Hyperlocal Tokyo

This is Hoppy Street, famous for its individual shops extending tent roofs over their storefronts to create seating areas. I was drawn in and found myself in one of these terrace-like tent seats. There were about 20 tables lined up, with a few more seats inside. Fortunately or unfortunately, in the midst of the pandemic, these tent seats are outdoors and offer excellent ventilation. Motsu-ni (stewed offal) is a specialty here, and each shop has its own unique flavor. I recommend this place for groups who want to enjoy a lively atmosphere, but for solo travelers, I suggest people-watching. You'll see a diverse mix of people, from young to old, and from all walks of life. It's fun to watch them and let your imagination run wild! The food is all delicious. Be sure to come and experience the atmosphere.

On July 10, 2021, I went to a long-established ramen shop, but they had started their business an hour later than usual at 12:00 due to the pandemic. So, I wandered around Asakusa. While walking down Keiba Street, I was called out to this newly opened establishment. There were many izakayas around, but no one was there yet, so I was able to choose a cool, comfortable seat, which was the deciding factor. I visited for about 30 minutes from 11:00 and had a soda and electric brandy, a non-alcoholic beer, octopus sashimi, edamame, and gizzards with ponzu sauce. The octopus sashimi and gizzards with ponzu sauce were delicious. There are many similar izakayas on this street, so it would be fun to try them all!

We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly with four people, ordering two refills of "Hoppy" and about eight dishes, for a total of 2,000 yen per person. The braised beef tendon and gizzards with ponzu sauce were particularly delicious and highly recommended.

The brother's call-out wasn't bad, but the atmosphere of the place felt a bit pricey. The snacks and alcohol were smaller than I expected.

This is a place where you can enjoy drinking while experiencing the atmosphere of a traditional downtown area. It's quite casual, in a good way. It's clean for this type of establishment. It's probably not for everyone. The prices are a bit high considering the atmosphere. One cup of sake or a Jim Beam highball is 500 yen. Two skewers of yakitori (limited menu) are 400 yen. A plate of daikon radish with wasabi is 500 yen. The food, while not everything, seems to be pre-made. It's good that they accept cards, so you can go for a drink first thing in the morning without having to go to the bank.