On a Saturday with no particular plans, I wandered over to Akabane almost on a whim. Just walking through a drinking district that preserves a Showa-era atmosphere is a change of pace, so the more tired I am, the more I want to come to this town.
Bar #1: A toast at a standing bar
First, a standing bar in front of the station. Right after opening, it was already bustling with what looked like regulars, and just mingling with that atmosphere felt like a trip. Nibbling dried snacks with cheap, delicious Hoppy, I reset the day's fatigue with the first glass.
Hopping on to bars #2 and #3
After keeping bar #1 light, I headed to a small yakitori place in a back alley. Lured by the smell of charcoal, I ended up at a third place serving motsu-nikomi (stewed offal). None of them feels like a place to linger; slip in quickly and slip out quickly, I think, is the Akabane way of drinking.
- Bar #1: Hoppy at a standing bar
- Bar #2: Charcoal-grilled yakitori
- Bar #3: Finishing with motsu-nikomi
のんびりいこうよ
Summary
Even without a special purpose, just strolling Akabane and hopping between bars makes a perfectly good weekend. Next I want to explore places I haven't been yet.
KAZUKIN Rating
- 🍻 Atmosphere of standing bars — ★★★★★
- 🍢 Ease of bar-hopping — ★★★★★
- 💰 Kindness to my wallet — ★★★★★
- 🚶 Efficiency of slipping in and out — ★★★★☆
- 🗺️ Room for new discoveries — ★★★★☆ (unexplored places remain)