
Glad to hear it. Something I need to do more often, but I always forget. Did this time too, but fortunately my mate shot a video and I could use the audio from that.
cdilla says
Such an immaculately turned out guy, and that smile – wonderful.
There seemed to be no smoking signs around the place – and the grill scrubbed sparkling clean. It feels like his personality extends throughout the place. Even the street level exterior is clean as.
The soundscape extra is a real treat too. Thank you.
I imagine there will be future visits.
Lee says
He was. And yeah, nothing out of place and not a spec of dirt or dust anywhere.
You are welcome. To be honest, I forgot as ever, but as mentioned above, I could fortunately ‘borrow’ some audio.
Sadly way too far from home, so probably not…
john says
So he wasn’t cleaning the gas jets! It looks like a serious piece of kit.
It seems unusual to see the grills outside, even the pound shops have them in the UK now!
I like the mellow colour matched Honda with highlighted red tail light.
Lee says
Haha, he wasn’t. But yeah, very surprised when that came out.
The bars are a weird one. Definitely not that uncommon, but they always seem rather excessive considering the relative lack of crime here. You certainly know things are getting bad when pound shops feel the need for them…
The Honda was so perfectly placed. Couldn’t have asked him to park any anywhere better.
YTSL says
I loved what you wrote and the photos too. The very first one of “master-san” smiling straight into the camera/at you/us is a winner. The one with him playing the accordion is so vivid I could almost hear the music being played! And thanks also for taking a photo of the outside of the yakitori-ya. It has a warmth to it, like with all the photos in this entry.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. Nice to know the words were a worthwhile addition. I really like that first one too. Feel like I caught the man himself there. Such a lovely fella, and the tunes were a very nice surprise!
My pleasure. I was determined not to forget an outside shot as it’s such a fantastic looking place. Nice in the day time, but even better at night.
AV says
I have read Tokyo Time on & off for many years, and have often been reminded of its content IRL, living in southern Spain [not few deserted houses, villages, ghost streets, palaces, churches, huts & cross-rod crosses too – some pictured in Instagram accounts quite in the vein of Tokyo Time, much that I can tell]. Then, here I am back in RO, admiring wonderful ruins all over the best part of town, as if a museum of sorts, unimaginable ten years ago when I had last seen them.
Catching up,
A.
Lee says
Good to hear from you again. Those areas sound fascinating to explore and photograph. Such places are always interesting in regards the stories they tell, or at least hint at.